Little Thieves (Little Thieves, #1)

by Margaret Owen

No matter how many cards I lay between myself and the rest of the world, no matter how many lies I tell, how many lives I steal, it will never be enough. I will never escape the ghost in the mirror. I will never escape her, because I am haunted by myself.

It’s the little things in life that surprise you, isn’t it? Like how you can be trapped in a burning building, and it’ll still seem easier to deal with than being accused of murder by a boy you thought you might—no.

status, family, it’s easy to be a saint, it costs you nothing. I can’t say if you’re a good person or not. But the more I know of you, the more I understand that the world keeps making you choose between survival and martyrdom. No one should fault you for wanting to live.”

Emeric’s eyes glitter with coldest fury, fists white-knuckled knots on the carpet. “I promise you,” he says, low and unsteady, “I will do everything in my power to keep him from ever hurting you again. Von Reigenbach will face justice if I have to drag him to it myself.”

AHHHH OMG TOUCH HER AND YOULL DIE TROPE IN A FOUND FAMILY SETTING ILY MAGRET OWEN

Klemens had a theory that most crimes derive from five motives: greed, love, hate, revenge, or fear.

There is one person in this world who I can trust to need me, and that is myself alone.

Could not have said it better myself