Ludo

“Nora.” He just barely smiles. “You’re in books. Of course you don’t have a life. None of us do. There’s always something too good to read.”
― Emily Henry, Book Lovers

“Unfortunately,” he said, “I am not a fan of fairy stories.”
“That is unfortunate, as you are in so many of them.”
“Yes, but I am always cast as the villain.” He craned his head. “Even you cast me as the villain.”
“It is hard not to, my lord. Why, just this morning you abandoned four children by the side of the road, their hearts devoured by nachtkrapp and their bodies left to the rest of the scavengers.” Her chest squeezed and she dared not look at the spirits standing at the king’s side, knowing she would dissolve into tears if she did. “I think you rather like playing the villain.”
Finally, a real smile graced his features, down to the sharp points of his teeth. “And who is the hero of this story?”
“I am, naturally.” Serilda hesitated for a moment before adding, “At least, I hope to be.”
“Not the prince?”
It felt like a trap, but Serilda knew better. She laughed lightly. “He’s had his moments. But no. This is not his story.”
“Ah.” He clucked his tongue. “Perhaps you are trying to save him, then.”
― Marissa Meyer, Gilded

“Once, I stole from Death. I'm ready to do it again.”
― Victoria Schwab, Bridge of Souls

“All my years of imagining you,” he murmured, leaving a trail of kisses across my face, “and you are so much more than I ever could have dreamt of…You smell like sunlight,” he whispered against my mouth.
“Sunlight has a smell?” I asked, gasping as he planted a kiss in the hollow of my throat.
“Oh yes,” he assured me. “All my life has been moonlight and the stars. I can smell the sunlight racing through your veins from across a room. Sunlight and heat and salt. Always the salt.”
― Erin A. Craig, House of Salt and Sorrows