Sarah Rees Brennan, The Demon's Covenant

"Also," Nick added curtly, "I'm sorry about your face."Jamie looked over his shoulder, and touched the demon's mark crawling along his jaw with the back of his hand. "Sorry about saving all our lives by doing something you had to do"Oh no," Nick said blandly, "I just meant, you know. Generally."Jamie stared at him, shocked, and laughed. It was a real laugh, helpless and sweet, and Mae memorized it in case he died. Jamie by the river at dawn, laughing."

"Mae's first impulse was to die of shame, but she realized after a hot, stomach-clenching moment that this was probably impractical."

"You want useless, you have come to the right guy. I can be useless for hours at a time. Weeks even. I'm currently closing in on a month of being totally useless, which is by way of being a personal best."

"Oh no, Nick" Jaime said in tones of supremely unconvincing shock, "how could you? When my back was turned for one momement. And my food was so delicious."

"And what are your interests and hobbies, Nicholas" Annabel asked faintly, sounding like a cross between a television interviewer and a hostage. Nick considered this for a minute, and then said "I like swords." Annabel leaned over her plate and asked, her voice changing "You fence" "Not exactly," Nick drawled. "I'm more freestyle."

"Ready" Jaime echoed. "Yes, yes, I am ready. I am ready to drink a lot of liquids and lie on the sofa moaning faintly all day long. That is what I am ready for. I cannot engage in physical activity of any sort or my head will fall right off. Is that what you want Nick? Because if so, I find that hurtful."

"I-" said Nick, his voice halting. "I don't mind it as much when - when people touch me. Some people."Mae looked down, and Nick, who looked more relaxed when he'd been stabbed, slowly lifted his hand from his chest and laid it on the tumbled sheets between them, fingers half-curled into his palm. He was still regarding the ceiling with a fixed glare."Because you trust them not to hurt you" Mae asked tentatively."No," Nick said, his voice harsh. "Because I'd let them hurt me."

"Not really a party until someone brings the surprise zombies."

"Want me to flex my magic for you, baby?"

"Sometmes when you pull knives on people, they get this impression that you're going to hurt them, and then they're completely terrified. Crazy, I know!"Okay," said Nick. He turned to Jamie & popped his left wrist sheath again. "Look."Jamie backed up. "Which part of 'completely terrified' did you translate as 'show us your knives, Nick'? Don't show me your knives, Nick. I have no interest in your knives."Nick rolled his eyes. "This is a quillon dagger. That's a knife with a sword handle. I like it because it has a good grip for stabbing."Why do you say these things" Jamie inquired piteously. "Is it to make me sad"I didn't have you cornered," Nick went on. "You could've run. And this dagger doesn't have an even weight distribution; it's absolute rubbish for throwing. If I had any intention of hurting you, I'd have used a knife I could throw."Jamie blinked. "I will remember those words always. I may try to forget them, but I sense that I won't be able to."

"Friends don't menace friends with giant terrifying swords, okay?"

"Well, speaking as a feminist, I'm glad that women can lead--uh, groups of unspeakable magical evil."Yes," Alan said gravely. "It'd be shoking if the evil magicians were sexist. For one thing, that would mean they were stupid, and having stupid enemies would be a terrible blow to my manly pride."

"In two words," said Alan quietly, "there is nothing I love half as much as you."

"Sometimes I want to be human for you."

"Sometimes I feel better around you. I kind of like your face' -Nick"

"I saw you put rice in a toaster once," said Mae. "I was there when made the tin of beans explode."It was faulty," Jamie protested, his eyes shifty. " I am sure of this."

"Oh, you need Alan to betray Nick and then you'll steal Nick's powers and kill them both," said Mae. "Great idea. Hey, can i come? I'll bring a picnic lunch if you promise not to let blood get on the sandwiches."

"They walked to school, talking about how much they were longing for the summer holidays."Oh, I am planning things," said Jamie. "Great, great things. I could join a band."You gave up the guitar after two lessons."Well," he said, "I could be a backup dancer."Backup dancers have to wear belly shirts and glitter," said Mae. "So obviously, I support this plan."

"I cook better than you," Nick corrected absently. "I think monkeys can probably be taught to cook better than you."I'd like to have a monkey that cooked for me," said Jamie. " I would pay him in bananas. His name would be Alphonse."I agree, that would be awesome." Mae said. "People would come for dinner just to see the monkey chef."You're raving," Nick said, defrosting chicken in the microwave. Mae was a bit impressed with how he seemed to look at the appliance and instantly comprehend its mysteries, when she'd been heating up ready-made meals for years by a method of pressing random buttons and hoping. " I know that's the only way Jamie communicates with people, but I expected better of you, Mavis."We're cutting out the whole Mavis thing right now, Nick," Mae said warningly."How many bananas would be good payment for a monkey" Jamie wanted to know. " I would want to pay Alphonse a fair wage."

"Foul!" yelled Jamie, who seemed extremely happy not to be the one facing a blade. "Distracting technique! Put your shirt back on right now."