Painted Devils (Little Thieves, #2)

by Margaret Owen

To the wicked girls, The hard truth about shooting for the moon is, when you miss, you don’t always land among the stars. Sometimes all that slows the fall are the thorns. The good news is: The sun won’t see you coming.

Let me state one thing up front: I wasn’t trying to start a cult.

Me on Among Us with the cheese cult

Little thieves tell themselves they take what they need to survive, and sometimes that’s true, and sometimes it’s a lie. Great thieves don’t fool themselves about their motives; they take things because they want them, end of story. The only lie they tell themselves is that there’s no difference between wanting something and deserving it.

I think I understand, now, why they say you fall in love, because I don’t think I could climb out of this feeling even if I wanted to. What a beautiful trap I’ve built for myself.

“Cults are wildly profitable. But they’re profitable because they’re infectious and compliant. Cultists don’t ask where their money is going, they don’t ask what their work is for; they just follow orders because an authority figure tells them it’s right and their community reinforces it.”

Didn't think that'd be as relevant as it is

Now I just need Emeric to tell me where in Madame’s office to look for the math crimes. My mirror pulses with his answer. In a graph. They’re always used for plotting. I only barely resist the urge to throw the mirror across the room. No you ass I mean ACTUAL MONEY LAUNDERING

Would you like to be my wife? We will ride through the skies together until the memory of memory fades, a glory and a terror to all who behold us.” “That’s very flattering,” I say delicately, “but I’m not looking for a relationship right now.” “Fairly spoken!” She turns to Ragne. “Would you like to be my wife? We will ride through the skies togeth—” “I have a wife, probably,” Ragne yowls. “Would you like another?”

You are,’” I read aloud over his shoulder, “‘my fire, the one desire—’”

No freaking way