"For the first time in centuries of living, Mikhail was forced to rely on another being. Gregori. The dark one. Mikhail stirred, pain shafting through him. More rocks fell on Slovensky in retaliation, covering him like a blanket, beginning to form a macabre grave. Gregori moved into the room with his familiar silent glide, grace and power clinging to him as he strode through the wreckage of the wall. "This is becoming a bad habit." "Oh, shut up," Mikhail said without rancor."