From Blood And Ash Quotes

“But you know how easy it is to be yourself when you wear a mask.' His voice was low as his gaze held mine. 'How anything you want becomes achievable when you can pretend that no one knows who you are.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“I hate you.'

'No, you don't.'

'And I'm about to stab you,' I warned. 'In a very violent manner.'

Concern flickered across his face as he lowered the book. 'Now that, I believe.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“I'd rather be standing here with you than out there without you.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“Penellaphe and I do not to speak,' he said, his gaze never leaving mine. 'I can assure you that she is safe with me, and I'm sure that whatever I'm about to discuss with her, she'll tell you all about it later.'

Tawny crossed her arms. 'Yes, she will, but that's not nearly as entertaining as witnessing it.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“I have a feeling if you don't leave, he's just going to stand there and drain precious air from my room-'

'While looking exceptionally handsome, ' he added. 'You forgot to add that.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“You're... you're nothing like I expected.'

The way he said that sounded so genuine that some of my irritation eased. 'Was it my skill with an arrow or the blade? Or was it that fact that I took you to the ground?'

'Barely took me to the ground,' he corrected. His chin dipped, and his lashes lowered, shielding his odd eyes. 'All of those things. But you forgot to add in the Red Pearl. I never expected to find the Maiden there.'

I snorted. 'I imagine not.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“You're a decent person, Princess.' He sat back. 'That's why you care.'

'And you're not a decent person?'

Hawke lowered his gaze. 'I'm many things. Decent is rarely one of them.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“It's weird, isn't it?'

'What is?'

His gaze met mine again, and I felt a hitch in my chest. I couldn't look away. I felt... ensnared. 'How it feels like I've known you longer. You feel that, too.'

I wanted to deny it, but he was right, and it was weird. I said none of that because I didn't want to acknowledge it. Doing so felt like a start down a road I couldn't travel. Knowing that caused a deep, twisting sensation in my chest, and I didn't want to acknowledge that either.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“I refuse to be helpless.'

'No one should be.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“If I'm going down-'

'You'll go down fighting,' he finished for me.

I nodded.

'Like I said, you're very brave.'

'I don't think it's bravery.' I returned to staring at my hands. 'I think it's... fear.'

'Fear and bravery are often one and the same. It either makes you a warrior or a coward. The only difference is the person it resides inside.'

My gaze lifted to him in stunned silence. It took me a moment to formulate a response. 'You sound so many years older than what you appear.'

'Only half of the time,' he said. 'You saved lives tonight, Princess.'

I ignored the nickname. 'But many died.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“I ask only one thing of you.'... 'The next time you go out, wear better shoes and thicker clothing. Those slippers are likely to be the death of you, and that dress... the death of me.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“... you're important to me, Poppy. Not because you're the Maiden, but because you're... you.'

A knot of emotion formed in my chest and fought its way up my throat. I didn't give him a chance to realise what I was doing. I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. 'Thank you,' I murmured against his chest.

Vikter was as stiff as a guard on the Rise for their very first time, but then he put his hands on my back. And patted me.

I grinned.

'You know I'll never replace your father, nor would I ever try to, but you're like a daughter to me.'

I hugged him tighter.

He patted me again. 'I worry about you. Partly because it's my job, but mostly because it's you.'

'You're important to me, too.' My words were muffled against his chest. 'Even though you think my punches are weak.'

His chuckle was rough as he dropped his chin to the top of my head. 'Your punches are weak when you're not doing them correctly. He pulled back, clasping my cheeks. 'But, girl, your aim is deadly. Don't ever forget that.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“The truth is not designed to ease fears,' Vikter responded.

'Is that why we tell lies, then?' Hawke questioned, and I pressed my lips together.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“There only needed to be a few words spoken for them to behave like an infection, tainting a person's mind.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“If you need me, knock.' She paused. 'Princess.'

I groaned.

Hawke chuckled. 'I really do like her.'

'I'm sure she'd love to hear that.'

'Would you love to hear that I really like you?' he asked.

My heart skipped a beat, but I ignored the stupid organ. 'Would you be sad if I said no?'

'I'd be devastated.'

I snorted. 'I'm sure.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“Is it okay for me to enter?' I asked, clasping my hands together. 'Or should I wait out here while you inspect under the bed for stray dust bunnies?'

Hawke looked over his shoulder. 'It's not dust bunnies I'm worried about. Steps, on the other hand? Yes.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“I hate this.'

'Hate what?' I asked, confused.

Hawke didn't respond immediately. 'I hate talking to the veil.'

'Oh.' Understanding rippled through me as I reached up and touched the length that hid my hair. 'I imagine most people don't enjoy it.'

'I can't imagine you do.'

'I don't.' I admitted and then glanced around the room as if I expected Priestess Analia to be hiding somewhere. 'I mean, I'd prefer if people were able to see me.'

He tilted his head to the side. 'What does it feel like?'

Air hitched in my throat. No one... no one had ever asked me that before, and while I had a lot of thoughts and feelings about the veil, I wasn't sure how to put them into words even though I trusted Hawke.

Some things, once spoken, were given a life of their own.
...
'It feels suffocating.'

Hawke drew closer. 'Then why do you wear it?'

'I didn't realise I had a choice.' I looked up at him.

'You have a choice now.' He knelt in front of me. 'It's just you and me, walls, and a pathetically inadequate supply of furniture.'

My lips twitched.

'Do you wear your veil when you're with Tawny?' he asked.

