Julie Kagawa

“I know it's too soon right now," he murmured into my hair, "but just so you know, I'll wait. When you're ready, I'll be right here. Don't forget, Princess."-Puck”

“Why am I so drawn to you?" He muttered, almost to himself. "Why is it so hard to let go? I thought... at first... it was Ariella, that you remind me of so much. But it's not." Though he didn't smile, his eyes lightened a shade. "You're far more stubborn than she ever was." I sniffed. "That's like the pot calling the kettle black," I whispered, and a faint, tiny grin finally crossed his face, before his expression clouded and he lowered his head, touching his forehead to mine. "What do you want of me, Meghan?" he asked, a low thread of anguish flickering below the surface. Tears blurred my vision, all the fear and heartache of the past few days rising to the surface. "Just you," I whispered. "I just want you."-Ash and Meghan”

“Just answer me this. Is she worth it?" Ash's face went blank and cold, like a door slamming shut. "Would this be considered payment for finding sweetfinger?" he replied in a voice dead of emotion. The dwarf snorted. "Yeah, sure, whatever. But I want a serious answer, Prince."Ash was still for a moment. "Yes," he murmured, his voice so low I barely caught it. "She's worth it.""You know Mab will tear you apart for this.""I know.”

“I can't forget. I miss him. I know he's the enemy, and we broke all kinds of rules, but I don't care. I miss him so much, Puck."-Meghan”

“I know you'd risk everything to protect us, and that's what worries me. You still don't know enough about this world to be properly terrified. Things are going to get screwed eight ways from Sunday, and you're making goo-goo eyes at the enemy! I heard what happened in Machina's realm and yes, it scared the hell out of me. I love you, dammit. I'm not going to watch you get torn apart when everything goes bad.”

“So, we're at war. Perfect. Shall we save time and kill each other now, or did you want to wait until later?"-Puck”

“My eyelids flickered, and Ash made a noise that was almost a growl. "Dammit, Meghan," he snarled, grabbing both my arms. "I am not going to lose you this close to home. Get up!" He rose, pulling me to my feet and, before I could even register what was going on, pressed his lips to mine.-Ash”

“Really?" i stared at him, surprised. "You're going to Tir Na Nog? Why?""I told you before, I am looking for someone.""Who?""You ask a wearying amount of questions, human."-Grimalkin”

“Hasty and reckless, just like a human." He sniffed, staring straight at Ash, now. "But...I would have thought that you knew better, prince."-Grimalkin”

“Don't worry too much about him, Meghan. Robin Goodfellow has always been extra-ordinarily difficult to kill."-Ash”

“And, truth be told, I'm curious myself. I wouldn't want Goodfellow dying before we ever resolved our duel. That would be unfortunate.”

“Meghan's in lo-ove," sang the phouka, making my heart stop. "Meghan's in lo-ove. Meghan and Ash, sitting in a tre--"-Tiaothin”

“If the entire cheerleading squad turns into mice, Robin, I will be very upset with you. Mortal adolescents are blind and cruel. You know that. You mustn't take revenge, no matter how you feel about the girl. Especially now. There are more worrisome things on the move.-Ms Stacy”

“Technically, I was trying to kill Puck. You just happened to be there. But yes, if I'd had the shot, I would have taken it.-Prince Ash”

“If I thought this would turn into a history lesson, I would have picked a better classroom than a city street."-Grimalkin”

“Ladies and Felines," he stated grandly, grasping the doorknob, "Welcome to Tir Na Nog. Land of endless winter and shitloads of snow.”

“So," he murmured, grinning as he tilted my chin up, "Before I march off to battle, how 'bout a kiss for luck?”

“Stop it!" I hissed glaring at both in turn. "Stop it right now! Put your weapons up, both of you! Ash, you're in no condition to fight, and, Puck, shame on you, agreeing to duel him when he's obviously hurt. Sit down and shut up."-Meghan”

“That's what you promised him, Princess?" he shouted throwing up his hands. "That was your bargain? You would offer yourself to the Unseelie Court?" He turned and punched a tree, sending twigs and icicles to the ground. "Of all the stupid ideas! What is wrong with you?"-PUCK”

“Metallic trees. That's new. If you see any steel dryads, be sure to tell me so I can run away screaming.”

“If you're done playing with will-o'-the-wisps and kelpies, I think we should continue. Oh, but do tell me the next time you want to have tea with an ogre. I'll be sure to bring my club. -Puck”

“Time to switch to decaf, princess. If you're going to shriek at every bogey that jumps out and says 'boo', you'll be exhausted before we reach the edge of the woods. -Puck”

“See you later princess. Don't let leatherface catch you on your way home -Robbie”

“Don't call me that," I muttered, banging my forehead into my locker. "And the tutoring went fabulous. Please kill me now." -Meghan Chase”

“Aren't you that hick girl who lives out in the swamp? Do you even know what a computer is? -Scott Waldron”

“Man, that was impressive. You must've jumped three feet in the air. What did you think I was, leatherface or something?-Robbie Goodfell”

“But ... but what if I hit you?”A snort. “You’re not going to hit me.”“How do you know?” I bristled at his amused tone. “I could hit you. Even master swordsmen make mistakes. I could get a lucky shot, or you might not see me coming. I don’t want to hurt you.”He favored me with another patient look. “And how much experience do you have with swords and weapons in general?” “Um.” I glanced down at the saber in my hand. “Thirty seconds?”He smiled, that calm, irritatingly confident smirk. “You’re not going to hit me.”

“I think ... I should go home soon. Mom and Luke are probably going nuts. What about you?"He shrugged, a casual lift of one shoulder. "You tell me. When I left Nevernever, I didn't have any plans other than being with you. If you want me around, just say the word.”

