Karen

“Flesh melts faster than lies dissolve. In the end, only the plague tells the truth.”
― Jack D. Ace, Plague House: The Nazi Formula's Curse

“Mason, son. Never be ashamed of who you are. Never long to be anyone but yourself. The mark of a great wolf, of a leader, is not the color of his fur, but the integrity of his heart, his soul. It’s who you are here.” He’d paused and placed his large calloused hand over my chest. “That matters. Something tells me you are destined for great things. You will bring honor to your family.”
― Belinda Boring, Savage Possession

“The truth about our existence would have been discovered long ago if we did. Now we’re myths and legends. Predators who can walk side by side with our prey.” “But we are monsters.” “If something has the ability to think and to reason, it has the ability to be monstrous,” Lucien said. “Why aren’t all human beings benevolent? Why do even the best of them sometimes do things they abhor?” Makeda frowned. “No one is perfect. That’s human nature.” “Of course it is,” Lucien said. “And humans—like us—can be monstrous. That some of our kind choose not to be—even with our greater strength—is the reason we exist. I believe we do what the lion does. We maintain balance.”
― Elizabeth Hunter, A Stone-Kissed Sea

“How very moving,” FitzSimon declared from the ramparts above, his tone full of rancor. “Now take your bastard and go, MacKinnon!” Iain hung his head back, peering up into the ramparts to meet FitzSimon’s gaze. “Aye,” he agreed. “You’ve kept your end o’ the bargain, FitzSimon, and now I’ll keep mine. Your daughter will be returned to you within the hour.” “Nay!” FitzSimon shook his head vehemently. “Keep the bloody bitch!” Iain was struck entirely dumb. Surely he didn’t mean that... He was but angry... “If you return her to me,” FitzSimon swore, “I’ll rip out her traitorous tongue for her betrayal!” Iain held his son in stunned disbelief. “I have no need of the lass,” he returned. “Surely you cannot mean...” “Keep her, or kill her!” FitzSimon declared. “I care not which—only get her the hell out of my sight!” And then he withdrew, ending the discourse, once and for all, leaving Iain and his men to stare after him in shock.”
― Tanya Anne Crosby, The MacKinnon's Bride