"The fire in you burns as fiercely as it did when I first met you."

"He returns my smile. His teeth are beautiful, the loveliest I've seen so far on these streets."

"So long as I remain in Day's life, I will hurt him. Any other alternative is impossible.Now, he is free."

"Without his father's shadow in a way, he's beautiful."

"Trusting me, Teren murmurs, "is a dangerous game, mi Adelinetta."I'm doing more than that, I reply. "For the rest of this journey, you will be my personal guard.At that, Teren's eyes flare with surprise and anger. "I'm not your lackey, Your Majesty."And I'm not Giulietta, I fire back."

"He is beauty, inside and out.He is the silver lining in a world of darkness.He is my light."

"After a lifetime of darkness, I want to leave something behind that is made of light."

"The phony surrender's over, the ceasefire has ended. The final fight for the Republic has begun."

"It means, Day, that you're dying."

"If you want to rebel, rebel from inside the system.That's much more powerful than rebelling outside the system."

"I suppose you come in here often, then, I say, half teasing. "Bringing your maids and admirers?Magiano frowns at that. He shakes his head. "You think I'm bedding every maid I speak to? he says and shrugs. "Flattered, Your Majesty. But you are very wrong."So, what you're telling me is that you come to this secret space alone?He tilts his head in a flirtatious way. "What's wrong with a thief wanting a little private time now and then? He comes closer. His breath warms my skin like the fog that hovers over the water. "Of course, here you are. I suppose I'm not alone, after all."

"The darkness seeps in a little more every day. What have I done? How can I be like this?"

"Someone's going to be very pleased to see you.""I don't think the Elector will be as excited as you think.""I wasn't talking about the Elector."My heart jumps at that."

"I've always had this interest in sibling relationships because I don't have any siblings. I'm completely a product of the one-child policy in China, so I always kind of wished that I had an older brother or a younger brother or sister just to have that bond, so I find myself constantly writing about that relationship."

"The king is dead. Long live the queen."

"Well enough, I reply. "Remember, you're drunk. And happy. You're supposed to be lusting over your escort. Try smiling a little more. like I'm lusting? This is me, lusting. His lashes flutter at me. better."

"My heart's been torn wide open, just like I feared it would be, and I have no willpower to close it back up."

"Few people ever kill for the right reasons."

"Already, I'm starting to forget the face of the man I killed."

"I lean my head against my knee and close my eyes. Even the illusion of June is enough to send a stabbing pain through my chest. Hell. I miss her so much."

"She's pretty in a way that distracts me just like she did in the Skiz ring. No, pretty's not the right word. Beautiful."

"Don't be afraid, he says with a half smile. "You're with me. His hand tightens around my wrist, tugging me down again playfully. And this time, I feel safe enough to take a deep breath of my own and do as he says."

"I have never known the mind of a wolf hunting a deer, but I imagine it must feel a little like this: the twisted excitement of seeing the weak and wounded cowering before you, the knowledge that, in this instant, you have the power to end its life or grant it mercy. In this moment, I am a god."

"We can heal. Perhaps we can return to that same place we once stood, when we were both young and innocent."

"I always knew, on some level, that I wouldn't live long. It's simply not written in my stars."

"Goodnight, June."

"So, when I thought June might take you away, I didn't know what to do. I felt like she was taking everything that mattered to me. I felt like she was taking away from you all the things that I didn't have. That's why I'm sorry. I'm sorry because you shouldn't have to be everything to me. I had you, but I'd forgotten that I had myself too."

"I'd forgotten that a boy from the streets is no match for the future Princeps."

"Everything's science fiction until someone makes it science fact."

"You led the soldiers right to my family's door. You're the reason they're dead."

"I stare at him, trying to comprehend what he's done. He saved Magiano from falling overboard. He saved me. He is taking this mission seriously, however much he loathes us."Maybe next time, he says to me with that smile, "you won't be so lucky."

"I've been searching a long time for something I think I lost. I felt like I found something when I saw you back there."

"You're brilliant,"he says."But you're a fool to stay with someone like me."I close my eyes at the touch of his hand."Then we are both fools."

"I shake my head. "I know, I reply. "You are searching for her too.We stand for a moment, staring out at the stars mirrored in the calm seas. I know why Magiano doesn't look at me. I remind him too much of her."I'm sorry, I whisper, after a long pause."Don't be. A small, sad smile touches his lips. "She chose it."

"Fear is your sword."

"I've never thought of describing her beauty as delicate, because delicate just isn't a word that fits June... but here, now that she's sick, I realize just how fragile she can be."

"It will be impossible to catch all the rats, my love, he says. His hand brushes against mine. "Sooner or later, one will squeeze through the cracks. You need to be more careful."

"Let go of me, I choke out, clawing blindly at Teren. The sharp tang of blood suddenly fills my nostrils, and I realize that it is from his wrists, spreading a film of scarlet around us. Somewhere ahead, the silhouette of our ship looms. We are getting closer."I wish I could, Teren spits, dripping venom. "There's nothing I'd like to see more than you in the Underworld, Adelina.His words spark my fury. He never intended to finish this journey with you. Teren grips my arm again so hard that I scream in pain. He is pulling us both toward the ship, his face set in grim determination.Then I hear him shout, "But I won't.But I won't. My fury wavers, turning into bewilderment."

"I love you," I whisper over and over again. "Don't go," I close my eyes. My tears fall on his cheeks."

"One heroic act doesn't make a man trustworthy. What if he decides to turn his blade on you?"

"And the book (#7) is for whenever the hunt involves a lot of waiting around. Entertainment that won't eat up my batteries is always worth bringing."

"Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, so she destroyed them all."

"I have spent my entire life thinking of the Inquisitors as things, soulless creatures. But they are just men. Men can be swayed, and I have the power to do it."

"Hi, I'm Day. Hi, I'm June."

"I have everything I could ever want here, Adelina, he finally says. "You've handed me what feels like the world's riches, a palace, a life of luxury. He draws closer. "I get to be at your side. What more do I need?"

"Sometimes, the sun sets earlier. Days don't last forever, you know. But I'll fight as hard as I can. I can promise you that."

"We might not return from this voyage. None of us. We might all lay down our lives when we reach the end, and not ever know whether our sacrifice changed anything for the better."It will be for the better, Magiano replies. "We cannot just die, not without trying. Not without fighting."Do you really believe that? I ask. "Why are we doing this, anyway? To preserve my own life, and yours-but what has the world ever done for us in order to deserve our sacrifice?Magiano's brows furrow for a moment, then he leans in closer. "We exist because this world exists. It's a responsibility of ours, whether or not anyone will remember it. He nods at me. "And they will. Because we will return and make sure of it."

"She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, easily the most breathtaking girl in the room."

"Enzo inherited a throne. Giulietta relied on her royal blood. Queen Maeve rules Beldain because she was born to it. But true rulers are not born. We are made."

"The Republic's most wanted criminal is just a boy, sitting before me, suddenly vulnerable, laying all his weaknesses out for me to see."