Tarishe Curse Quotes

“Enemies may unite to eliminate a common threat, but never without a wary eye fixed on their ally.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“I drifted off after a while, staring at the only star visible through the thick covering of leaves. Hope seemed a futile wish, but I troubled the lonely star to grant it anyway.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“I let my sword slip to the ground, and for the second time I stood unarmed in the presence of werewolves.

Kresh put his lips to my forehead, and my skin burned beneath his kiss. When his hands repositioned to take me by the waist, my breathing—already shallow—ceased entirely. Then his lips fell on mine and I was suddenly everything he claimed me to be—his mate, his wife, his world.

The taste of him seemed mysteriously new and old at the same time. Every bit of tension eased as if internally I had come home again, and yet a sense of foreignness made our connection a sweet venture. My breast was afire as he continued to grasp my hips, keeping me close. I burned for him as if vampire venom were coursing through every inch of me.

The man was a constellation of suns in my desire, unlike Thaddeus who hardly equaled a speck of stardust. The thought of that coward reminded me of grim news. It took every bit of willpower I possessed to tear my lips away from what they craved, and yet I remained a submissive puddle in this werewolf’s arms.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“You didn’t slay a werewolf,” I breathed before repeating the words louder. “You did not slay a werewolf, Thaddeus.”

“Oh, but I did. I took a band of huntsman with me and we tracked one down. A smaller one, mind you, not far from the front gate—”

“You did not!” I contended more strongly. Why would one wolf have separated from the pack? Why outside our walls?

“Yes, Catherine, I did,” he insisted.

I shook my head disbelieving. “You’re not capable—”

“I am so.”

I wanted to cry. I wanted to protest, but to do so meant giving away my knowledge of the truth. Without knowing what else to do or say I changed the subject.

“The fire’s gone out.”

Thaddeus turned his head to check. “You’re right. I’ll see to it.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“My ears interpreted a mix of nearby voices as calm, friendly, ordinary chatter. With that as background noise, I enjoyed the silent attention of my mate. The way his hand brushed softly over every inch of my bare skin tempted my eyelids to close and my mind to wander, but I kept focused, not wanting to miss a moment of admiring this beautiful man and his seductive, wild look. I felt a flood of emotion set in, born from absolute, interminable love for him. I wished for the voices to cease, for time to halt, for the moment we were living to replay over and over and over again perpetually. The world could have its gain and glory, its vengeance and victories. All I wanted was the enduring love and attention of this man who most assuredly was my soulmate.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“A red-cape game of retribution is dangerous when a fresh bull with bigger horns waits in the shadows.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“Was mutual need enough to risk trusting a calculated enemy in hopes of destroying a more powerful one?”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“Sweet revenge always turns bitter eventually.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“I thought of the words the old witch had used to summon the sword on previous occasions. While stepping backwards with the intent of putting the table between Thaddeus and myself, I voiced the spell aloud.

“Grim dettarias, ee Duvalla swen areir!”

My trusted weapon appeared from out of nowhere, the hilt grasped tight within my fingers. Without delay, I pointed the tip of the blade at my enemy.

“Move away from the door and let me leave this place.”

“Oh, Catherine…”

“Don’t breathe that wicked name again!” I angrily ordered. Thaddeus closed his mouth, and his eyes scrunched the slightest bit, never shifting from me.

“I’ll cut out your tongue if you mutter that awful name one more time,” I threatened. I interpreted his frown as a sign that he believed I would make every effort to carry out that threat.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“Years of strengthening my independence, perhaps believing on some level that my fate was to be forever solitary, had made me a strong and capable woman. I feared change. But did marriage demand a drastic change in my nature? No. Why should it? Strength of character wasn’t a flaw or an enemy to marital happiness. Yet I feared becoming a different person—a vulnerable, reliant, weaker person. Dompier had insisted change had already occurred in me to some degree. I did in fact feel susceptible emotionally around Thaddeus and yet without a total loss of myself. Is this what love did to people? Disarmed them with lures of peace and happiness? But if peace and happiness and companionship were indeed to be the outcome, why fight it?”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse

“I swallowed back a wave of concern as her focus jumped from my face to the indigo jewel at my chest. The blue light in the heart of the jewel glowed only faintly. A yank on the braided chain made me lurch forward and I heard Vada cry out in pain. When I looked, the vampiress was cupping her hand as if it hurt. I then understood what happened: she had attempted to grab the enchanted gemstone and it shocked her in the process. I flashed an accusatory glare at Vallatrece.

“Do you mean to steal from me?”

“Apparently no. It seems the stone has chosen you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m not surprised.”

“Well, it’s mine—that I do know. You can’t take it from me. No one can.”

“How many have tried?”

I refused an answer to the question. My silence was undaunting.

“Where did you get that pretty trinket anyway? Who gave it to you?”

“No one gave it to me; I found it.”

Vallatrece scrunched up her face, communicating that she didn’t believe me.

“And now that I have it,” I continued, “I no longer require your services.”

“You no longer require my services? Is that so?” Again, her cheeks dimpled with amusement at my words.

“Yes, it is so.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, The Tarishe Curse