Annette Marie Quotes

Actions change our course, influence our futures, but intentions define us, empower us. Without intent, we are nothing.

Life is short, there and then gone. Don’t waste it waiting for a solution that might not even exist.

I would have kept you forever, little miko." His words were soft, almost soundless. "I would have taken you with me wherever the tides of time carried us, and I would have loved you until the very end.

Don’t forget me, Shiro,” she said hoarsely. “You’re not allowed to forget me.

I glared at him, unreasonably offended that he thought my blood was gross. “Serves you right for licking me.

Most people couldn’t have ignored a demon sharing the library with them, but most people didn’t love books as much as I did.

Ash had done so much more than capture her heart. He’d changed the very landscape of her soul.

His expression didn’t soften. “Death is easy. Living is difficult.

Because you are more to me now. Because you keep secrets like a kami and I’m curious what you hide. Because you are lonely and scared and I don’t understand why. Because you trust me when you know you shouldn’t. Because I believe you when you say you will keep your word.

What about death is to be feared? The burdens of life can be so great that it would be a comfort to know that someday it will end...that someday, we will have earned final rest.

I gulped down a surge of terror. The demon had come out of the pendant like a Pokémon out of a poké ball. Beelzebub, I choose you!

I meandered farther into the library. Why were books so irresistible? I wanted to read them all.

He protects me in exchange for baked goods. That’s … that’s the whole contract.

Wish me luck.” “Luck is for those with nothing else. I wish you strength and courage.

Are you ready to die?” “No,” she whispered. “Then rise and take up your sword.

He loved the shower. I was pretty sure he’d save the shower before he’d save me, contract or no contract.

Some problems aren’t fixable, but that doesn’t mean you should stop. That sense that you can’t move forward ... that’s the trap. It’s better to take the best future you can manage with what you have, than to put your life on hold trying to fix everything in the hopes of a perfect future that might never come.

It was worth a shot, and as the saying around here goes, you miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.

Loss can be like chains holding you in place or a fire pushing you onward. We each choose every day what it will be to us.

I wish I could see in your head again.” “What if you see I am something different than you want me to be?

Zak pulled me over to my one bar stool. Twenty minutes ago, I’d owned two bar stools, but the other one was in pieces. Poor stool. So much life to live, snatched away too soon by an angry sea serpent.

Aaron slumped at a table, his head in his arms, while Kai and Ezra watched him sulk with the caring sympathy of close friends. Nah, just kidding. They looked entertained as hell, zero sympathy in their smirks.

Independence is an admirable trait, but it can be rooted in pride, insecurity, and fear as easily as it can stem from strength, confidence, and self-reliance. Be sure you know what drives yours.

Um, so … I can explain.” “Can you?” Darius muttered, crouched two feet away and staring at the demon whose face I was mashing into my boobs. Okay, it was a weird situation, but I didn’t have any better ideas on keeping Zylas under control for a few minutes.

There’s a line between keeping secrets because the consequences of the truth scare you, and keeping secrets because you need to be beside someone when you share the truth.

You might be too drunk to magic.

Behind her, she heard Lyre's exasperated mutter. "We incubi might claim to understand them," he grumbled to Ash, "but no male can actually comprehend how a woman's mind works." "It's safer not to even try.

On my way out, Amalia had remarked that I looked ready for a hardcore book fair.

Would it look bad if I hid behind Zylas? He was my demon. I was allowed to use him as a shield, right?

He peered at his taut midriff. “How are muscles perfect?” “Just ignore what Tori said.” “But your face changed color when she said it.

Since I was already talking nice and loud, several people turned, their expressions brightening with anticipation. Tori was about to humiliate someone again and they had front-row seats.

... You did what none of us could do.” “Only because the poison didn’t affect me the same way—” “Does that matter? We couldn’t do it. You did. We saw what you looked like when you got out. How many times did you fall in order to batter your knees like that? But you kept going.” “That makes me stubborn, not strong,” she mumbled. “Strength comes in many forms...

Snoopy is a mean word,” Ezra added. “You’re persistently inquisitive.

Must I keep you from all hurt?” he mused, as though there’d been no pause in our terse exchange. “Or only keep you alive?

I like to think I’m a pretty chill person, but right now? I was fretting worse than a granny with her best china in a room of hyperactive toddlers.

