Tiffany

“Han spotted a child‟s homespun dolly in the ditch, pressed into the mud. He reined in, meaning to climb down and fetch it so he could clean it up for his little sister. Then he remembered that Mari was dead and had no need of dollies anymore.
Grief was like that. It gradually faded into a dull ache, until some simple sight or sound or scent hit him like a hammer blow.”
― Cinda Williams Chima, The Exiled Queen

“Whoa, Rebecca," Talia said smiling even wider, "Walking on the wild side, are we?"
Raisa seemed to think the situation needed more explaining. "He - uh - I'm tutoring him."
"She is," Han said solemnly. "She's very good. I'm learning a lot."
Pearlie snickered. "What's she teaching you?"
"Well," Han said, "we're jumping around a lot.”
― Cinda Williams Chima, The Exiled Queen

“I live in the present because the future is always chancy. When it comes to being with you, I'm willing to take the risk.”
― Cinda Williams Chima, The Exiled Queen

“Han stroked her hair, shifting his body under her. “Why? What are you afraid of? Thieves or wizards?”
“Both,” she said.
“Is it because I‟m not a blueblood?” He asked this matter-of-factly, as if he really wanted to know.
“That‟s the least of it,” Raisa said, taking a shuddering breath. “This is just going to lead to heartbreak, and I refuse to have my heart broken again.” She looked up at him. “I thought I could play at love. I thought I had the right, same as — as any courtier or a — a streetlord.”
He shook his head. “Rebecca, listen, I—”
“But I‟ve found out I‟m not made that way,” she interrupted. “I can‟t play this game if my heart‟s not in it. That‟s me personally. I‟m not judging anyone else.”
“I see,” he said. He tightened his arms around her, brushing his fingers along her collarbone, setting her nerves tingling. “What‟s your heart saying now?”
She wanted to be honest with him, even though she‟d probably pay for it. “I‟m in trouble,” she whispered.”
― Cinda Williams Chima, The Exiled Queen