Code of Honor (Cipher Security #2)

by April White

“Maybe love, at its essence, is being a mirror for another person—for the good parts and the bad. Perhaps love is simply finding that one person who sees you clearly, cares for you deeply, challenges you and supports you, and subsequently helps you see and be your true self.” Penny Reid

“The best princesses are made of chaos and fairy dust, and they carry their own swords.” From the T-shirt collection of Anna Collins

I don’t usually think of Octavia Butler as a feminist.” “What we don’t see, we assume can’t be,”

I couldn’t have planned for her even if I’d been able to conceive of her existence.

“It’s called Karma, and it’s pronounced ‘ha-ha-ha-ha.’”

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” Neil Gaiman

“I think belief is like that. You decide which ideas fit your world view, and you believe them.” Then she shrugged. “Who’s to say your principles are any more or less valid than the idea of the Ten Commandments or the Four Noble Truths? The point is that you believe them. If they work for you, and nobody else gets hurt because of them, that’s all the back-up you need.”

“My personal style these days is ‘I didn’t expect to get out of the car.’” Anna Collins

“Pretty things are never an indulgence. They are a necessity that bring joy to every task.”

“I actively suck at high heels.” She, meanwhile, moved like she’d been born in them, and she kicked up one shoe to show me the red sole. “There are marble stones in Iran, from the Safavid period, on which women would place their feet while henna was applied. Engraved on the marble were words that roughly translate to, Is that the color of henna on the bottom of your foot, or is it the blood of a lover you’ve trampled underfoot?” My eyes widened as my gaze went from the red soles of her shoes to her face. “That is a truly excellent reason to own red-soled heels and is almost worthy of the walking lessons I’d have to take to wear them.”

“Be careful with your words, once they are said they can only be forgiven, not forgotten.”

“I didn’t know you existed,” she said, “and now I do, but I don’t get to have you, and it hurts. A lot.” She sighed, and I felt her sadness creep into me. “I wouldn’t change what I’ve done, but I would change who I’ve done it to. I’m sorry.”