Maria V. Snyder

"“Locked in darkness that surrounded me like a coffin, I had nothing to distract me from my memories.”"

"“I am not a fool.”"

"“To Yelena, our newest food taster. May you last longer than your predecessor.”"

"“His movements were so graceful that I wondered if he had been a dancer, but his words betrayed to me that his fluid gestures were those of a trained killer.”"

"“I did what any good rat would do. I bit down on the guard's hand until I tasted blood.”"

"“It's a dirty way to fight, but I'm late for lunch.""

"“You're easily distracted by the pattern of the cloth and can't see the quality of the threads.”"

"“Poisoned, pursued and living with a psychopath. Not what I would consider the good life. Death has its perks.”"

"“Only the weak invite their demons to live with them. Isn't that right?”"

"“Everyone makes choices in life. Some bad, some good. It's called living, and if you want to bow out, then go right ahead. But don't do it halfway. Don't linger in whiner's limbo.”"

"“When you warned me that you would test me from time to time, I thought you meant spiking my food. But it seems there is more than one way to poison a person’s heart, and it doesn’t even require a meal.”"

"“Trusting is hard. Knowing who to trust, even harder.”"

"“Besides, thinking kind thoughts about Valek could be extremely dangerous. I could admire his skills, and be relieved when he was on my side in a fight. But for a rat to like the cat? That scenario ended only one way. With one dead rat.”"

"“I balled my hands into tight fists to keep them from wrapping around Mr. I-Know-Everything's superior neck.”"

"“Knowledge, whatever the form, could be as effective as a weapon.”"

"“I hate a mystery. I would have let the identity of the Commander’s successor remain a secret, as I have for fifteen years, but tonight’s opportunity was too tempting. With eight drunken Generals sleeping it off, I could have danced on their beds without waking them.""

"“They actually think I would abandon the Commander. they have no concept of loyalty.”"

"“Sieges weathered, fight together, friends forever.”"

"“The uniform enhanced his athletic body, and my thoughts drifted to how magnificent he would look with his uniform puddled around his feet.”"

"“One, and two, and three, four, five. Keep fighting like this and you will die," Janco sang.”"

"“I didn’t want or expect this. But I couldn’t resist you.”"

"“But for a rat to like the cat? That scenario ended only one way. With one dead rat.”"

"“When I carved this statue, I was thinking about you. Delicate in appearance, but with a strength unnoticed at first glance.” His eyes met mine.”"

"“I peered deeper and found my soul. A little tattered and with some holes, but there all the same. It had always been there, I realized with shock.”"

"“I understood that Valek’s loyalty to the Commander was without question. His blue eyes held a fierce determination and I knew in my soul that Valek would take his own life after he had taken mine.”"

"“Two men. I had just killed two men. A killing machine, I hadn't even hesitated. Fear and rage settled deep in my chest, forming a layer of ice around my heart.”"

"“But you've slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart.”"

"“I took three steps and was wrapped in his arms, where I belonged. No confusion here. No worries here. No troubles here.”"

"“Many have tried to kill us. All have failed."

"“When I carved this, my thoughts were on you, love. Your life is like this snake's coils. No matter how many turns it makes, you'll end up back where you belong. With me.”"

"“I’ll have you know that the most delicate flowers often produce the strongest scent when crushed.”"

"“Her amber eyes burned into mine with all the hate and loathing she could muster. Underneath, though, she was terrified. Hate and loathing didn't bother me, but fear was a powerful emotion. Fear causes the dog to bite and Roze was one bitch.”"

"“Don't feel ashamed for having those feelings and those memories. What happened in the past can't be changed, but they can be a guide for what happens in the future.”"

"“Bad dreams are ghosts of our fears and worries, haunting us while we sleep. I doubt Valek is in trouble.”"

"“Trust, Kiki said, Trust is peppermints.”"

"“I gave him a bored look. I had been threatened many times before and had learned that the men who didn’t make verbal threats were the most dangerous.”"

"“Your fear remains strong. You are not ready to face your story, preferring instead to surround yourself with knots. Someday, they will strangle you.”"

"“Pretty stupid,” I called after his retreating form. “To give up before all possible solutions have been tried.”"

"“I wanted to dissolve into the floor, mixing myself with the hard stone. A stone had a single purpose: to be. No complicated promises, no worries and no feelings.”"

"“Should haves lead to death”"

"“Unfortunately, diplomacy was a dance I needed to learn.”"

"“There's always another storm. It's the way the world works. Snowstorms, rainstorms, windstorms, sandstorms, and firestorms. Some are fierce and others are small. You have to deal with each one separately, but you need to keep an eye on whats brewing for tomorrow.”"

"“Nothing like having a warrant for your execution to get a girl motivated.”"

"“You asked how I can be so calm. I don't have time not to be. I would like to grieve and worry and carry on, but that doesn't achieve results.”"

"“You should know what happens when you play with fire, Cahill. Eventually, you'll get burned.”"

"“It's the problem with mistakes, they tend to linger.”"

"“He was the test I hadn’t studied for, the quiz I was bound to fail. Out of my depth.”"