Nothing?” My gaze shot up to his. “Nothing for me here?” He slowly tilted his head. “You are here.

Sometimes, beauty and sadness went hand in hand.

But maybe it wasn’t that he didn’t value his life. Rather, he had long ago become comfortable with the idea that his life was a temporary gift that could end at any moment.

you miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.

Your skin turns red,” he mused as he leisurely drew a card from the stock. “Your breath grows quick. Your heart beats faster. Your scent changes …” He canted his head, observing my reaction. “You stare at me, and there are thoughts in your eyes, but I hear nothing.

Lilith,” Piper said cautiously. “That’s it,” Randy whispered loudly. “Piper officially knows every daemon in the city. What the actual hell?

Piper is something he needs. And yeah, it’s gonna hurt him, and sometimes it’s the hardest damn thing, but love is like that.

She couldn’t lose him, but she couldn’t protect him and she couldn’t stop him. He had to do this.

No,” he murmured, his voice smoother and deeper and somehow older. “You came back for me. I do owe you, and I will not accept your refusal.

Focus on the now and the next, not the distant future of maybe and if. Even those of the strongest faith can falter when the eyes focus too far in the distance.

or in the case of Kai’s single pumpkin, staring disapprovingly. How a pumpkin could convey ultimate displeasure, I didn’t know,

His tail snapped impatiently. “If you could go in the infernus, this would be easier.

Ezra gave his friends a long, hard stare, his expression inscrutable. “You know, the fact that I’m the sanest one in this house is extremely alarming.

Are my abs better than a hh’ainun?” “I don’t know.” “Do you want to put clothes on me?” “No.” “Why is your face changing color again?

This time, I promise you my heart. We won’t be together, but I’ll always think of you. I’ll never forget you. You’ll be in my heart forever.” “You are amavrah and vayanin . I will think of you every time I step into the sun.

Zylas spun on his chair to face me. “Payilas. I will not harm your allies.” I resisted an unexpected sting of tears. “Thank you, Zylas.” “If you were not so weak, you would not need any allies but me.” My sappy gratitude evaporated. “Every time you say something nice, you ruin it.” “We talked about nice.

Aw,” I said, “look at this guy. He’s never even seen a girl before.” Fenton’s gaze jerked from my chest to my face, confusion twisting his eyebrows. “What?” “Only a basement-dwelling loser would stare like that.” “What?” I looked sadly at Aaron. “And he’s deaf too! Poor thing.

Even if we only have tonight ...” she said, her voice trembling. “Just for tonight, I want to forget about it all and just be with you.” Shadows slid across his eyes, emotions she couldn’t name. His hand curled over the back of her neck, gently pulling her face to his until their lips were almost touching. “Just for tonight,” he whispered, “and for as long as you want me.

Love was both a great strength and a great weakness. She would try to remember that.

Eventually, you realize that people are a better home than a place.

Eshathē zh'ūltis." He closed his eyes. ”Īt eshanǡ zh'ūltis." ”What does that mean?" ”You are stupid…and I am stupid.

When you wanted it to hurry up, it slowed to a crawl. When you desperately needed more, it rushed ahead. Time was such an asshole.

I don’t know how I’ll feel about anything when my memories return.” His arms tightened around her. “But I know I fear losing you more than anything that might befall me.

his smug undertone begging for someone to smack him. I’d volunteer as tribute, but I wasn’t close enough.

He looped the amulet chain over my head. “ Amavrah .” “Zylas.” I pressed my trembling hands to his face. “I love you. I’ll never forget you.

I’d bet they hadn’t read a single book between them this year. No thanks.

Warm breath brushed over my ear as he leaned in. “Am I perfect, drādah?” I choked. Ducking away from him, I rushed back to the worktable. Focusing with single-minded determination, I opened the book to its table of contents and tried desperately to remember what I was supposed to be researching. Zylas’s quiet, husky laugh rolled through the room.

I guess it worked out. In face, minus your out-of-control tornado of death you had everything handled pretty well

She strode past her father, uncle, and the others, Ash following. As she passed them, Kindra shot her a sly grin and gave her a double thumbs-up and another wink.

She endured the questioning looks and acted like she’d forgotten her brain at home. Along with her dignity.

Most people in this world are carried by the current, but beware the rare few who create waves with every step they take.

Zylas?" I prompted impatiently. ”How do we find the demon?" ”Mailēshta." ”What?" ”Annoying," he translated. ”What's annoying?" ”You." I gritted my teeth. ”Very mature, Zylas.

