Alina Starkov Quotes

“I took a breath. “Your highness—”
“Nikolai,” he corrected. “But I’ve also been known to answer to ‘sweetheart’ or ‘handsome.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“I've seen what you truly are," said the Darkling, "and I've never turned away. I never will. Can he say the same?”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“And there's nothing wrong with being a lizard either. Unless you were born to be a hawk.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“I want to kiss you,” Nikolai said. “But I won’t. Not until you’re thinking of me instead of trying to forget him.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“He leaned against the window, and the gilded frame came into sharp focus. “Do you think it would be any different with your tracker beside you? With that Lantsov pup?”
“Yes,” I said simply.
“Because you would be the strong one?”
“Because they’re better men than you.”
“You might make me a better man.”
“And you might make me a monster.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Mal,” I whispered into the night.
“What?”
“Thanks for finding me.”
I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming, but somewhere in the dark, I thought I heard him whisper, “Always.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“I'm the Sun Summoner. It gets dark when I say it does.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“You’re shaking,” he said.
“I’m not used to people trying to kill me.”
“Really? I hardly notice anymore.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“You’re mad,” I said. “You know what he can do. No prize is worth that.”
Sturmhond grinned. “That remains to be seen.”
“The Darkling will hunt you for the rest of your days.”
“Then you and I will have something in common, won’t we? Besides, I like to have powerful enemies. Makes me feel important.”
Mal crossed his arms and considered the privateer. “I can’t decide if you’re crazy or stupid.”
“I have so many good qualities,” Sturmhond said. “It can be hard to choose.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“You know the problem with heroes and saints, Nikolai?” I asked as I closed the book’s cover and headed for the door. “They always end up dead.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“I have loved you all my life, Mal,” I whispered through my tears. “There is no end to our story.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“Why waste my anger on you when the fault is mine? I should have anticipated another betrayal from you, one more mad grasp at some kind of childish ideal. But I seem to be a victim of my own wishes where you are concerned.” His expression hardened. “What have you come here for, Alina?”

I answered him honestly. “I wanted to see you.”

I caught the briefest glimpse of surprise before his face shuttered again. “There are two thrones on that dais. You could see me any time you liked.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“You never know," said Nikolai. "I've been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet."

"Please tell me you plan to dress up as a volcra and jump out of a cake."

"Well, now you've ruined the surprise.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Maybe love was superstition, a prayer we said to keep the truth of loneliness at bay. I tilted my head back. The stars looked like they were close together, when really they were millions of miles apart. In the end, maybe love just meant longing for something impossibly bright and forever out of reach.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“We are alike,” he said, “as no one else is, as no one else will ever be.”

The truth of it rang through me. Like calls to like.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“And there’s no way I’m leaving you alone with Prince Perfect.”
“So you don’t trust me to resist his charms?”
“I don’t even trust myself. I’ve never seen anyone work a crowd the way he does. I’m pretty sure the rocks and trees are getting ready to swear fealty to him.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“It’s true,” I said softly. “You are stronger, wiser, infinite in experience.” I leaned forward and whispered, my lips brushing the shell of his ear. “But I am an apt pupil.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“He’d wanted me to believe in his ruthlessness.
Then I remembered his words from so long ago: Make me your villain.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“You are all I’ve ever wanted,” he said. “You are the whole of my heart.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“I don't want lies between us, Alina."

"How many lies have you told me, Sturmhond? How many secrets have you kept until you were ready to share them?"

"Prince's prerogative?"

"If a mere prince gets a pass, so does a living saint."

"Are you going to make a habit of winning arguments? It's very unbecoming."

"Was this an argument?"

"Obviously not. I don't lose arguments.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Like calls to like.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“I’ve never understood this taste for otkazat’sya. Is it because you thought you were one of them for so long?”
“I had a taste for you, once.” His head snapped up. He hadn’t expected that. Saints, it was satisfying.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Will you say it?

"Aleksander"

His grin faded and his grey eyes seemed to flicker.

"Again."

"Aleksander”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“What are you smiling at?”

I whirled, peering into the gloom. The Darkling’s voice seemed to float out of the shadows. He walked down to the stream, crouching on the bank to splash water on his face and through his dark hair.

“Well?” he asked, looking up at me.

“Myself,” I admitted.

“Are you that funny?”

“I’m hilarious.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone

“Wretched boy.”
“You like him,” I said in disbelief.
Baghra scowled. “Greedy. Arrogant. Takes too many risks.”
“You almost sound concerned.”
“You like him too, little Saint,” she said with a leer in her voice.
“I do,” I admitted. “He’s been kind when he might have been cruel. It’s refreshing.”
“He laughs too much.”
“There are worse traits.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“You just punched a prince, Alina. I guess we can add one more act of treason to our list.”
I shook out my sore hand. My knuckles smarted. “First of all, are we so sure he really is a prince? And second, you’re just jealous.”
“Of course I’m jealous. I thought I was going to get to punch him. That isn’t the point.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“I want you to know my name.
The name I was given, not the title I took for myself.
Will you have it?

"Yes"

"Aleksander”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“I already unleashed Baghra on Nikolai. He's going to think I stockpile vicious old women.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“A privateer learns to press any advantage.”
“And a prince?”
“Princes get used to the word yes.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Fight me as long as you're able.
You will find I have far more practice with eternity”
― Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone