“My mother is the war,' declares Roger Mexico, leaning over to open the door.”

“The workshop door opened and Skulduggery emerged. "Ryan," he said, "stop leaning on my car.”

“Back at the guest house I tried to acclimatise. A travel-worn adventurer had once told me that leaning with one's head dangling over the end of a bed was the best way to achieve this. It was while I was in this position, the blood rushing to my temples, that the door swung open.”

“The door', replied Maimie, 'will always, always be open, and mother will always be waiting at it for me.”

“I swung the door open and seductively leaned against it. The ultimate badass looked like he was having a heart attack.”

“The doorbell rang, and I assumed it was Fran and Roger having come back because they had forgotten something. I took my time, lacing my boots, and the buzzer became more impatient.“I’m coming, shithead!” I yelled. Yes, I should have known better. For of course, it was not Roger or Fran. I threw open the door to find Declan Tyler standing there, looking half-insulted and half-amused.“Got a pet name for me already?” he asked.”