Use your wish,” I whisper to Aladdin, opening my eyes. “Please.”“If I do,” he replies softly, “I’ll lose you.

— Jessica Khoury

Well, that's the thing, isn't it? Everyone always blames the monster--but no one ever blames the one who created it. Isn't that right?" He sneered at Moira's limp form. "Tell me, who is the monster? The creation or the creator? It has to start somewhere.

— Jessica Khoury

We were too greedy, grasping for immortality too soon. Perhaps if we had only been patient, content to wait, we would all have forever in the end.

— Jessica Khoury

What? You don't think I'm perfect?" I can't resist, because he gets so riled whenever I bring it up. "I can run up to thirty miles without stopping. I can jump six feet in the air. There is not a material in this world sharp enough to pierce my skin. I cannot drown or suffocate. I am immune to every illness known to man. Furthermore, I have perfect memory. My senses are more acute than anyone else's. My reflexes rival those of a cat. I will never grow old" - my voice falls, all smugness gone -"and I will never die.

— Jessica Khoury

When I saw you in the hall with Darian,” he says at last, “I felt more angry than I’ve felt in a long time. I was angry and. . . And afraid, that you wanted to be there, that you wanted him touching you. In that one look, I felt more than I’ve ever felt with Caspian. Zahra, I think you’re right—love isn’t a choice. If I could choose to love Caspian, maybe this would all be going differently, but I don’t think that’s possible. Not anymore.” All the smoke inside me sinks as I stare at him. “What are you saying?” He turns and meets my gaze squarely. As much I want to, I find it impossible to look away. The intensity of his copper gaze holds me entranced.“I think you know,” he says softly. “Or am I the only one who feels it?

— Jessica Khoury

WHERE IS MY SON?" Uncle Antonio bellows, levelling the two AK-47s he's holding at the lot of us. "Get away from him, you bastards!

— Jessica Khoury

Whore!” he snarls, slamming me into the wall, so hard stars burst in my eyes. I hiss at him, the tiger in me threatening to emerge and rip out his throat, but a shout brings me back to myself.“Zahra!” I turn my head and see Aladdin running toward us. When he sees that it’s Darian holding me roughly against the wall, his face twists into such rage that he seems unrecognizable. He crashes into Darian before the prince has a chance to say anything. The two slam into the ground, Aladdin throwing a punch that cracks against Darian’s jaw.“Stop it!” I cry. “Prince Ahead!” The boys ignore me, rolling and thrashing like

— Jessica Khoury

Why do you care what happens to her? I thought we humans were vapors to you, here today and gone tomorrow.”“Caspian is. . . Different. She reminds me of someone, someone I’d give my life for if I could.”“The queen?” he asks. “The one who died?”“Rosana. My dear RO.” My voice is soft as a ripple on the water. “She once ruled the Amulets, and Caspian is her descendant. She has Rosana’s strength of spirit, and I cannot look at her without thinking of my old friend. If she were to come to harm on my account. . . I could not bear that through the centuries.” I already carry a mountain of shame, a constant reminder of that day on Mount Russia. Aladdin lifts a hand and brushes the hair back from my face. “You truly are remarkable, Zahra of the Lamp.

— Jessica Khoury

Women! They think it so romantic to break the rules. But what are we if we don't hold to tradition, am I right?" ~Darian

— Jessica Khoury

You clumsy wench—Gods above! Are you trying to rob me, girl?” The nobleman seizes my wrist and yanks it from his pocket. My hand comes up with the pipe clenched in it. I stare at him, horrified.“I. . .”“I’ll have your head for this!” the man rages. “I’ll have you whipped!”***”I got the pipe,” I say, holding it up. He stares for a minute, blinking, and then bursts into laughter. A few curious deer stick their heads through the shrubs to see what the racket is. Aladdin doubles over, laughing loud enough to startle birds from the trees overhead, and after a moment, I start laughing too. I haven’t laughed this hard in a long, long while, and it feels wonderful. We sit on the grass and laugh until our faces are red, and we’re out of breath.“You are the worst thief I have ever seen,” declares Aladdin.”I don’t know what you’re talking about. I got it, didn’t I?”“My grandmother could pick pockets better than that! Though that’s not quite fair; my grandmother was the best pickpocket in Parthenon. She taught me all her tricks. Drove my mother crazy.

— Jessica Khoury