Book Five: Chapter 28

“Try to look impressed or something. We should send these to Romeo later and try to squeeze a laugh out of him,” Lily said, leaning over Beth’s shoulder with a conspiratorial grin. Her eyes sparkled as she adjusted the angle of the camera, gesturing with her free hand as if conducting an invisible orchestra.

“You’re incorrigible,” Beth told her, her lips curving into a reluctant smile. She raised one hand to her mouth, attempting her best surprised expression, though it faltered under the weight of her amusement.

“I’ll look that word up later,” Lily replied, shrugging lightly, then snapped a few more pictures, the flash briefly illuminating the corners of the office. Just then, Death walked in, his usual skeletal frame moving with unnerving grace. He paused, tilted his head as if assessing the scene, then—without a word—did an immediate U-turn and left the room.