“He had brought out the man in Alec, and now it was Alec’s turn to bring out the hero in him”

“And Ferris had watched Alec go past him out of the door noted the bones...but he never would have connected that ragged man with the honey-and-acid creature who'd insulted him at Diane's house.”

“He disregards my opinions and wishes at every turn, with his neurotic, challenging ways, and now I fear I’m becoming neurotic and challenging as well. He brings out the worst in me, and I know damn well I bring out the worst in him.”

“Fine." Magnus stood up. "But," he added, pausing by Alec's chair and leaning in close to him, "you are not trivial."Alec flushed. "If you say so," he said."I say so," said Magnus, and he turned to follow Isabelle out of the room.”

“She loved him because he had brought her back to life. She had been like a caterpillar in a cocoon, and he had drawn her out and shown her that she was a butterfly.”

“I was crying a little for the boy I had wanted him to be and the boy he hadn’t turned out to be.”