I stepped closer to him and lowered my voice. 'If you could change one thing, what would it be?' He pulled the sheep pendant from his pocket. A question filled his eyes. I held out my hand. Riley placed it in my palm and I curled my finger around the necklace, pressing the metal into my skin.

— Maria V. Snyder

Is there anything else you haven't told me?" My head spun. So much had happened, and we still needed to stop a powerful magician. Death was a real possibility. I needed Valet to know how I felt." I love you"Valet wrapped me in his arms. "My love has been yours since the fire festival. If those goons had killed you, I knew then that I would never be the same. I didn't want or expect this. But I couldn't resist you.

— Maria V. Snyder

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

— Maria V. Snyder

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

— Maria V. Snyder

Lief. That's not nice, considering all your sister has done for you," admonished Perl."Oh, right. How could I forget that she made me bait for a snake, left me on house arrest in Ilia, and smuggled me into the Keep in a coffin.

— Maria V. Snyder

Living is a risk,' I snapped at him. 'Every decision, every interaction, every step, every time you get out of bed in the morning, you take a risk. To survive is to know you're taking that risk and to not get out of bed clutching illusions of safety.

— Maria V. Snyder

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

— Maria V. Snyder

Of course, you didn't want our help. Now I have to go beat up some soldier just to keep my ego intact.

— Maria V. Snyder

Oh, you made an impression. Like a stone caught in my boot.

— Maria V. Snyder

Old soul." I laughed. "You're Thirty."" It's not the years, it's the experience," he paused.

— Maria V. Snyder