01c. 1975 ADI shouldn't have lost my temper that way. It just pricks his pride, makes him dig in his heels.""So why did you?" I asked, genuinely curious. It was rare for Nikolai's emotions to get the best of him. "I don't know," he said, shredding the leaf. "You got angry. I got angry. The room was too damn hot.""I don't think that's it.""Indigestion?" he offered."It's because you actually care about what happens to this country," I said. "The throne is just a prize to Vasily, something he wants to squabble over like a favorite toy, You're not like that. You'll make a good king."Nikolai froze. "I…" For once, words seemed to have deserted him. Then a crooked, embarrassed smile crept across his face. It was a far cry from his usual self-assured grin. "Thank you," he said.I sighed as we resumed our pace. "You're going to be insufferable now, aren't you?"Nikolai laughed. "I'm already insufferable.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
02c. 1975 ADIf it works, it will be plenty dramatic. And I suppose that if it doesn't work, it will be even more dramatic, what with the blast.""David, I think you just made a joke."He frowned, utterly perplexed. "Did I?Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
03c. 1975 ADIt's always been this way. There were rumors about me even before I was born. It's why my mother never calls me Sobachka. She says it makes me sound like a mongrel."My heart gave a little pang at that. I'd been called plenty of names growing up."I like mongrels," I said. "They have cute floppy ears.""My ears are very dignified.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
04c. 1975 ADI'll get them out and come back. I promise.""On your word as a cutthroat and a pirate?"He touched my cheek once, briefly. "Privateer."Another explosion rocked the grounds."Let's go!" shouted Mal.As we sprinted into the tunnel, I glanced back and saw Nikolai silhouetted against the purple twilight. I wondered if I'd ever see him again.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
05c. 1975 ADClose your eyes!""You can't kiss me from down there, Wylan." "Just do it!Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
06c. 1975 ADSometimes scientific discoveries are like that […]. Once people know something is possible, the pace of new findings increases. (Wylan)Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
07c. 1975 ADI need someone who can be invisible, who can become a ghost. Do you think you can do that?"I'm already a ghost, she thought. I died in the hold of a slaver ship."i think so.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
08c. 1975 ADFear is a phoenix. You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
09c. 1975 ADThis goes to show you that sometimes the unseen is not to be feared and that those meant to love us most are not always ones who do.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
10c. 1975 ADJesper: “If Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get Wylan’s ghost to teach my ghost how to play the flute just so that I can annoy the hell out of your ghost.”Kaz: “I’ll just hire Matthias’ ghost to kick your ghost’s ass.”Matthias: “My ghost won’t associate with your ghost.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
11c. 1975 ADInej placed her hands on Nina’s shoulders. “We’ll see each other again.”“Of course we will. You’ve saved my life. I’ve saved yours.”“I think you’re ahead on that count.”“No, I don’t mean in the big ways.” Nina’s eyes took them all in. “I mean the little rescues. Laughing at my jokes. Forgiving me when I was foolish. Never trying to make me feel small. It doesn’t matter if it’s next month, or next year, or ten years from now, those will be the things I remember when I see you again.”Kaz offered his gloved hand to Nina. “Until then, Zenik.”“Count on it, Brekker.” They shook.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
12c. 1975 ADNina would never let Kaz abandon her. She'd fight with everything she had to free Inej even if she was still in the grips of Parem. Matthias would stand by her with that great heart full of honor.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
13c. 1975 ADSisters in battle, I am shield and blade to you. As I breathe, your enemies will know no sanctuary. While I live, your cause is mine.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
14c. 1975 ADI was done with hesitation. It wasn't just that we'd run out of options, or that so much was riding on the firebird's power. I'd simply grown ruthless enough or selfish enough to take another creature's life. But I missed the girl who had shown the stag mercy, who had been strong enough to turn away from the lure of power, who had believed in something more. Another casualty of this war.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
15c. 1975 ADThey wanted a Grisha queen. Mal wanted a commoner queen. And what did I want? Peace for Ravka. A chance to sleep easy in my bed without fear. An end to the guilt and dread that I woke to every morning. There were old wants too, to be loved for who I was, not what I could do, to lie in a meadow with a boy’s arms around me and watch the wind move the clouds.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
16c. 1975 ADNina was about to snap that she didn't appreciate the sarcasm when she saw the expression on his face. He looked like someone had just given him a tuba full of puppies.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
17c. 1975 ADKaz reached into his coat pocket. "Here," he said and handed Jesper a slender book with an elaborate cover."Are we going to read to each other?""Just flip it open to the back."Jesper opened the book and peered at the last page, puzzled. "So?""Hold it up so we don't have to look at your ugly face.""My face has character. Besides - oh!""An excellent read, isn't it?""Who knew I had a taste for literature?Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
18c. 1975 ADShe lived in happy solitude, and grew old, and never worried when her beauty faded, for in her reflection she always saw a free woman.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
19c. 1975 ADShe tilted her head back, breathing deeply. It was a stone gray day, the sea a bleak slate broken up by whitecaps, the sky pleated with thick ripples of cloud. A hard wind filled the sails, carrying the little boat over the waves. 'It feels good to be this kind of cold,' she murmured. 'This kind?''Wind in your hair, sea spray on your skin. The cold of the living.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
21c. 1975 ADI just know there's no way to live without pain - no matter how long or short your life is. People let you down. You get hurt and do damage in return.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
22c. 1975 ADI've always known that whatever marriage I made would be political. It would be about power, not love. But we might get lucky. In time, we might have both.''Or the third amplifier will turn me into a power-mad dictator and you'll have to kill me.''Yes, that would make for an awkward honeymoon.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
24c. 1975 ADI opened my mouth, but the same words came to me again and again.I will not scream. I will not scream. I will not scream.Leigh Bardugo / quote ↗