I shook my head no.

'Then why are you wearing it now?'

'Because... I'm allowed to be without my veil with her.'

'I was told that you were supposed to be veiled at all times, even with those approved to see you.'

He was, of course, correct.

Hawke arched a brow.

I sighed. 'I don't wear my veil when I'm in my room, and I don't expect anyone to come in other than Tawny. And I don't wear it then because I feel... more in control. I can make-'

'The choice not to wear it?' he finished for me.

Nodding, I was more than a little stunned that he'd nailed it.

'You have a choice now.'

'I do.' But it was hard to explain that the veil also served as a barrier. With it, I remembered what I was, and the importance of that. Without it, well, it was easy to want... to simply want.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“You shouldn't have done that,' I told him.

'I should've allowed her to hit you? In what world would that have been acceptable?'

'In a world where you end up punished for something that wouldn't even have hurt.'

'I don't care if she hits like a baby mouse, this world is fucked up if anyone finds that acceptable.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“Is it worth losing your position over and being ostracised for?'

He glared down at me. 'If you even have to ask that question, then you don't know me at all.'

'I hardly know you at all,' I whispered, irritated by the sting his words left behind.

'Well, now you know that I will never stand by and watch someone hit you or any person for no reason other than they feel they can,' he shot back.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“It seems to me that this honour that has been bestowed upon you comes with very few benefits. You're not allowed to show your face or travel anywhere outside the castle grounds. You didn't even seem all that surprised when the Priestess moved to strike you. That leads me to believe it's something fairly common,' he said, his brows dark slashes above his eyes. 'You are not allowed to speak to most, and you are not to be spoken to. You're caged in your room most of the day, your freedom restricted. All the rights others have are privileges for you, rewards that seems impossible for you to earn.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“I prefer the version of you that wears no mask or veil.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“You still out there, Princess?'

My lips parted as my eyes widened at the sound of his voice. Hawke. It was Hawke. In that room. I couldn't believe it.

'Or have you fallen to your death?' he continued. I briefly debated the merits of jumping. 'I really hope that's not the case since I'm pretty positive that would reflect poorly on me since I assumed you were in you room.' A pause. 'Behaving. And not on a ledge, several dozen feet in the air, for reasons I can't even begin to fathom but am dying to learn.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“A heartbeat later, Hawke stuck his head out and looked up at me. The soft glow of the lamp glanced off his cheekbone as he raised a brow.

'Hi?' I squeaked.

He stared at me for a moment. 'Get inside.'

I didn't move.

With a sigh so heavy it should've rattled the walls, he extended his hand toward me. 'Now.'

'You could say please,' I muttered.

His eyes narrowed. 'There are a whole lot of things I could say to you that you should be grateful I'm keeping to myself.'

'Whatever,' I grumbled. 'Move back.'

He waited, but when I didn't take his hand, he disappeared back into the room, grousing under his breath. 'If you fall, you're going to be in so much trouble.'

'If I fall, I'll be dead, so I'm not quite sure how I'd also be in trouble.'

'Poppy,' he snapped, and I couldn't help it. I grinned.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“You are so violent,' Hawke all but purred.

'You keep saying that, but I'm really not.'

Hawke laughed again, the sound deep and real. 'You really aren't all that self-aware.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“Hawke stared back at me, almost curiously. 'Interesting.'

The corners of my lips turned down. 'What is?'

'You.'

'Me?”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“Penellaphe.' He said my name with so much shock my eyes would've rolled if I weren't so incredibly mortified. 'This is... just scandalous reading material for the Maiden.'

'Shut up.'

'Very naughty,' he chided, shaking his head.

Annoyance hitting a record high, I lifted my chin. 'There's nothing wrong with my reading about love.'

'I didn't say there was.' Hawke looked at me. 'But I don't think what she is writing about has anything to do with love.'

'Oh, so you're an expert on this now?'

'More so than you, I imagine.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“Give me back the journal.'

'But, of course.' He offered it and I snatched it out of his hand quickly, holding it to my chest. 'All you had to do was ask.'

'What?' My mouth dropped open. 'I have been asking.'

'Sorry.' He didn't sound sorry at all. 'I have selective hearing.'

'You are... You are the worst.'

'You got your words wrong.' Striding past me, he patted the top of my head. I lashed out, narrowly missing him. 'You meant, I'm the best.'

'I got my words right.'

'Come. I need to get you back before something other than your own foolishness puts you at risk.' He stopped by the door. 'And don't forget your book. I expect a summary of each chapter tomorrow.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“You look... lovely,' he said, and my stomach dipped in the most pleasant way possible. He turned to Tawny. 'As do you.'

Tawny smiled. 'Thank you.'

He glanced at Vikter. 'You, as well.'

Vikter snorted, and I smiled, while Tawny giggled. 'You do look exceptionally handsome tonight, ' she said, an I swore Vikter's cheeks deepened in colour as I turned back to the dais.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“After you, Princess.'

I turned, eyes narrowing as he stepped aside. 'You need to stop calling me that.'

'But I like it.'

Brushing past him, I lifted the hem of my skirt as I stepped onto the slight rise. 'But I don't.

'That's a lie.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash

“I was wrong earlier when I said you looked lovely,' he said.

'What?'

'You look absolutely exquisite, Poppy. Beautiful,' he said, giving a little shake of his head. 'I just... I needed to tell you that.”
― Jennifer L. Armentrout, From Blood and Ash