Devotion Quotes

“Y-yeah.” My throat has opened back up, but it feels like I’ve been slammed into a stone wall. Jarred. Aching. “But what are you talking about? He can’t mean to bring back⁠—” “He does. He told me so directly. He wants me to smooth it over with the more palatable parts of the plan so people won’t care so much. Won’t focus on it. But he wants to make sure people aren’t too free.” He stretches out the words unnaturally. “Too free to cause problems. That’s what he said. He’s bringing indentured servitude back and trying to mask it with the illusion of added benefits.” “No. No!” I hug my arms to my middle. “No, he can’t!” “He can, baby. He will. With or without me.”
― Claire Kent, Devotion

“I pause with the door partway open. It’s not an intentional desire to eavesdrop, rather it’s an instinct to make sure I don’t interrupt something important. But when I hear a clear sentence, it feels like déjà vu. “No, I’m not interested in trading her for someone else.” His tone is bored. Almost disinterested. Something about it bothers me. As does the fact that someone else wants him to swap partners again. It feels like a threat. It makes me defensive. That a faceless person wants to take me away from him. And I don’t understand how Gabriel can sound so apathetic about it. After a brief pause, Gabriel responds. “No. I’m not going to change my mind. It’s taken me months to train Jess to a level where she’s basically competent, and I don’t have the time or patience to start the whole frustrating process again with someone else. … Yes. I mean it. You’ll have better luck picking out someone fresh who hasn’t developed any bad habits.” I’m frozen in the hall outside our room, my hand clenching the doorknob so tightly my wrist is shaking. All the soft feelings—the closeness, the intimate pride, the satisfaction, the possessiveness—I’ve been holding in my heart for Gabriel have been slashed through with a machete. It’s such a shock I can’t even cry about it.”
― Claire Kent, Devotion

“I’m watching wide-eyed as President Vincent walks in and casually waves everyone back into their seats. He’s an attractive man in his mid-fifties with dark hair, a full beard, and an appealing smile. He has three partners—two women and a man—and they take their seat on the fancy cushions behind him. Forty-five years ago, the world collapsed into chaos and violence after the Fall. Back then, the Capital was just another broken city, but a military leader eventually took control, restoring order, providing food and safety, rebuilding infrastructure, and using a growing army to enforce obedience. He eventually unified all the cities in this region under his government, establishing the Central Cities as one state. That leader was President Patterson. He did a lot of good for a lot of people, but life under him was bleak and barren. Oppressive. He set up a system of indentured servitude for those who had nothing else to offer to society, and that system led to all kinds of abuses. I only lived six years under President Patterson, so I don’t remember much, but everyone testifies to how hard life was before. My dad and my grandfather were both indentured servants. Neither one will talk about it even now.”
― Claire Kent, Devotion