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“I don't think what you want will help you. But I do appreciate a good lost cause.”
― Stephanie Garber, Once Upon a Broken Heart

“Have I told you how hideous you look tonight?' Cardan asks, leaning back in the elaborately carved chair, the warmth of his words turning the question in to something like a compliment.

'No,' I say, glad to be annoyed back in to the present. 'Tell me.'

'I cannot,' he says, then frowns.”
― Holly Black, The Cruel Prince

“... the girl remained unmoving. Dead. And yet the Fate continued to hold her.

'Bring her back,' he said softly.

'I am sorry,' said the queen who'd just awoken. She was a petite thing. She's tried to pull her son away from the girl to stop his unnatural feeding, but her hands were not strong enough. The queen could not fight immortals physically, but she had an iron will forged of mettle and mistakes. 'You know I cannot do that.'

The Fate finally looked up. 'Bring her back,' he repeated. For he also possessed an indomitable will. 'I know you can do it.'

The queen shook her head remorsefully. 'My heart breaks for you- for this. But I will not do this. After bringing back Castor and seeing what he became, I vowed to never use that sort of magic again.'

'Evangeline would be different.' The Fate glowered at the queen.

'No,' she repeated. 'You wouldn't be saving this girl, you would be damning her. Just as we did to Castor. She wouldn't want this life.'

'I don't care what she wants!' roared the Fate. 'I don't want her dead. She saved you, you need to save her.'

The queen took a shaky breath.

If the story curse could have breathed, it would have held its breath. It hoped the queen would say yes. Yes to bringing her back, to turning her in to another terrible immortal. Despite what this Fate believed, the girl would be horrible- the ones with endless life always were, eventually.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After

“It didn't matter if he stayed forever cursed. All that mattered was that he stayed, that he chose her instead of fear.”
― Stephanie Garber, The Ballad of Never After