Cait

“If yes is no and once is never, then how many sides does a triangle have?”
― Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Inheritance Games

“I put both of my hands on the desk. 'Just tell me why you hate me. Once and for all.'

His long fingers smooth over the wood of Dain's desk. 'You really want honesty?'

'I am the one with the crossbow, not shooting you because you promised me answers. What do you think?'

'Very well.' He fixes me with a spiteful look. 'I hate you because your father loves you even though you're a human brat born to his unfaithful wife, while mine never cared for me, though I am a prince of Faerie. I hate you because you don't have a brother who beats you. And I hate you because Locke used you and your sister to make Nicasia cry after he stole her from me. Besides which, after the tournament, Balekin never failed to throw you in my face as the mortal who could best me.'
...
'Is that all?' I demand. 'Because it's ridiculous. You can't be jealous of me. You don't have to live at the sufferance of the same person who murdered your parents. You don't have to stay angry because if you don't, there's a bottomless well of fear ready to open up under you.' I stop speaking abruptly, surprised at myself.

I said I wasn't going to be charmed, but I let him trick me in to opening up to him.

As I think that, Cardan's smile turns in to a more familiar sneer. 'Oh, really? I don't know about being angry? I don't know about being afraid? You're not the one bargaining for your life.'

'That's really why you hate me?' I demand. 'Only that? There's no better reason?'

For a moment, I think he's ignoring me, but then I realise he's not answering me because he can't lie and he doesn't want to tell the truth.

'Well?' I say, lifting the crossbow again, glad to have a reason to reassert my position as the person in charge. 'Tell me!'

He leans in and closes his eyes. 'Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It's disgusting, and I can't stop.'

I am shocked in to silence.

'Maybe you should shoot me after all,' he says, covering his face with one long-fingered hand.”
― Holly Black, The Cruel Prince

“Instead of being afraid, I could become something to fear.”
― Holly Black, The Cruel Prince

“I would rather lose this entire war than live without you, and if that means I have to prove myself over and over, then I'll do it. You gave me your heart, and I'm keeping it.”
― Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing