Richelle Mead

“Because it’s our duty to God to protect the rest of humanity from evil creatures of the night.”

“Too bad you got so bogged down in books. You've got the spirit of a warrior.”

“You made your own jean shorts...with a butter knife?”

“You are the most boring teacher ever."He grinned and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, just as a knock sounded at the door. "It all depends on what you me to teach you.”

“Emerald green eyes studied usfrom a face that could have been sculpted by one of theclassical artists I so admired. Shocked, I dismissed thecomparison as soon as it popped into my head. This was avampire, after all. It was ridiculous to admire him the way Iwould some hot human guy.”

“I went to bed feeling melancholy, wishing I could havepoured out all my fears and insecurities to my mom. Wasn’tthat what normal mothers and daughters did?”

“I’d been raised to be practical and keep myemotions in check, but I loved cars. That was one of the fewlegacies I’d picked up from my mom. She was a mechanic,and some of my best childhood memories were of workingin the garage with her.”

“Hey Rose, welcome back. You still breaking hearts?""Are you volunteering?" His grin widened." Let's hang out sometime and find out. If you ever get parole.”

“Sure," said Adrian. "I bet going in there and kicking down the door will change their minds. Take Rose with you, and you guys'll make a really good impression.”

“His fingertip gently wiped away a tear that had escaped down my cheek. "That's part of it," he said. "But also... well, you and I will both be Lissa's guardians someday. I need to protect her at all cost. If a pack of Strigoi come, I need to throw my body between them and her." "I know that. Of course that's what you have to do." The black sparkles were dancing in front of my eyes again. I was fading out. "No. If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you.”

“Lissa's guardians- she had a fleet now- walked with her. I was among them, wearing my finest black and white, including the red collar marking me as a royal guardian.”

“Rose scowled. 'I should be the one staying. I should be Jill's roommate. No offense, Sydney. We need you for the paperwork, but I'm the one who's gotta kick anyone's ass who gives Jill trouble.”

“Abe glanced at Rose. "You see that?" he said. "Now that's devotion." She rolled her eyes at him.”

“Adrian, I'm on a date. Why are you here? On my car?”

“Christian's family lived under the shadow cast by his parents. They had purposely become Striogi, trading thier magic and mortality to become immortal and subsist on killing others. His parents were dead now, but that didn't stop people from not trusting him. They seemed to think he'd go Strigoi at any moment and take everyone else with him. His abrasiveness and dark sence of humor didn't really help things, either.”

“Hey." She said, looking up from an open book propped up on one knee. She brushed a few strands of pale hair out of her face. Her boyfriend, Christian, lay on the floor near her, his head propped up on her other knee. He greeted me by way of a nod. Concidering the antagonism the sometimes flared up between us, that was almost on par with him giving me a bear hug.”

“The rage that had expolded inside me diffused. I didn't know where it had come from. I had a short temper and often acted impulsively,but this had been intense and ugly even for me. Weird.”

“You always said I should quit the bookstore and find something else to do," I reminded him. "Yes, but that was because I thought you'd go on to do something respectable. Like become a stripper or the mayor's mistress.”

“Well, she was talking to me. That's enough to make anyone lose their temper. And I accused her of sleeping with my dad because he was the soundest evolutionary choice.”

“You make a joke out of everything.Life’s too painful not to.”

“What happened, then? You're stomping through every puddle you can find and look like you're going to punch the first person you see." "Why are you hanging around, then? Aren't you worried about getting hit?" "Aw, you'd never hurt me. My face is too pretty”

“A man can never compete with a woman's father”

“When you've got everything you need, why complicate it?”

“Seth's quote from his book:"And if I only couldI'd make a deal with God and I'd get Him to swap our places"-"Running up that Hill" by Kate Bush”

“I looked at you... and saw your goodness, your hope, and your faith. Those are what make you beautiful. So, so beautiful.So it was't my hair?”

“You did good Roza. Very good. Now sleep.”