Also, Tori?" I glanced back at him. He grinned. ''You're seriously hot when you take out mages twice your size." ''Aw, thanks, babe

You healed it,” I whispered, lifting my gaze to his. “Why?” “Your blood smells as bad as it tastes.

To suffer is to live. To struggle, to fight, is to know passion

There are two kinds of girls: those who've fantasized about a threesome with a pair of hot guys, and liars.

He didn’t care, didn’t feel, didn’t love.

I’m like Mary Annette, but I’m not a marionette. Who’s Mary Annette? The first woman of color to be elected to Phi Beta Kappa. What color was she? Wikipedia didn’t have a picture, so probably either blue or green—let’s just call it turquoise.

Fried mac ’n’ cheese balls. Does that sound appetizing?” “Fried … mac and cheese … balls?” Ezra dared to look away long enough to smirk at Aaron. “Don’t you know everything is better in ball form? Cheese, meat, donuts, snow … pasta.” “Real comprehensive list there, Ezra.

Her small hands grip my shoulders. Tears shine in her eyes, her face contorted. “Zylas, how will you go home?” “It does not matter,” I tell Robin, my fear of a future I never wanted slipping away. “Because I want to be with you.

Yes, I’d firmly and clearly told everyone I wasn’t planning an event of any kind, but had they listened? Did they care? No. I was now hosting the guild’s biggest party of the year, all because I’d wanted to carve a damn pumpkin.

Yes, things between them weren’t perfect. Yes, there were so many issues they needed to figure out. But she loved him, and that was all she really needed to know. Maybe this would be it for them, one night together. Maybe they would have a week. Maybe a month. Maybe a year. Maybe a lifetime. It didn’t matter.

She felt a lot like a tree in autumn: all her hopes and dreams, desires and comforts, drying up and falling away one by one until all that remained was the bare bones of her soul. She wasn't sure how much she liked her bare-bones self.

As a wave caught her, splashing her legs, she gasped and whirled around with a laugh. Shiro watched her from a few paces away and she paused, uncertain and self-consious. He crossed the sand to join her, and as she blinked up at him, he raised a hand, his thumb brushing the corner of her mouth. "Don't stop smiling", he murmured.

I was … at the Tengu’s home.” When his eyes went wide with a mixture of horror and anger, she rushed on. “He’s not the best host, but he isn’t that bad. He brought food, but he wouldn’t get me a brush for my hair and he got mad when I asked for something else to wear. His crows wanted to eat me but he told them to leave me—” “His crows what?

Well,"the announcer called jubilantly, "It seems the Dragon has claimed his prize!

The only one I want to belong to is you

Ten years from now, on the autumn solstice, I'll be here." "I'll be waiting

My heart is yours. No other woman has every touched it, an no one but you ever will.

He'd shut down his emotions so fast she was surprised she hadn't heard his mental doors slamming closed.

I jumped off a cliff after you were stabbed," she said, managing a weak smile. "The least you can do is sit here while I'm stabbed.

There was something distinctly anticlimactic about trying to save the world.

Why do you care so much about Piper?” Lyre asked. Kindra raised her eyebrows. “I already told you: she’s my friend. She’s hilarious and fun and hanging with her is always entertaining.

Maybe they could fight through their issues. Maybe they couldn’t. She didn’t know the future, but she realized now she might not even get a future. All she had for sure was the present.

I’ve been more of a burden than a help lately. I’m dead weight for him.” “Well, there’s your answer then.” She frowned. “Huh?” “You’re focusing on how to keep him out of the fights instead of focusing on how to win those fights. If you’re a burden, focus on changing that instead.

Hold up a hot second! Had the scary rouge man recognized my King Leer quote? Was he bantering back at me by reverencing The Fool? How can this guy be a literal God of manliness AND well read? My pretend crush on his unholy broody hunkyness might have just shifted closer to reality.

She stopped, a half-dozen paces still separating them. The frantic thudding of her heart filled her ears as she met his vacant crimson stare. “Don’t forget me, Shiro,” she said hoarsely. “You’re not allowed to forget me.” He blinked slowly and something shifted in his gaze. His lips curved in his familiar crooked smile. “You’ll forget me someday, little miko.” His voice was even hoarser than hers, rough and coated in a hint of an animal growl. “I’ll never forget you,” she told him. “I’ll remember you to my last day.” “Do you promise?” Her heart gave an odd little flutter. “Yes, I promise.

