Nova untangles from her, green eyes looking back, hair a blond tangle on the rug fibers, and says, the first thing she has spoken in weeks: “I want one.” [a tattoo] June turns to bury her smile in Arsen's shoulder. Theo buries his in Arsen's other one. Eris smiles, too, a tender thing. “A gear, love?” “No,” Nova says seriously. “I want a smiley face. On my face.” Silence. Nova blinks up at us, waiting. “Metal,” Nyla breathes from the floor.

— Godslayers by Zoe Hana Mikuta (Page 271)