Rule of Wolves (King of Scars, #2)

by Leigh Bardugo

“How is she?” “Terrifyingly competent.”

Her presence brought a perfectly understandable relief, a feeling of calm that came with knowing that whatever the problem was, they would best it, that if one of them faltered, the other would be there to drag them along. That comfort was not something he could

But that was always the way. The world might crumble, but Nikolai Lantsov would be holding up the ceiling with one hand and plucking a speck of dirt from his lapel with the other when it all went to ruin.

“I can keep hope in my heart and a blade in my hand.”

“I will march with you in times of war. I will rest with you in times of peace. I will forever be the weapon in your hand, the fighter at your side, the friend who awaits your return.”

“Mongrels and bastards make fine companions.

“I’m running out of room.”

This action will have no echo.

have a gift for order and a taste for chaos.”

what we want for ourselves and for our daughters has never been the question. Only what we can bear.”

to admit that from the first time she’d seen him, she’d known he was the hero of all her aunt’s stories, the boy with the golden spirit full of light and hope. All Saints, Zoya wanted to be near that light, she wanted to feel the warmth of it for as long as she could.

Promise you’ll come home to us. “I can’t.” Then promise you’ll be careful. “I can’t do that either.” Wretched girl.

Maybe build her something. A new invention, something lovely and useless and ill-suited to war.

“Is it the shadow inside you that makes you brave?” “I should hope not. I was making bad decisions long before that thing showed up.”