"I would conjure a skeleton to do it to myself," she says. "And another three to hold Crux back."

She strokes Gideon's hair as if it could warm her hand like the color promises. "But do you know what we have now, Griddle?" She smiles, knife-sharp. "A way out, if all else fails. I won't do it again for practice or for fun, but if it's a choice between half-killing you or letting us both die completely--we have a way out."

She runs an ungloved finger along Gideon's jaw. "Thank you for doing your paint properly. You looked very dashing." Until Harrow knocked the dash out of her.