Trembling, she rose to her feet, shuffled a few cautious steps closer, and stared down at him. Snow-white hair, as soft-looking as the fox’s fur, brushed across his forehead in a tousled mess—and poking out of his hair was a pair of white fox ears. His body was otherwise human, but he’d kept the ears.

Lyre: Ash, my friend, you have a lot to learn about women. Ash: Why force it out of her if she doesn’t want to talk about it? Lyre: Because women like to stew about sh*t that could otherwise be sorted in no time. If you’d just talked to her a couple of cycles ago, she wouldn’t have had this time to get worked up about it. Then, you could have focused on getting her worked up in other ways.

Ash moved faster, spinning through the steps of his deadly dance as he pushed Samael to keep moving, moving, moving. She flowed in and around Ash like a fish darting through racing waters, her blade seeking where Samael would appear. Together, they drove Samael around the dome. They moved together, synchronized and flawless, all his experience and all her instincts melding into deadly perfection. Samael

The only one,” he murmured, his deep voice sliding down to her bones, “I want to belong to is you.” She turned her head and blindly found his lips with hers, sinking her fingers into his hair. He locked their mouths together. As her blood heated with need, she pressed into him. His hands slid down her back and then lower, and he pulled her hips against him. She gasped and kissed him harder.

You butchered another warlord’s escort?” Lyre repeated incredulously. “I also maimed the warlord.” He frowned. “Or maybe I killed him too. It got kind of messy at the end.” “You …” Lyre cleared his throat. “This isn’t … concerning for you? Won’t there be consequences?” “Obviously.” Ash gestured in the direction of the searching soldiers. “But Samael won’t kill me. He’ll just send me back to the bastille again.” “You’re awfully casual about impending torture.

Ash told me you threw his tracking spell into the river. Why?” She cringed slightly. “Yeah, that. It’s hard to explain ...” “Try.” The command was firm but his voice was gentle. “I watched him die,” she said, her eyes dropping to the sidewalk. “I saw the daggers go into his chest. I saw him fall over the edge. And I thought that was it. I thought he was dead and that it was my fault. When I found out he was alive, I knew I could never let that happen again. I couldn’t let him die for me—die fighting my battles. It’s not his responsibility to make sure that I survive to the next day.

Finally, he moved. He slid forward, closing the gap between them. When he was a step away, she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the killing blow. A moment passed. Careful, gentle fingers touched her chin and tilted her face up. She squeezed her eyes tighter. "Piper." He exhaled slowly. "Piper, you need to try not to be afraid. I need your help." His touch fell from her cheek then wrapped gently around her uninjured wrist. He pulled her arm up and pressed her hand to the horns on the side of his head. "You know me, Piper. Remember? You weren't this scared before. I need you to be strong this time too." She shivered at his alien voice. Her shaking fingers touched the smooth, cool horns. "Please, Piper." he whispered. "I can't use glamour because my wing is dislocated. I need your help to fix it." A silent pause. "I won't hurt you, I promise.

They came to the door of the ladies’ club and Ash reached for the handle. Before he could touch it, the door flew open and Lyre fell out, still dressed in the white waiter “uniform” and his arms full of his clothes and weapons. Shouts burst from the building’s interior. “There you are!” Lyre blurted, wild-eyed. “Time to go.” “What happened?” Ash barked. Clio was still gawking when Lyre launched down the alley, leaving her and Ash to rush after him. “Some women react poorly to rejection,” Lyre explained breathlessly. “Especially when they’ve paid a lot of money to not be rejected.” “You blew your cover by rejecting her?” Ash snapped. They fled down several alleys before Lyre skidded to a stop and whirled on Ash, still clutching his belongings. “I’ll dress up in stupid costumes,” the incubus snarled with unexpected temper, “and I’ll pretend to be a paid whore, and I’ll even let a crucial informant pinch and paw at me.” He thrust an accusatory finger at Ash. “But I will not allow that nasty old hag’s tongue anywhere near me, not even to save the damn world!” Ash blinked. Scowling blackly, Lyre shoved his armload at Ash, then pulled a dagger from the pile and cut his leather-strap top off. “Next time, you can do the nasty stuff and I’ll kill people.