Lycus

“Blue must be worn for protection. Moonstones were useful in connecting with the living, topaz to contact the dead. Copper, sacred to Venus, will call a man to you, and black tourmaline will eliminate jealousy. When it came to love, you must always be careful. If you dropped something belonging to the man you loved into a candle flame, then added pine needles and marigold flowers, he would arrive on your doorstep by morning, so you would do well to be certain you wanted him there. The most basic and reliable love potion was made from anise, rosemary, honey, and cloves boiled for nine hours on the back burner of the old stove. It had always cost $9.99 and was therefore called Love Potion Number Nine, which worked best on the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month.”
― Alice Hoffman, The Rules of Magic

“when you truly love someone and they love you in return, you ruin your lives together. That is not a curse, it’s what life is, my girl. We all come to ruin, we turn to dust, but whom we love is the thing that lasts.”
― Alice Hoffman, The Rules of Magic

“فؤادي بين أضلاعي غريب.. يُنادي مَن يُحبُّ فلا يُجيبُ
أحاط به البلاء فكل يوم.. تقارعه الصبابة والنحيب
لقد جَلبَ البَلاءَ عليّ قلبي.. فقلبي مذ علمت له جلوب
فإنْ تَكنِ القُلوبُ مثالَ قلبي.. فلا كانَتْ إذاً تِلكَ القُلوبُ”
― قيس بن الملوح, ديوان قيس بن الملوح: مجنون ليلى

“Franny entwined her legs with his. She understood why ancient monsters were often made of two creatures, with two hearts and minds. There was strength in such a combination of opposites.”
― Alice Hoffman, The Rules of Magic