“That was ridiculous," I told Dorian, once she'd left. "She's not the kind of person to fall for your flirting.""On the contrary," said Dorian. "She's exactly the kind of person to fall for it. I understand these warrior maids, you know. They live such harsh, cold lives, always trying to keep up with the men... when really, they just need someone to make them feel like a woman. And that, of course, is an area in which I excel. Why, if I'd had ten minutes alone with her—”

“Once you cross into the next loyal kingdom, however... be warned. You may not find such a warm reception. The Mimosa Land and its residents are not nearly so accommodating."This was warm and accommodating? That didn't bode well for the next kingdom. I also found it sad that a place called the Mimosa Land was unfriendly. It sounded like a party waiting to happen.”

“And you think that's it? All is forgiven and he'll just be cool with me having Storm King's grandchildren because we're all united in some super team? That's naive."Dorian's face suddenly hardened. "Equally naive is the thought that I would carelessly allow him to do anything to you or your children. How many times do I have to convince you of my protection? Do you really think that if he comes back here and attempts to harm one hair on your head, I'll allow it? Eugenie, if he so much as looks at you in a way I don't like, Rurik and his conspirators over there won't have a chance to act because I'll have long since run that bastard kitsune through myself." Dorian's tone astonishingly became light and easy again. "Now then. I wonder where we'll be making camp tonight.”

“Everything‟s fine,” I said, with a tight smile. “Kiyo was just giving me his latest explanation about how my son is a terror to be feared.” Dorian scoffed. “Little Thundro? A terror? Hardly, unless perhaps we‟re discussing diapers.”

“Hey Sydney," she said, giving me a small, crooked smile as she entered the room. Her flashing, dark eyes were friendly, but they were also assessing everything in the room, much as Eddie's gaze was. It was a guardian thing. Rose was about my height and dressed very casually in jeans and a red tank top. But, as always, there was something as exotic and dangerous about her beauty that made her stand out from everyone else. She was like a tropical flower in this dark, stuffy room. One that could kill you.”

“Oh,” she said. “You can rest assured that I will kill him. Mostly this is to emphasize what I said before: no more time to lounge around and decide with no consequences. For every moment you waste deliberating today, the Oak King will be in the hands of my torturers, experiencing the most excruciating pain. Your delay extends that agony.”“Oh, irony,” murmured Dorian.”

“He stepped forward and punched Dorian in the face, hard enough that I heard a thwack."Ow," moaned Dorian, wincing from the pain. "My greatest asset.”

“My life was split by two worlds, but he kept me whole.”

“My smile faded, and I suddenly felt confused. My heart leapt in my chest. "Why would you do that for me?""What wouldn't I do for you?”

“I did, however, manage to do it without hurting those dogs. Very considerate of me. Don't let it be said I'm not an animal lover-that wretched kitsune aside.”

“We can't do this without you," I managed at last. "Everyone talks about my powers, but you're the badass here.”

“How do you know it was the blighted pile? Did you recognize Maiwenn’s gift?”“No, but there was a marble bust of Dorian in there, which I figured must have been his kingdom’s ‘humble’ gift.”

“And I could see his internal struggle become an all out war. "It wouldn't have made a difference. Not with Adrian involved," he said..... "I meant it. I won't be that guy Rose. I won't be that man that takes someone else's girlfriend.”

“And I told you, I'm not going to pursue another man's girlfriend. You want to talk honor. There it is in its purest form”

“But it's not the name I'd give to a conqueror of worlds... I would've gone with Thundro or Ragnor. I might just call him Thundro anyway.”

“I lifted the lid and found a piece of bread and some water—and a rat that quickly darted off the tray. Talk about adding insult to injury.”

“Mistress, I have never asked anything of you in my servitude. But now, I beg you this: do not make me keep passing these adolescent sentiments back and forth all night.”

“If we could manage any sort of trust again... Well. That would make me happier than you can imagine”

“You need me? You yell. You want to leave? We go. I'll get you out of here, no matter what.”

“I don't believe in angels, I believe in what I can do for myself.”

“I found the candles—atrocious air freshening ones that smelled like fake pine.”

“We can be together, Rose. Soon. We're almost there. And nothing will ever keep us apart.......”

“This is politics. People in power never have to play by the same rules.”

“He froze, and it was one of those rare moments when Adrian Ivashkov was caught totally and completely off guard. "Did you know," he said slowly, "that Victor Dashkov is sitting on your bed?" "Yeah," I said. "It was kind of a shock to us too.”