The Darkling Quotes

“The Darkling slumped back in his chair. “Fine,” he said with a weary shrug. “Make me your villain.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“I've seen what you truly are," said the Darkling, "and I've never turned away. I never will. Can he say the same?”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“I've been waiting for you a long time, Alina" He said. "You and I are going to change the world.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“In this moment he was just a boy -brilliant, blessed with too much power, burdened by eternity.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“You’re shaking,” he said.
“I’m not used to people trying to kill me.”
“Really? I hardly notice anymore.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“You two have a bad habit of acting like fools and calling it heroic.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“You live in a single moment. I live in a thousand.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Like calls to like.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“Will you say it?

"Aleksander"

His grin faded and his grey eyes seemed to flicker.

"Again."

"Aleksander”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“What are you smiling at?”

I whirled, peering into the gloom. The Darkling’s voice seemed to float out of the shadows. He walked down to the stream, crouching on the bank to splash water on his face and through his dark hair.

“Well?” he asked, looking up at me.

“Myself,” I admitted.

“Are you that funny?”

“I’m hilarious.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“How could he be so cruel and still so human?”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“The problem with waiting is that it makes us weak.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“I want you to know my name.
The name I was given, not the title I took for myself.
Will you have it?

"Yes"

"Aleksander”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Don't feel too bad, tracker," said the Darkling. "All men can be made fools.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“Fight me as long as you're able.
You will find I have far more practice with eternity”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“There are rumors that your Lantsov prince has been sighted.”

I drifted nearer, trying to keep my voice casual. “Where?”

He glanced up, his lips curling in a slight smile. “Do you like him?”

“Does it matter?”

“It’s harder when you like them. You mourn them more.”

“Tell me, Alina,” said the Darkling. “Has he claimed you yet?”

“Claimed me? Like a peninsula?”

“No blushes. No averted eyes. How you’ve changed. What about your faithful tracker? Will he sleep curled at the foot of your throne?”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“I seem to be a victim of my own wishes where you are concerned.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“The Darkling's gray eyes studied Mal with more interest than he'd ever shown before.
"I understand we're blood related."
Mal shrugged. "We all have relatives we don't like.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Rule of Wolves

“I will tell you a story, one I used to tell to a little boy with dark hair. A silent boy who rarely laughs, who listened more closely than I realized. A boy who had a name and not a title”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“What have you come here for, Alina?”
I answered him honestly. “I wanted to see you.”
I caught the briefest glimpse of surprise before his face shuttered again. “There are two thrones on
that dais. You could see me anytime you liked.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“I’ve been waiting for you a long time, Alina,” he said. “You and I are going to change the world.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“After a long moment, he said, "Aleksander."
A little laugh escaped me. He arched a brow, a smile tugging at his lips. "What?"
"It's just so... common." Such an ordinary name, held by kings and peasants alike.
His smile deepened and he cocked his head to the side. It almost hurt to see him this way. "Will you say it?" he asked.
"Aleksander," I whispered.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“You were meant to be my balance Aline.
You are the only person in the world who might rule with me, who might keep my powers in check”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Mercy." He said the word as if he were tasting something unfamiliar. "I could be merciful.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“It's my own name I'm afraid of forgetting."
"Your true name is written here," she said tapping his chest. "Tattooed on your heart. You don't let just anyone read it.”
― Leigh Bardugo, The Demon in the Wood

“The Darkling smiled, but this time the turn of his lips was cold. He shoved off the table and stalked toward me.

“I will enter the Fold, Alina, and I will show West Ravka what I can do, even without the Sun Summoner. And when I have crushed Lantsov’s only ally, I will hunt you like an animal. You will find no sanctuary. You will have no peace.” He loomed over me, his gray eyes glinting. “Fly back home to your otkazat’sya,” he snarled. “Hold him tight. The rules of this game are about to change.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“There will be, he promised in the darkness, new words written upon his heart. I will make one.”
― Leigh Bardugo, The Demon in the Wood

“What's your favorite color?" asked Sylvi.
"I don't have one."
"How can you not have one?"
Deep blue like the True Sea. Red like the roofs of the Shu temples. The pure, buttery color of sunlight—not really yellow or gold, what would you call it? All the colors you couldn't see in the dark.”
― Leigh Bardugo, The Demon in the Wood

“I will strip away all that you know, all that you love....
Until you have no shelter but me”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“I am ancient Alina.
I know things about power that you can barely guess”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising