The only thing that matters in the end is your own survival. It's what humans and cockroaches are best at.

They won’t let any part of him fall to the ground,” says Raffe in a quiet voice. “His brothers will keep him from falling.”

In the distance, the Watchers weave a beautiful dance in the dawn sky beneath Beliel’s shower of fire.

The right thing is a luxury for rich and sheltered people. For the rest of us, the only right thing is staying out of trouble and surviving as best we can.

I must have been seriously frustrated by my lack of sword-fighting skills to make all this up. My dream head hurts just thinking about it.

This sword is not just an angel sword. She’s an archangel sword. Better than an angel sword, in case that’s not clear. She intimidates the other angel swords.”

“What, the other swords quake in their scabbards when they see her?

I stroke his hair and repeat the words of comfort he whispered to me the last time we were together. "Shhh," I say. "I'm here. I'm right here.