Underwater, bubbles erupted before my eyes as a swift hand snatched my arm and pulled me to the surface. I gasped for air, coughing and gagging at the amount of water I sucked into my lungs by pure shock. What was up with me and breathing in water? I needed to grow some gills or something.

— Laura Kreitzer

We both must burn this midnight oil together. You’re just as new to me as I am you.” --Andrew

— Laura Kreitzer

Well, the only reason we’re friends is that you can rock a tweed suit,” she informed, tone mock serious. “So if you want to keep me around, I expect more tweed.

— Laura Kreitzer

We need the Fallen Legion,” I said without preamble, trying to catch my breath after running her.“And I need an evil-proof bubble to put Jules in,” Fire said dryly.”That’ll teach me to start off a conversation with a demand,” I grumbled.

— Laura Kreitzer

We want to fight.”“And I want J.K. Rowling to keep writing in the Potter verse, but I know that’s never going to happen,” I said blithely.

— Laura Kreitzer

What are you doing?” Ignatius asked, eyebrows furrowed as he watched Gabriella do a flip. Firen mimicked Gabriella and turned to Ignatius. “Fun times. Go with it.” She didn’t even crack a smile, though her body language said she was laughing on the inside. Instead of following their act, Ignatius simply dove for an outcrop just as it began moving away. He nearly lost his balance, but Fire caught his flailing arms.“Are you having a seizure or something?” she jested, displaying a rare vein of humor. Egnatious sent her a queasy glare.

— Laura Kreitzer

What’s with savage humans always wanting to cannibalize us?” Jaden asks as she runs past Summer to check for any more of the Tainted around the corner.“They want to suck your blood,” Rob says in a Romanian accent. Jaden snorts. Too bad humor won’t help them out of this mess.

— Laura Kreitzer

What would you suggest?” one of the Italian officials asked.“We do have a highly-advanced biological device called the Illuminator,” Joseph chimed in

— Laura Kreitzer

When I see your scars, do I want to erase them? Absolutely. But not your physical scars. The real ones, beneath the surface. The ones that compel you to stay silent or force you to cringe. Those are the scars I want to obliterate.” His finger circles the dip of a burn mark on her forearm. “This is a battle trophy and nothing to be ashamed of. Every one of your scars makes you more beautiful to me.

— Laura Kreitzer

When the nurse leaves, Doctor Rose mouths, “Act like you’re in pain.” Then she mimics a painful expression in case Summer doesn’t understand. On the contrary, Summer’s an expert at interpreting body language and reading lips. It’s all thanks to her observant nature while enslaved on the Cosmos. Who else could tell that Peter’s discomfort is due to him wearing the same pair of underwear for a week straight? Ah, yes, she always knew when day six and seven approached. She watched the crew member with much amusement as he waddled, pulled wedgies, and scratched his bum relentlessly. Not that anyone else cared to know that little nugget of information.

— Laura Kreitzer