Renee Ahdieh

“It's much easier to hate a memory. I would know.”

“My soul sees its equal in you.”

“Perhaps true weakness is weakness of the spirit”

“There is no one I would rather see the sunrise with than you.”

“You honestly expect me to breathe in a world without air?”

“I'd much rather fall to my death than admit my weakness to you.""The captain of the Royal Guard wants to impress a lowly handmaiden?""A clumsy young man wants to impress a beautiful young woman.”

“In what world did you think you could get away with this?" Jalal seethed. "To my cousin? To my family?" His gleaming hilt continued its punishing onslaught.”

“Because at that moment, with the press of Rahim's lips to hers, with the touch of his tongue sending wildfire through her veins, she knew she would always be home here. With this boy. In this moment. In this time. And that her heart would never be lonely again.”

“Give me a meaningful love or a beautiful death!”

“She was drowning in sandalwood and sunlight. Time ceased to be more than a notion. Her lips were hers one moment. And then they were his. The taste of him on her tongue was like sun-warmed honey. Like cool water sliding down her parched throat. Like the promise of all her tomorrows in a single sigh. When she wound her fingers in his hair to draw her body against his, he stilled for breath, and she knew, as he knew, that they were lost. Lost forever. In this kiss. This kiss that would change everything.”

“Love is—a shade of what I feel.”

“I've never been angry to have been born a woman. There have been times I've been angry at how the world treats us, but I see being a woman as a challenge I must fight. Like being born under a stormy sky. Some people are lucky enough to be born on a bright summer's day. Maybe we were born under clouds. No wind. No rain. Just a mountain of clouds we must climb each morning so that we may see the sun.”

“Khalid would break every bone in your body for what you've done.”

“A trickle of blood slid down his arm.He felt nothing. He only saw it.Because nothing hurt like missing her.He suspected nothing ever would”

“Get up, Shahrzad al-Khayzuran. You kneel before no one. Least of all me.”

“I-" Irsa took a careful breath to steady her words. " I have felt alone for most of my life. Until you." She placed the shell on his chest. " But I promise I won't feel alone anymore. I will never forget." She stood on shaky feet. "I will always remember." "I love you Rahim al-Din Walad . Thank you for loving me in return.”

“When will you tell him?' 'When I muster the courage or when I'm left with no choice - whichever comes first.”

“Shazi, I prefer the color blue to any other. The scent of lilacs in your hair is a source of constant torment. I despise figs. Lastly, I will never forget, all the days of my life, the memories of last night—For nothing, not the sun, not the rain, not even the brightest star in the darkest sky, could begin to compare to the wonder of you.Khalid.”

“Games? War is not a game, my friend. Games are for small children and old men like me. War is a young man's blighted delight”

“The more a person pushes others away, the clearer it becomes he is in need of love the most.”