baohua

“She recognized the way he was looking at her. It was how she’d once looked at Altan. It was the way she’d seen Daji look at Riga—that look of wretched, desperate, and reproachful loyalty. It said, Do it. Take what you want, it said. I’ll hate you for it. But I’ll love you forever. I can’t help but love you. Ruin me, ruin us, and I’ll let you.”
― R.F. Kuang, The Burning God

“Captain?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think it was destiny that brought us together?"
He squinted and, after a thoughtful moment, shook his head. "No. I'm pretty sure it was Cinder.”
― Marissa Meyer, Cress

“Reshaye?” Ishqa said, quietly. “That’s what she calls herself?”
“She?” Max said.
“Does it mean something?” I murmured.
A wince flickered across the man’s face. “It means, ‘No one.”
― Carissa Broadbent, Children of Fallen Gods