“You made me feel alive again.”

“She leaned forward, looking utterly inhuman, and I fought the urge to run screaming from the throne room. "I have heard of your exploits, Meghan Chase, " the queen rasped, narrowing her eyes. "Did you not think I would find out? You tricked a prince of the Unseelie Court into following you into the Iron Realm. You made him fight your enemies for you. You bound him to a contract that nearly killed him. My precious boy, almost lost to me forever, because of you. How do you think that makes me feel?" Mab's smile grew more predatory, as my stomach twisted in fear.”

“She pulled up Ash's shirt, revealing a layer of gauze that was just beginning to seep blood onto the mattress. "At least the bandaging was done properly," she mused. "Very nice, clean work. Your handiwork, I presume, Goodfellow?" "Which one?""The bandage, Robin.""Yeah, that was mine, too.”

“You're kind of blind, you know?" Puck whispered, smiling to soften his words. "I wouldn't defy Oberon for just anyone. But, for you..." He leaned forward, touching his forehead to mine. "I'd come back from the dead for you.”

“You're here, and the only dance I want is this one.”

“If you are going to do that, would you mind not jostling the bed so much?' came a sarcastic voice near the head board. 'Perhaps you could roll around on the floor.”

“Ash looked at me. I saw pain in his eyes, and a little regret, but they shone with such emotion I felt breathless. 'I already have.”

“What if I take you apart and turn you into a toaster oven, how would you like that tin can?”

“I was minding my own buisness long before you and the princess started humping like rabbits.”

“His nearness made my senses spin”

“Part of me wanted to walk up to him and hug him from behind, and part of me wanted to hurl a snowball at his perfect face to get some kind of reaction.”

“You ran a light anyway, dickhead!”

“For a moment, no one moved.Then Ash gave a dark, humorless chuckle and stepped forward. "We can stand around looking at each other all night," he said, locking gazes with the biggest redcap, who had a stained red bandana on his head and was missing an eye. "Or would you like me to start the massacre?"One-Eye bared his fangs. "Keep your pants on, prince....”

“I will keep fighting for you," Ash said in a low, intense voice. "Do what you must. I'll be here, whatever you decide. If it takes one year or a thousand, I will keep you safe.”

“Summer and Winter were supposed to be enemies. We were not supposed to cooperate, we were not supposed to go on quests together and, most important, we were not supposed to fall in love.”

“I learned that love can transcend race and time, and that it can be beautiful and perfect and worth fighting for but also fragile and heartbreaking, and sometimes sacrifice is necessary. That sometimes it's you against the world, and there are no easy answers. That you have to know when to hold on...and when to let go. And even if that love comes back, you could discover something in someone else who has been there all along.”

“Still dressed in matching butler suits with pink bow ties, the redcaps filed into the dining room, every one of them scowling at me. Ash's eyes widened and he quickly hid his mouth under his laced fingers, but I saw his shoulders shaking with silent laughter.Luckily, the redcaps didn't notice.”

“How very like you, Puck.” Ash’s voice came from a great distance, and the room started to spin. “Offer them a taste of faery wine, and act surprised when they’re consumed by it.”That struck me as hilarious, and I broke into hysterical giggles. And once I began, I couldn’t stop. I laughed until I was gasping for breath, tears streaming down my face. My feet itched and my skin crawled. I needed to move, to do something. I tried standing up, wanting to spin and dance, but the room tilted violently and I fell, still shrieking with laughter.Somebody caught me, scooping me off my feet and into their arms. I smelled frost and winter, and heard an exasperated sigh from somewhere above my head.“What are you doing, Ash?” I heard someone ask. A familiar voice, though I couldn’t think of his name, or why he sounded so suspicious.“I’m taking her back to her room.” The person above me sounded wonderfully calm and deep. I sighed and settled into his arms. “She’ll have to sleep off the effects of the fruit. We’ll likely be here another day because of your idiocy.”The other voice said something garbled and unintelligible. I was suddenly too sleepy and light-headed to care. Relaxing against the mysterious person’s chest, I fell into a heady sleep.”

“I closed my eyes instead. And Puck kissed me.“If you are going to do that, would you mind not jostling the bed so much?”came a sarcastic voice near the headboard. “Perhaps you could roll around on the floor.”Blushing furiously, I looked up. Grimalkin lay on the pillow, watching us witha bemused, half-lidded stare. Puck followed my gaze and let out an explosive sigh.“Did I ever mention how much I hate cats?”“Do not blame me, Goodfellow.” Grimalkin blinked, managing to soundbored and indignant at the same time. “I was minding my own business long before you and theprincess started humping like rabbits.”

“Wow, Meghan!” Kimi bounced in place, clapping her hands. “You look awesome! I love what you did with your hair.”“PRINCESS.” Ironhorse looked me up and down, nodding in approval.“TRULY, YOU ARE A VISION.”I glanced at Puck, who was staring at me in a daze. “Um…” he stammered, while I nearly went into shock with the novelty of actually rendering Puck speechless. “You look…nice,” he muttered at last.I blushed, suddenly self-conscious.”

“You know, I’m really starting to hate the insect life around here,” hemuttered. “Next time, remind me to bring a can of Off!”-Puck”

“STOP!” Ironhorse bellowed as Puck immediately pulled out his dagger, shoving me behindhim. “I DID NOT COME HERE TO FIGHT, ROBIN GOODFELLOW. PUT YOURWEAPON DOWN AND LISTEN TO ME.”“Oh, I don’t think so, Rusty,” Puck sneered, as we began backing toward theedge of the village. “I have a better idea. You stay there until we get to Oberon, who will ripyou apart and bury your pieces so far apart you’ll never get put back together.”