#2019book

“We thought we were separate satellites, but we aren’t. We’re stars, and though we might burn separately, we’ll always be in one another’s orbit.”

“I can’t help but feel a kinship with Sirius Black—except instead of being locked away with thousands of soul-sucking dementors, I’ve only got one, and he’s currently staring at me.”

I glared at the woman who was to be my wife. Bruised face and broken fingers. Scarred throat. And a smirk that left little doubt as to how she’d come to receive each injury. She arched a brow. “See something you like?”

“What kind of man leaves million-dollar golems in the open and can’t even stock microwave popcorn? Just see if I break into the Hierophant’s house again.”

Neither one of us said a word, but our eyes met. And I mouthed you suck. And he whispered back with his pale pink mouth, you suck more. There was another sigh, but it sounded even more resigned. “My eyes work. I can read your lips. Both of them.” I didn’t ignore Coach Lee, but all I’d promised was not to say anything. So I didn’t worry about it when I moved my lips at Ivan again. Eat shit. His tongue tapped at the inside of his cheek. Then he opened his mouth. I’m looking at it. “Whatever we have to do to make this work, remember?” Coach Lee emphasized, obviously still watching us. Ivan and I were both staring at each other as we muttered, “Uh-huh.”

“Charmed,” Nathaniel said. He turned back to Elisabeth. “If the two of you feel the need to destroy anything else, I’ve been meaning to get rid of Aunt Clothilde’s tapestry for years. You’ll know it when you see it. It’s mauve.”

“I am going to drown you,” it whispered, and lunged. Vasya made no answer; instead her cupped hand came down on the water like a thunderclap. The chyert jerked back and Vasya snapped, “An immortal sorcerer could not kill me and neither could a priest with all Moscow at his beck—what makes you think you can?” “You came into my lake,” returned the chyert, baring black teeth. “To swim, not to die!” “That is for me to decide.”

Maybe I should feel like a hero. But I don’t. It’s always easier to destroy than to create.