Milly Read

“When fear arrives, something is about to happen.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom

“Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. “Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get Wylan’s ghost to teach my ghost how to play the flute just so that I can annoy the hell out of your ghost.”
Brekker’s lips quirked. “I’ll just hire Matthias’ ghost to kick your ghost’s ass.”
“My ghost won’t associate with your ghost,” Matthias said primly, and then wondered if the sea air was rotting his brain.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows

“As they split to prepare for the meeting with the Ravkans, Jesper followed Wylan down the hall. “Hey.”
Wylan kept going.
Jesper jogged past him and cut off his path, walking backward. “Listen, this thing with Kuwei isn’t a thing.” He tried again. “There is no thing with Kuwei.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation. I’m the one who interrupted.”
“No, you didn’t! Kuwei was sitting at the piano. It was an understandable mistake.”
Wylan stopped short. “You thought he was me?”
“Yes!” Jesper said. “See? Just a big mis—”
Wylan’s gold eyes flashed. “You really can’t tell us apart?”
“I … I mean, usually I can, but—”
“We’re nothing alike,” Wylan said indignantly. “He’s not even that good at science! Half his notebooks are full of doodles. Mostly of you. And those aren’t good either.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom

“Wylan’s grin broadened. His brow lifted. If that wasn’t an invitation …
“Well, hell,” Jesper muttered. He closed the distance between them and took Wylan’s face in his hands. He moved slowly, deliberately, kept the kiss quiet, the barest brush of his lips, giving Wylan the chance to pull away if he wanted to. But he didn’t. He drew closer.
(...)
He pulled back, dropped his hands, feeling unspeakably awkward. What did you say after a terrible kiss? He’d never had cause to wonder.
That was when he saw Kuwei standing in the doorway, mouth open, eyes wide and shocked.
“What?” Jesper asked. “Do the Shu not kiss before noon?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Kuwei said sourly.
Not Kuwei.
“Oh, Saints,” Jesper groaned. That wasn’t Kuwei in the doorway. It was Wylan Van Eck, budding demolitions expert and wayward rich kid. And that meant he’d just kissed …
The real Kuwei plunked that same listless note on the piano, grinning shamelessly up at him through thick black lashes.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom