The Robin on the Oak Throne

“In my experience, the trauma of the loss of a parent, the loss of security, the loss of love is one of the deepest we could ever go through.”

“While your skills are valuable, I would do everything in my power to prove that it is the woman that I want and not just the little thief.”

“Tonight, we are the terror of the night.”

“I am not sacrificing Kierse to your machinations. She is much too precious for that. I will play the game, and I will win my reward.”

“Just know, you are my choice. Every time.”

“He has a complicated relationship with everyone.”

“Everything that happened with you. I wish I could rewrite my life with you in it.”

“I recognize a wisp when they’re in my home.”

“The cauldron is an ancient Celtic artifact created by the Tuatha de Danann. There are four, and each was created as a means to help an advancing army. The spear that could never be defeated. The sword that revealed the truth to help any strategy. The cauldron to feed an army and heal their injured. And the stone to proclaim the true king.”

“My wren, my little thief, who else could satisfy you?”

“A chuisle mo chroí is a magic bond. I’ve seen it a few times. It usually creates a strong connection, an awareness of the other person that might feel physical in the chest. Touch is almost like being intoxicated. Sometimes you feel a loss of your own will.”

“There’s a reason I don’t trust you in my mind. You were the one that hid my identity from me. You were the one who burned this bridge. You don’t get to choose the terms for when to mend it.”

“I have no interest in sharing you. With anyone.”

“When I broke the spell on you, it was the sword that saw the truth of the spell around you. That is its purpose, after all, a truth teller. It told me to break it and reveal what was underneath. I did not once believe you to be the same child that sat in my library. She was long dead in my mind.”

“I would earn your trust back. If you’d let me. I know where I went wrong the last time, and I will do better. Let me prove it to you. I am here for you, Wren. For you.”

“It’s waiting for you to come home. As am I.”

“You two can fight this out without me. I want no part in this dick-measuring contest. We have more important things to deal with.”

“You have access to anything you want while you’re here. To me.”

“Collecting books and reading books are two different hobbies. Don’t get them mixed up.”

“Emilie was my first love. I thought she was the entire world. I wanted to believe that the soulmate was wrong, but it was an honor back then. We decided together to petition for a marriage.”

“It is a grail, of sorts, but it was around before the more notable one. There are stories that say if you drink of its power, it can give magic where there is none, heal magic that has been broken even change the makeup of your blood so that a half blood becomes a pure blood.”

“This heart beats for me.”

“I accept that you’re independent, that you can handle yourself, that you’re bloody reckless. But you can’t do this all alone anymore, Wren. At some point, you are going to have to let others help you. You’re going to have to let me help you.”

“The spell might have taken your memory, but it’s possible that you repressed those memories all on your own as well. That what happened to you was so traumatic, your brain shut itself off from the pain.”

“She’s in danger. The Fae Killer is onto us. I don’t know how he knows where we’re going, but we need to hide her.”

“A spell like that is incredibly powerful. The amount of magic needed to hide your identity as well as erase parts of your memory had to have been outrageous.

“If you’re going to be at risk, then I’ll be at your back. Every time.”

“Books are a singular pleasure. Nothing else in existence can transport you in quite the same way. All you have to do is crack the spine and learn the secrets of the universe.”

“We both already know what your value is. Priceless.”

“If I’ve learned anything in my pursuit of knowledge, it’s that everything will out if given enough time.”

“Anyone who can lock down the most formidable bachelor on either side of the Atlantic has my appreciation and condolences.”

“Her magic is no different than your magic, or that of any of your kind. Perhaps even lesser. You’ll need to do something more than hide her if you want this one to survive.”

“Personally, I’m a fan of something understated. Or a family heirloom.”