“Are we going to New Orleans?""No", she said, backing out of the spot. "We're going to West Virginia.""I assume by 'West Virginia,' you actually mean 'Hawaii,'" I said. "Or some place equally exciting.”

“Okay, so. You, Belikov, the Alchemist, Sonya Karp, Victor Dashkov, and Robert Doru are all hanging out in West Virginia together.”“No,” I said.“No?”“We’re, uh, not in West Virginia.”

“That was Sydney Sage," said Lissa. "I thought they were all in West Virginia. Why isn't she with Rose?""That," said Abe darkly, "is an excellent question.""Because they were apparently kidnapping Jill Mastrano in Detroit," said Christian. "Which is weird. But not the craziest thing I can think of Rose doing.”

“We can retreat and retreat and let ourselves get backed into corners forever,” she’d said once. “Or we can go out and meet the enemy at the timeand place we choose. Not them.”Okay, Tasha, I thought. Let’s see if your advice gets me killed.”

“Sorry,ʺ she said, her face shining with joy when she saw me. ʺShould have put a sock on the door. Didnʹt realize things were getting hot and heavy.ʺʺNo avoiding it,ʺ I said lightly, clasping Dimitriʹs hand. ʺThings are always hot with him around.ʺDimitri looked scandalized. Heʹd never held back when we were in bed together, but his private nature wouldnʹt let him even hint about such matters to others. It was mean, but I laughed and kissed his cheek.ʺOh, this is going to be fun,ʺ I said. ʺNow that everythingʹs out in the open.ʺʺYeah,ʺ he said. ʺI got a pretty ‘funʹ look from your father the other day.”

“It's only their fight club, Liss," I said, having no need for her side of the conversation, "Nothing's going on. They're going to talk punches and kicking and other boring stuff." Well, actually that stuff was pretty sweet, but I wasn't about to glorify Christian and Mia hanging out."Maybe now nothing's going on," she growled, staring stonily ahead. "But who knows what could happen? They spend time together, practice some physical moves, one thing leads to another—""That's ridiculous," I said. "That kind of stuff isn't romantic at all."Another lie, seeing as that was exactly how my relationship with Dimitri had begun. Again, best not to mention that.”

“Feminist,” he said, clearly amused. “Next you’ll be telling us you hate men.”She gave him a blank look. “I only hate stupid men who don’t actually understand what ‘feminist’ means.”He laughed. “You run into a lot of men like that?”“All the time.”“Really?”“Even as we speak, Nick.”“Oh no she didn’t,” said Peter. I groaned.”