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I would give you a crown if I could," he said. "I would show you the world from the prow of a ship. I would choose you, Zoya. As my general, as my friend, as my bride. I would give you a sapphire the size of an acorn." He reached into his pocket. "And all I would ask in return is that you wear this damnable ribbon in your hair on our wedding day.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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Because I am greedy for the sight of you. Because the prospect of facing this war, this loss, without you fills me with fear. Because I find I donβt want to fight for a future if I canβt find a way to make a future with you.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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I suppose that's why I love you."
His eyes flew open and his face lit in an extraordinary grin. "All Saints, say it again."
"I will not."
"You must."
"I'm the queen. I must do nothing but please myself."
"Would it please you to kiss me?
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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You do realize you just referred to yourself as the queen. That means you agreed."
"I am going to kill you."
"So long as you kiss me again before you do.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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And if...if I wished for more?"
She felt his fingers on her chin, turning her head. There was an unwanted ache in her throat. Zoya forced herself to meet his gaze. In this light, his hazel eyes looked almost golden.
"Then I would gladly be your prince, your consort, your demon fool.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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He had wanted her for so long that it seemed impossible he should actually have her beside him every day, that he might lay down beside her every night. Not impossible, he supposed. Just improbable.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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Alina nodded. "The real question is how you're going to outdo this gown for the royal wedding."
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Zoya said. "Nikolai hasn't asked."
"Can you blame him?" Genya said. "He hasn't had much luck with proposals."
Alina snorted. "Maybe he should have offered me a dynasty and not a piddly little emerald.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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I would make you my queen because I want you. I want you all the time.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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Donβt go,β he said, still half asleep.
βI have to bathe. I smell like a forest fire.β
βYou smell like wildflowers. You always do. What can I say to make you stay?β His words trailed off into a drowsy mumble as he fell back asleep.
Tell me itβs more than war and worry that makes you speak those words. Tell me what they would mean if you werenβt a king and I werenβt a soldier.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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You should have said yes, she thought for the hundredth time. You should have told him you love him.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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What if I say I can't bear to lose you?"
A smile tugged at her lips. "I'd say you're a liar. That claims like that belong to romantic ninnies." She raised her hand and let her fingertips trace the line of his beautiful jaw. He closed his eyes. "We would go on, you and I. If I couldn't be queen, you would find a way to win this battle and save this country. You would make a sheltering place for my people. You would march an bleed and crack terrible jokes until you had done all you said you would. I suppose that's why I love you.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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There's a mural in my room," she said hesitantly, unsure of what she meant to say, afraid of the words that might come. "A stormy sea. A boat. A flag with two stars. Did you ever wonderβ"
"What they mean? Only when I thought of your bedchamber. So, roughly every night."
"Can you be serious for once?"
"Once and only once.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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Toss him over," Zoya said. "Break his heart cruelly. I will gladly give our poor prince comfort, and I would make a magnificent queen.
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Leigh Bardugo (Ruin and Rising (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #3))
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You will wed a Taban sister who craves a crown," she said. "Or a wealthy Kerch girl, or maybe a Fjerdan royal. You will have heirs and a future. I'm not the queen Ravka needs.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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Because I am greedy for the sight of you. Because the prospect of facing this war, this loss, without you fills me with fear. Because I find I don't want to fight for a future if I can't find a way to make a future with you. But he was a king and she was his general and he could say none of those things.
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
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They have an ordinary life, full of ordinary things - if love can ever be called that.
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Leigh Bardugo (Ruin and Rising (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #3))
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Nikolai's glib demeanor vanished. "I cannot take a wife while I am in this state. I cannot forge a marriage founded on lies."
"Aren't most?"
"Ever the romantic."
"Ever practical."
(KoS, Ch. 2)
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Leigh Bardugo (King of Scars (King of Scars, #1))
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You do realize you just referred to yourself as the queen. That means you agreed.
I am going to kill you.
So long as you kiss me again before you do.
β
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))
β
We would go on, you and I. If I couldn't be queen, you would find a way to win this battle and save this country. You would make a sheltering place for my people. You would march and bleed and crack terrible jokes until you had done all you said you would do. I suppose that's why I love you.
β
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Leigh Bardugo (Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2))