Ruin and Rising

Na razrusha'ya. I am not ruined. E'ya razrushost. I am ruination.

I will strip away all that you know, all that you love, until you have no shelter but mine.

Beauty was your armor. Fragile stuff, all show. But what's inside you? That's steel. It's brave and unbreakable. And it doesn't need fixing.

They had an ordinary life, full of ordinary things-if love can ever be called that.

He leaned against the window, and the gilded frame came into sharp focus. “Do you think it would be any different with your tracker beside you? With that Lantsov pup?” “Yes,” I said simply. “Because you would be the strong one?” “Because they’re better men than you.” “You might make me a better man.” “And you might make me a monster.

Aleksander," I whispered. A boy's name, given up. Almost forgotten.

Maybe love was superstition, a prayer we said to keep the truth of loneliness at bay.

Why waste my anger on you when the fault is mine? I should have anticipated another betrayal from you, one more mad grasp at some kind of childish ideal. But I seem to be a victim of my own wishes where you are concerned.” His expression hardened. “What have you come here for, Alina?” I answered him honestly. “I wanted to see you.” I caught the briefest glimpse of surprise before his face shuttered again. “There are two thrones on that dais. You could see me any time you liked.

I hope you weren't looking to me to be the voice of reason. I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret.

In this moment he was just a boy -brilliant, blessed with too much power, burdened by eternity.

I saw the prince when I was in Os Alta,” said Ekaterina. “He’s not bad looking.” “Not bad looking?” said another voice. “He’s damnably handsome.” Luchenko scowled. “Since when—” “Brave in battle, smart as a whip.” Now the voice seemed to be coming from above us. Luchenko craned his neck, peering into the trees. “An excellent dancer,” said the voice. “Oh, and an even better shot.” “Who—” Luchenko never got to finish. A blast rang out, and a tiny black hole appeared between his eyes. I gasped. “Imposs—” “Don’t say it,” muttered Mal.

Thanks for the rescue." "Everyone needs a hobby." "I thought yours was preening." "Two hobbies.

Aleksander." His eyes fluttered shut. "Don't let me be alone," he murmured. And then he was gone.

Yuyeh sesh. Despise your heart. Ni weh sesh. I have no heart.

He watches her the way Harshaw watches fire. Like he’ll never have enough of her. Like he’s trying to capture what he can before she’s gone.

Maybe love was superstition, a prayer we said to keep the truth of loneliness at bay. I tilted my head back. The stars looked like they were close together, when really they were millions of miles apart. In the end, maybe love just meant longing for something impossibly bright and forever out of reach.

It’s true,” I said softly. “You are stronger, wiser, infinite in experience.” I leaned forward and whispered, my lips brushing the shell of his ear. “But I am an apt pupil.

It’s a vow that if I can’t be anything else to you, at least I can be a weapon in your hand.

You are all I’ve ever wanted,” he said. “You are the whole of my heart.

I don't want lies between us, Alina." "How many lies have you told me, Sturmhond? How many secrets have you kept until you were ready to share them?" "Prince's prerogative?" "If a mere prince gets a pass, so does a living saint." "Are you going to make a habit of winning arguments? It's very unbecoming." "Was this an argument?" "Obviously not. I don't lose arguments.

I've been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet." "Please tell me you plan to dress up as a volcra and jump out of a cake." "Well, now you've ruined the surprise.

I’ve never understood this taste for otkazat’sya. Is it because you thought you were one of them for so long?” “I had a taste for you, once.” His head snapped up. He hadn’t expected that. Saints, it was satisfying.

You want a love story too? There's none to be had.

He’d wanted me to believe in his ruthlessness. Then I remembered his words from so long ago: Make me your villain.

You were meant for more than me, and I'll die fighting to give it to you. But please don't ask me to pretend it's easy.

I'm the Sun Summoner. It gets dark when I say it does.

You'll still make a great king." "Of course I will," he scoffed. "I'm melancholy, not daft.

You never know," said Nikolai. "I've been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet." "Please tell me you plan to dress up as a volcra and jump out of a cake." "Well, now you've ruined the surprise.

Everyone okay?" Mal asked. "Never better," said Genya shakily. David raised his hand. "I've been better.

I would have been different too, without you. Weaker, reckless.” He smiled slightly. “Afraid of the dark.” He brushed the tears from my cheeks. I wasn’t sure when they’d started. “But no matter who or what I was, I would have been yours.