"Ask her. I am by no means an expert on magic."
"Meaning there are Mijai who are?"
He nodded. "I am a simple warrior, but there are some who specialize in more specific areas."
"There’s nothing simple about you, Azriel."
"On the contrary," he replied. "I work and I live. That is the existence of a reaper, and I am no different from any of my brethren."
"What about playing? Loving? Having families, stuff like that?"
"I live in a family unit, if that is what you mean."
I glanced at the floor indicator, suddenly wishing it would slow down. Azriel wasn’t usually this chatty when it came to himself, and I really wanted to make the most of it.
"Family unit as in mom, dad, and siblings, or family unit as in wife and kids?"
"We do not pair up in the manner that you do here."
"Which doesn’t answer the actual question."
His smile briefly touched the corners of his eyes. "Indeed, it does not."
"In other words, mind my own business," I said, mentally swatting at hormones dancing about in the lingering warmth of that smile, with little effect. "Which, I may point out, is not entirely fair, given you’ve got access to my life and my thoughts."
"I agree, it isn’t fair. But for the moment, that is how it has to be."
"Oh yeah, got to maintain the status quo," I said, the mirth in my voice giving way to a deeper edge of annoyance. "The one where you know everything and I know nothing."