Akanksha

“Is there a difference between acting like a really intelligent person and being a really intelligent person?”
― Heather O'Neill, The Lonely Hearts Hotel

“He stares at me in disbelief. 'You know what? We're not fighting tonight. Not if you want to learn how to shield.'

'Fine. We're not fighting. Teach me.' I tilt my chin. Gods, I barely reach his collarbone.

'Ask me nicely.' He leans closer.

'Have you always been this tall?' I blurt the first thing that comes to mind.

'No, I was a a child at some point.'

I roll my eyes.

'Ask me nicely, Violence,' he whispers. 'Or I'm gone.'
...

'Right then. All right. Will you teach me to shield?'

A smile curves his mouth, and my gaze drops to his lips. 'Say please.'

'Are you always this difficult?'

'Only when I know I have something you need. What can I say, I like making you squirm. It's like a sweet little slice of payback for what you've put me through these last couple of months.' He brushes the snow off my hair.

'What I've put you through?' Unbelieveable.

'You've scared me nearly to death once or twice, so I think saying please is a fair request.'

Like he's ever played fair a day in his life. I take a deep breath, and swat at a snowflake that lands on my nose. 'As you prefer. Xaden?' I smile sweetly up at him and inch a little closer. 'Would you pretty, pretty please teach me how to shield before I accidentally climb you like a tree and we both wake up with regrets?'

'Oh, I'm firmly in control of my faculties.' He smiles again, and I feel it like a caress.

Dangerous. This is so damn dangerous.”
― Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing