“I am fairly certain that given a cape and a nice tiara, I could save the world. ”

“The world is full of people who will go their whole lives and not actually live one day. She did not intend on being one of them.”

“Too many talented people string and unstring their instruments without ever playing their music.”

“I hope you don’t expect fairness from me, Alina. It isn’t one of my specialties.”

“How did you fare with the Queen?" he asked."I have no idea," I said honestly. "Everything she said was perfectly nice, but the whole time she was looking at me as if I were something her dog spit up.”

“Get moving. We need to find that stag so I don’t have to chop your head off.”“I never said you had to chop my head off,” I grumbled, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and stumbling after him.“Run you through with a sword, then? Firing squad?”“I was thinking something quieter, like maybe a nice poison.”“All you said was that I had to kill you. You didn’t say how.”I stuck my tongue out at his back, but I was glad to see him so energized, and I suppose it was a good thing that he could joke about it all. At least, I hoped he was joking.”

“I am yours," he whispered. "I live to hold you, Risa. I breathe to touch you.”