Blood Oath Quotes

“He crossed the room to the wardrobe, picked a black aketon from a row of black aketons, and pulled it over his head. It must be so hard for him to decide what to wear each morning .”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“Please show her mercy. I’m just the soap queen. I don’t know anything important.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“But . . . I did have something over Jotun. I straightened and said, “You can’t harm me. The king has ordered it.” Jotun stopped in his tracks. I celebrated my victory but didn’t press him further. Oh, but I wanted to. Jotun, remember that time the king hit you and you whimpered like an animal? Remember the other day when Lord Irrik, the guy you hate who also happens to be your dad, gave you the biggest butt-whipping of all time? “Jotun, your face is like a masticated, spat out piece of grisly meat.” I smiled at my witty inner dialogue, shrieking in surprised fright a second later when Jotun roared and charged at me. I glanced down, picked up the chamber pot, and swung with all my might. No one was more surprised than I when it connected with his head. Jotun’s eyes widened then rolled back in his head, and he hit the ground like a sack of rotten spuds. I stared at the chamber pot in shock and then at Jotun. His finger twitched, I swear, and I screeched a second time, bringing the pot down on his head again. “Having fun?” Lord Irrik drawled, leaning against the bars. I jumped and moved away from Jotun, but the Drae just snorted, eyeing the chamber pot in my hands.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“it would always be the place where I was broken and put back together again and again for the sadistic pleasure of others. Those men had once been more powerful than I was. I didn’t care that I was stronger for it. I didn’t care that I would be powerful. I didn’t care that I was powerful now. I didn’t care.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“Most people found me a bit useless, I think. Or maybe I’d killed their potato plants at some point. People were fiercely protective of their potato crops in Verald.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“should’ve been terrified, but the air, much like his persuasion-breath, only warmed me, making me relaxed and a little sleepy. He pushed me toward the doors with his snout, and I batted him with my open hand. You need a bath, he spoke in my mind. Talking animals were too much for me right now. “I’m tired,” I slurred. “Why can’t I just sleep?” He snorted and turned his head away. I knew what the Drae was saying without him voicing the words. I stank. I’d sweated in the dirt all day. Of course I stank. My stink just didn’t bother me. In fact, I felt reasonably clean compared to the dungeons, like I was an aired-out rug. Clearly, there was no reasoning with an eighteen-foot Drae. “Fine, but then I’m going to sleep.” He snorted again.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“As we marched down the steps, I tried to process what had happened. My mind was drowning in information, and I didn’t even know where to start categorizing. Jotun hated Irrik, and vice-versa. Irrik hated the king, and vice-versa. Irrik hated me, and vice-versa. Conclusion: Irrik was an A-hole.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“A tear trickled from his cheek to his chin and then dripped. “Tyr,” I whispered. He was crying. For me. My heart squeezed, and my throat clogged with emotion. He held one of my hands gingerly, stroking his thumb over my palm. Instead of pulling it up to his face, he brought his face to my hand. Ryn, he thought, full lips pressed together. I’m going to get you out of here. I swear. Please hold on.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“The girl had been right. One bath wasn’t enough. The water had kept flowing even though Irrik hadn’t returned. The girl had changed my bedding, brought me fresh clothing and a blanket, plus more food. All while telling me what a grand lover Lord Irrik would make. Sick. I’d rather marry a donkey with one and a half legs.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“Of course, me having more food could be because Jotun has a crush on me,” Ty quipped. “He’s a great admirer of good looks.” His remark dragged a real laugh out of me, brittle though it was. “Now it’s all coming out. How long has your sordid affair been going on?” Ty’s wheezy chuckle echoed through our cells. “It’s one-sided. I hold out hope he’ll move on. I get the willies when he pulls on his gloves.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“Are you sure?” It belatedly occurred to me to ask if he could spare the food. “You’re still in the early stages, Ryn,” he answered. He knew I wasn’t a boy by now. “They only do routine torture on me. You need your strength.” “Oh, goodie,” I said. “Routine torture. Something to look forward to.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“Eating done, I washed the dishes, went back to my room to grab my boots, which somehow survived Lord Irrik under my bed overnight—not even a chew mark—and swiped up the basket.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“Al’righty,” I croaked. I probably wouldn’t be the pep talk queen of Harvest Zone Seven either.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“Because I clearly measured in dungeon cells now, I’d have to say there were at least six cells worth of free space.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“Your body is a shell. Your skin—the wrapping. Your will, theirs. But somewhere deep inside you, there is a place, whether you see it as the corner of your mind, your heart, your soul, whatever, and that part is yours. That is the difference amongst the people here. Figure out what’s necessary, and let everything else go.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“Why do you keep saving me?” I asked, glancing back. He crossed the room to the wardrobe, picked a black aketon from a row of black aketons, and pulled it over his head. It must be so hard for him to decide what to wear each morning.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“He trailed off, and I sat in my dungeon cell, unreasonably happy to be there talking to a friend. “I’ve missed you, Ty.” “Ditto. I can just see you out there singing to the plants and playing in the dirt. Mud lady.” I did not want that to catch on. “I’m not a mud lady.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“stifled a yawn as I trudged after Lord Broody-pants and snickered at my own joke. Broody-pants. Classic. He was extra broody today.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“Born and raised,” I said. This wasn’t strictly true. I was more at ease talking to the man, Ty, now and more certain of the kind of person he was, but who knew what he’d repeat under Jotun’s thumb. Better not to impart anything that could be shared. He was probably doing the same. First rule of torture club, don’t talk about torture club.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“Because you’re not a rebel, right, Ryn? You know saying that will get you killed?” The darkness of night cocooned us, and I knew Irrik had blocked us from view of the other soldiers. He tipped his head down and pressed his lips to mine. His warmth pulsed through me again, and I stood on my tiptoes to prolong the kiss. When we pulled away, I beamed up at him. “You don’t want me to die?” “No,” he said in a quiet voice, eyes sad again. “I don’t want to die either. Don’t worry. I’m not a rebel. I’m not a threat. I’m not a woman.” He grumbled something under his breath about too much. I reached up and patted his cheek. “You’re so much more handsome when you’re not scowling. You shouldn’t be so grumpy.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“He furrowed his brow, and the disinterest on his face lessened for the first time. “What?” He eyed me for a long second and took a deep breath, blowing it in my face again. I frowned at him. “Can you stop that? It’s kind of really, really strange.” He jerked, eyes widening, and took a step back, almost seeming to stumble as he whispered something in a different language, not taking his eyes off my quaking form. Drak, I should’ve kept pretending, maybe I could salvage the situation. I smirked at him, feigning unfocused eyes, and said, “I can take you to meet Syla if you’d like?” “Stop pretending.” He growled. “I can tell.” A snicker escaped. As soon as it sounded, I slapped my trembling hands over my mouth. Mistress Moons! What was wrong with me?”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“The man turned to me, just his head, and I gave him a pointed look. “Well? What are you standing there for? The king’s Drae is out and the soldiers, too. You need to get on home before curfew.” The man jerked, as if surprised I was addressing him. I rolled my eyes. This one must’ve dropped his acorns when he was fighting for the emperor. “You see me?” he demanded. Oh, brother.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“life. But for me, when the twin moons were up, the mystery of the shadows provided this spark I craved. The dark could take me away from this wasteland. The dark made me believe I was more than just a girl stuck in a life with no future but marriage and potato stew.”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath

“The king said my hair is silver. What the hay?”
― Raye Wagner, Blood Oath