Raye Wagner > 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

“Love doesn’t mean you’re perfect. Loving someone doesn’t mean you don’t screw up. In fact, I’d say the more you love someone, the more time you spend with that someone, the more you’re going to have to say you’re sorry. Love means you say sorry sooner because when you realize you’ve hurt someone you truly love, you want to do whatever you can to make it right.”
― Raye Wagner, Shadow Wings

“This was the first time I’d let him touch me since we’d left the castle, and something in my chest felt funny with the contact. Probably indigestion.”
― Raye Wagner, Shadow Wings

“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

“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

“Be at the castle at first light,” Tyrrik said, I assumed, to Kamoi. The Drae knew better than to talk to me in that voice.”
― Raye Wagner, Shadow Wings

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

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

“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

“Tyrrik!” A blaze of blue-and-black fire danced around us. The flame touched our bodies, dancing and twisting, tying us together. I lifted my gaze and saw the brilliant light shone across the bloodied valley. I stared in awe at the capering fire. I’d never been able to see the tendrils between us like this. As a Phaetyn, I could see my power working inside him during healing, but I’d never seen our Drae energy outside us with my eyes open. “Isn’t it beautiful?” he whispered. Overwhelming emotion choked me, stealing my voice. My head and my heart felt light. Words were not enough to describe the sight or the feeling of the deep hues of blue-and-black flames encasing us in their midst. Are the flames real? “No one can see them but us,” he said. They’re ours alone. I knew what this was. It’s our mate bond.”
― Raye Wagner, Shadow Wings

“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

“More than a mortal marriage, a Beloved pair was stronger together. They enhanced each other’s powers, provided companionship, intimacy, love. The only way angels could procreate was with their matched Beloved. More than anything, Rynk wanted her. Together, they would become ‘one flesh, one heart, one mind.”
― Raye Wagner, Angels of Ashes and Ivory

“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

“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

“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

“I tossed the empty container to the side and exploded to my feet. “What are you saying? I should forget everything that’s happened to me? That because he might be my mate I just decide, ‘oh what the hay, I guess we better get together for life?’” Dyter frowned, but I was just warming up. “All that abuse? No worries. We’re mates. It’s fine. Oh, and you don’t tell me what’s happening? That’s al’right; we’re mates, so I don’t need to know.” My chest heaved as I screamed my frustration at the pathetic reality Dyter was proposing I accept. “And don’t worry about telling me anything, ever, not even about myself; I totally trust you because we’re mates!”
― Raye Wagner, Shadow Wings

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

“Your choices are yours, and you will have to live with them. Be careful whom you trust, and always be polite.”
― Raye Wagner, Myths of Immortality

“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

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