“Thanks for being my best friend and making my life bearable. Oh, and sorry I fell in love with you for a while there.”

“It's probably for the best, I told myself. How would I have said goodbye to Mal anyway? Thanks for being my best friend and making my life bearable. Oh, and sorry I fell in love with you for a while there. Make sure to write!'What are you smiling at?'I whirled, peering into the gloom. The Darkling's voice seemed to float out of the shadows. He walked down to the stream, crouching on the bank to splash water on his face and through his dark hair.'Well?' he asked, looking up at me.'Myself,' I admitted.'Are you that funny?''I'm hilarious.”

“I have loved you all my life, Mal,” I whispered through my tears. “There is no end to our story.”

“Good luck,” I said automatically and then wanted to kick myself. Good luck? Have a lovely time, Mal. Hope you find a pretty Grisha, fall deeply in love, and make lots of gorgeous disgustingly talented babies together.I sat frozen on the steps, watching them disappear down the path, still feeling the warm pressure of Mal’s hand in mine. Oh well, I thought as I got to my feet. Maybe he’ll fall into a ditch on his way there.”

“I stood up, knocking my chair back with a clatter. 'This is a waste of time.''Is it? What else do you have to do with your days? Make maps? Fetch inks for some old cartographer?''There's nothing wrong with being a mapmaker.''Of course not. And there's nothing wrong with being a lizard either. Unless you were born to be a hawk.”

“I thought the love I'd had for him belonged to the past, to the foolish, lonely girl I never wanted to be again. I'd tried to bury that girl and the love she'd felt, just as I'd tried to bury my power. But I wouldn't make that mistake again.”

“I'm sorry it took me so long to see you, Alina. But I see you now.”