Balekin Greenbriar Quotes

“Jude Duarte, you will leave the High King's side,' Balekin says.

At that tone, Cardan's focus narrows. I can see him straining to concentrate. 'She will not,' he says.”
― Holly Black, The Wicked King

“Little brother,' Balekin says without waiting to be acknowledged. He wears his chained cuffs on his wrists as though they are bracelets, as though they add to his status instead of marking him as a prisoner.

'You requested an audience with the crown,' Cardan says.

'No, brother, it was you I wanted to speak with, not the ornament on your head.”
― Holly Black, The Wicked King

“Better you experience the humiliation of being beaten by a creature who ought to be your inferior. And every time you think of how disgusting mortals are- with their pocked skin and their decaying teeth and their fragile, little minds- I want you to think of this moment, when you were lower than ever that. And I want you to remember how you willingly submitted, because if you don't, you will have to leave Hollow Hall and my mercy.

'Now, little brother, you must choose a future.'

It turned out that Cardan didn't have a heart of stone after all. As he removed his shirt and sank to his knees, as he fisted his hands and tried not to cry out when the strap fell, he burned with hatred. Hatred for Dain; for his father; for all the siblings who didn't take him in and the one who did; for his mother, who spat at his feet as she was led away; for stupid, disgusting mortals; for all of Elfhame and everyone in it. Hate that was so bright and hot that it was the first thing that truly warmed him. Hate that felt so good that he welcomed being consumed by it.

Not a heart of stone, but a heart of fire.”
― Holly Black, How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories

“No need for dramatics.'

'I am nothing,' Cardan said, 'if not dramatic.”
― Holly Black, How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories

“I have heard that for mortals,the feeling of falling in love is very like the feeling of fear”
― Holly Black, The Wicked King

“If he were going to put regular people to death, he'd probably use some kind of cheap, regular person poison.”
― Holly Black, The Cruel Prince

“Bring me the crown, Cardan,' Balekin says.

Prince Cardan turns on his elder brother the same cool and calculated gaze with which he has regarded so many other creatures before he's torn the wings from their back, before he's cast them in to rivers or sent them from the Court entirely. 'No, brother. I do not think that I will. I think that if I did not have another reason to cross you, I would do it for spite.”
― Holly Black, The Cruel Prince

“I have heard that for mortals, the feeling of falling in love is very like the feeling of fear. Your heart beats fast. Your senses are heightened. You grow light-headed, maybe even dizzy.' He looks at me. 'Is that right? It would explain much about your kind if it's possible to mistake the two.”
― Holly Black, The Wicked King

“Humans are like mice,' Balekin went on. 'Dead before they learn how to be canny.”
― Holly Black, How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories

“The water is cold, but his kiss is colder.”
― Holly Black, The Wicked King

“He oído que, para los mortales, la sensación de enamorarse se parece mucho a la de tener miedo. Se os acelera el corazón. Se os agudizan los sentidos. Os da vueltas la cabeza puede que incluso os mareéis. ¿Es cierto? Si es posible confundir ambas sensaciones, eso explicaría mucho sobre tu especie.”
― Holly Black, The Wicked King