“Fear’s useless. Either something bad happens or it doesn’t: If it doesn’t, you’ve wasted time being afraid, and if it does, you’ve wasted time that you could have spent sharpening your weapons.”

“My life was going to flash before my eyes, but it decided to hide behind my eyes and quake with terror instead.”

“Magnus remembered a town in Peru whose Quechua name meant “quiet place.” He recalled even more vividly being obscenely drunk and unhappy over his heartbreak of that time, and the maudlin thoughts that had recurred to him over the years, like an unwanted guest slipping in through his doors: that there was no peace for such as he, no quiet place, and there never would be.Except he found himself remembering lying in bed with Alec—all of their clothes on, lounging on the bed on a lazy afternoon, Alec laughing, head thrown back, the marks Magnus had left on his throat very plain to see.”

“I don’t trust men everybody likes. Being nice isn’t the same as being good.”

“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.”

“How do you deal with it?” Kami asked Jared. “The laughing at nothing and occasionally stopping dead in your tracks.””I have a system where when I stop, I lean casually against something,” Jared told her. “It makes people think I’m a bad boy. Or possibly that I have a bad back.”

“Kami said, “I want you to go in there and vamp that receptionist.””What?” Ash said blankly.”You know,” Kami said. “Dazzle her with your charms. Rock her world. Go on.”[…] “What,” Ash said, “all of us?””Do you want to stand around trying to guess if she likes pretty boys or rough trade?” Jared asked, gesturing lazily from Ash to himself.”Excuse me, what did you just call yourself?” Ash demanded. “No, wait a second, I don’t care. What did you just call me?”

“I am in full possession of the amazing power of being sarcastic.”

“What the hell is going on?” demanded Kami’s dad, advancing with his black eyes snapping. Jared blurted, “My intentions are honourable.”Kami sat up straight in her bed and stared in Jared’s direction. “Are you completely crazy?” she wanted to know. “This isn’t the eighteenth century. How do you think that’s going to help?””Well, I mean,” Jared said, back against the wall like a cornered animal. “When we’re older. I mean-“”Please shut up,” Kami begged.”I agree with Kami,” said Dad. “When you’re in an abyss-like hole, quit digging.”