Black Crown Quotes

“Their matching grins were so wide and gleaming I drew back. I’d just woken up; I didn’t want to see that many teeth right now.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“People don’t remember the mistake itself; they remember the grace with which a person handled it.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“We pushed each other to places of aching desperation. And when the stars and moons exploded, lights burst behind my eyelids. Our lives intertwined, indiscernible as mine or his. Tyrrik was mine. And I was his.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“But left alone in the quiet? I’d rather grow things or take a nap.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“You look very animalistic digging like that, I told him. Like a wee doggie who can’t reach his bone. Sand erupted as Tyrrik blurred up the dune to stand before me. I pursed my lips, trying to hold back the smile as I waited. He leaned over me, his onyx gaze studying my face. I felt his inhale as he took in my scent just as I was soaking in his pine and smoke smell. “You want to rethink that statement?” he asked, his voice low and menacing. My heart skipped a beat at the sound, but I stood on my toes and reached up, using a finger on each hand to press down the tops of his ears so they stuck out. “Nope,” I replied, raising my eyebrows as I shook my head. “Just like a wee doggie.” I inched closer to him and said, “Arf.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“Give me pain, take my will, but do not get between me and rosemary potatoes.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“What the hay was he looking at the wall for? The meaning of life? “Betrayal,” the emperor said. Maybe he was touched in the head—more than his utter ruthlessness and greediness for power suggested.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“We’ll be okay, my love. I’ll make it okay. And there is some good news. Yeah? You defeated the one-eyed squirrel as I slept? I quipped. Tyrrik’s joy at my humor radiated through our bond. No, he said solemnly. He still runs rampant, leading a life of debauchery. Worse, he’s inspiring others to join his band of nefarious villainy. Did I think that one day I’d be flying next to Lord Nightmare listening to his jokes about squirrels? Not for a second. Obviously, it was the little things for him. We’re heading the wrong way then. He’s the real enemy.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“There was some belief that you could trick the evil ones, that those who stole children in the middle of the night only wanted the best children. If parents loved their child, then those were the children to take.” That was some twisted logic. That was like saying your pancakes tasted bad just so no one else would want any.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“chuckled, my shoulders relaxing a tiny amount. Glad to see the sunflowers didn’t injure your confidence. Tyrrik deepened our kiss, splaying his hand over my neck. Not much can. I broke off our kiss, staring at him in false shock. You don’t say? Is that a Drae thing or a Tyrrik thing? He lowered his mouth to mine again, saying, A Tyrrik thing. Would you like me to show you?”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“He shrugged. “I didn’t know. But if you can strengthen me, it makes sense I could return the favor.” Wow. How progressive.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“Prince Zarad is running a drill,” the guard said. “If the emperor attacks, the prince wants us close together so it’s easier to spread your power of invisibility over the group.” The man’s eyes were round with awe. Tyrrik coughed. Power of invisibility, huh? I liked it. I nodded sagely. “Practice hard, soldier.” He bowed low, and Tyrrik coughed again, not speaking until the guard had joined the line leaving the forest. “You’re going to call your veil that from now on, aren’t you?” Tyrrik asked. He ducked us into our tent. “Hmm, what?” I asked as he set me on top of a blanket, and I lolled there like a blob. “What are you talking about?” “The power of invisibility.” “Oh that,” I said casually. “Maybe. I hadn’t really thought about it.” Eyes narrowed, he stared at me until I couldn’t hold my grin in.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“My lips twitched, and if I had to venture a guess from the way the prince paled, I’d say the gesture looked borderline psychotic. I’m on a roll.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“strode over to join the others, noting the way Kamoi was staring at me like I was a juicy peach and he was starving. If he didn’t stop, I was going to burn his stew. In a sharp voice, I reminded him, “We’re here to talk with Kamini. Stop being a tool.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“Where is it? I won’t tell you where. I want to show it to you. He laughed, and the emotion pulsed to me through the bond. It’s a package deal, Ryn, me and my treasure. But I’ll tell you this; you could hide in the mound of treasure, in your Drae form, and be completely covered. My mouth dropped, and I plunged downward. “Stop doing that,” Lani shouted, pounding me with her fists.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“Tyrrik chuckled, a low sound that rumbled in his chest and bounced around in my head before settling in the deep cavity underneath the left side of my ribs, which I strongly suspected was my heart. Or possibly a terminal disease.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“We sat in our room on his bed talking. I was supposed to be packing, and when he offered to help, I’d hoped that was code for kissing. But no. Instead, Tyrrik did this. Talking.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“My M-word often said no to things, lots of things, really. I decided then and there to translate the word as yes from now on. I said to Lani, “Great, so when do we leave?”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown

“turned my glare on Tyrrik. The Drae’s expression was smooth and impassive, a look I knew well. To everyone else, he looked like an impenetrable, terrifying monster right now. They couldn’t hear him slapping his stupid thigh in his stupid head. “Al’right. What’s happening? What do we need to discuss?” I asked, ignoring their baffled looks.”
― Raye Wagner, Black Crown