A Monsoon Rising Quotes

“He dreamed of her.
She returned his kisses eagerly, as though they lived in a world where there had never been a war and he was wanted and adored—and that was how he realized he was dreaming.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“That’s it, Tala.” Alaric pressed a feverish kiss to her temple, then another one to her jaw. He sounded as broken as she felt, that deep rasp of a voice guiding her higher. “Come all over your husband’s wedding ring.”

He watched her the way one watched a sunrise.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“Talasyn flashed Alaric a small, hopeful smile. “Pretty, isn’t it?”
He was looking at her when he said, “Yes.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“I was here first,” she seethed, “you unbelievably annoying man—”
His arms opened to receive her and she crashed into his wide, solid chest, and then they were kissing.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“You should never flirt again,” he said. “It might be the end of me.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“Be kind to me, Alaric had said. He’d been at her mercy, broken and bruised and the valerian ensuring that he had no defenses left, and that was what he’d asked of her. Be kind to me.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“Talasyn flashed Alaric a small, hopeful smile. “Pretty, isn’t it?” Strands of chestnut hair had spilled loose from her braid and were blowing in the wind. The sun brought out the gold in her eyes and danced atop the freckles on her softly rounded cheeks. He was looking at her when he said, “Yes.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“Who did this to you?”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“She ran to Alaric, to fight by his side.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“This is all because I danced with—”
He tilted his head, all the better to lavish her neck with furious, biting kisses. “I rather doubt dancing was all your suitors had in mind.”
“If so, that’s their problem, not mine! What are you mad at me for?”
Alaric stumbled back. “I’m not mad at you—”
“Could’ve fooled me—”
“I’m jealous, Talasyn,” he snapped.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“Talasyn placed her own hands on her hips—the universal sign, Alaric thought sardonically, that someone’s husband was in deep trouble.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“Did—were you—” Alaric faltered, each word laboriously plucked out from his stupor. “Did you think that I … would strike you?”
Talasyn remained silent a beat too long. Long enough for him to confirm that her answer, though unspoken, was yes.
“I wouldn’t—” He hit the floor on his knees and shuffled toward her. She straightened up with the intention of nudging him to do so as well, but he flung his arms around her waist. “Tala, I would never”—he buried his face in her midsection—“never when we’re not sparring,” he said fiercely. “Never when I’m drunk, never in our room—”
“I know.” She carded her fingers through his soft hair, in a tentative attempt to soothe him.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“I’m done fighting this. Another coherent thought, breaking through the fog of his mind. Here, at last, was something that felt right. Something real. Whatever else happens, I won’t fight it anymore.
And if that made him a monster, made him a traitor—then so be it.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“First of all,” he said through gritted teeth, “I don’t know how to react to you. You are infuriating and self-righteous and you get under my skin. Secondly, there have never been any other women—there was never anyone before you—and much to my dismay you have provoked me so much that you’ve wormed your way into my dreams. You are the only one who plagues them. And one last thing”—his voice lowered into a growl—“the next time I kiss you, I want to remember it.”
Raindrops dotted his cheek as he bent down. Lightning streaked the sky as he pulled her to him. The Eversea’s dark waves slammed against the shore as he crushed his lips to hers.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“You have me on my back.” Alaric was shocked by the hoarseness in his own voice. “Now what?”
“I don’t know,” Talasyn mumbled. Her gaze was also focused on his mouth. Her heart was beating a wild, violent rhythm in tandem with his. “I didn’t think that far ahead.”
“Pity.” His fingers ventured higher up her thigh, caressing the silky flesh.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“I am the Nenavarene Lachis’ka, not a princess.” She stared straight ahead, at Alaric’s back. He had tensed somewhat. “You will address me as ‘Your Grace,’ and after my coronation as the Night Empress, you will call me ‘Your Majesty.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“We wounded one dragon, and there are hundreds more.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“I am the Night Emperor’s whore, she thought bleakly.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“There it was once more, that cautious hope, stirring beneath the sun, reveling in the one difference that she was certain of. He wasn’t his father.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“Talasyn belatedly realized that Alaric had never seen a dragon up close before. His expression was uncharacteristically open—with wonder, and a trace of regret. “I didn’t give the order to fire that day,” he said quietly. “Mathire panicked.” It hung between them, the memory of that copper dragon crashing into the Eversea below the Kesathese fleet, screaming in pain as the black rot of the Voidfell bloomed over its left wing. Talasyn felt that same old anger build inside her. “I don’t know if it makes a difference, that I didn’t give the order,” Alaric continued, “but it won’t happen again. I swear it.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“In contrast to the dark curls of the youthful Elagbi, Sintan’s hair had been a lighter shade of brown, and his eyes had been Urduja’s, jet-black and calculating.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“But since he didn’t kill Hiras, and given how Gaheris treats him, I was thinking that maybe—maybe he could be brought over to our side.” She had never really given any thought to how ludicrous such a statement would sound. It hung between her and Vela awkwardly, her secret hope laid bare. So secret that she hadn’t even been able to admit it to herself until now.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“You horrible girl, some aghast inner voice chided. The man is covered in bandages and you’re thinking about his—”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“You’re not just a weapon,” she mumbled into his neck. “You have a sweet tooth and sometimes you make me laugh. I tell you things that I’ve never told anyone else.” The very air seemed to spin golden with each surge of memory, aether humming between their forms. “You helped me with my magic. You tackled me out of the way of that void bolt. Today you made sure I could run and fight. All of these things—they’re not what a weapon is, or does. You’re so much more than a weapon. You could be more.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“There is currently no safer place in Kesath than the Citadel.” “Then I must have been mistaken,” said Elagbi, “and it is some other city with a center lying in ruins.” At this display of cutting sarcasm, Alaric shot Talasyn a pointed look. “Now I know where you get it from.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“Let the Nenavarene see their Lachis’ka ride the Night Emperor’s face.” There was a ragged edge to his deep voice. His breath was hot against her wetness. “Let them see me make my wife scream. Let them know, beyond the Shadow and the turning of the stars, that you are mine.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“Talasyn wasn’t looking at the Night Emperor in that moment. She saw only a boy who’d been sent to the front too soon, like her, and who understood what that entailed. She saw only a man who was determined to be better than the past.
It would be so easy to love you in a different life.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“She kissed her way down his scarred face and then their lips caught somehow, and her mirth tapered off into a sigh.

Alaric had never kissed her like this before, so gentle and searching.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“Stay with me,” she whispered.
His breath hitched. “You know I will.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising

“I just wanted to say—” Alaric broke off. What did he want to say?
Talasyn blinked up at him. “Yes?”
I am sorry for everything.
I liked writing to you.
I won’t let my father hurt you.
I know we agreed that it’s simply physical attraction between us, but sometimes—sometimes I think—
Ever since we met, I have lived in a dream of what could be.
But he could never tell her any of this.”
― Thea Guanzon, A Monsoon Rising