Paedyn Gray Quotes

“I may be a monster, but if you cut me, I'll bleed. And if you break my heart, Pae, you'll break me. So, if even a sliver of your soul longs for mine, I'll spend the rest of my life trying to deserve it.”
― Lauren Roberts, Reckless

“Everything beautiful, everything bold, everything breathtaking- that is what I feel in her gaze. That, and terrified. Terrified of what she is doing to me. She is a vision, a nightmare, a dream. A grim reaper clad in black, come to steal my soul and my heart. I've never seen something so beautiful, so bold, so blatantly wrong for me. She is a devil. She is a deity. She is a man's downfall in human form. She is my downfall. Then her eyes drift to Kitt. The connection snaps. And I'm left feeling empty besides the jealousy growing inside me. Why did I ever think I could have ever, ever think she would have me? Because beasts don't get the beauty.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“Do you always fall into the arms of handsome strangers or is this a new thing for you?"

"No, only the cocky ones.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“You don't regret it?"
She shakes her head, her smile sad, "No."
"Good," I murmur. "Because I've always had a thing for short hair."
"Oh, really?" She laughs as I sway us in a circle.
"It's true. Among other things, of course." I shrug a shoulder. "Short hair. Ocean-blue eyes. Twenty-eight freckles. And"- I pause, examining her with a tilt of my head-"how tall are you?"
She blinks in confusion. "Umm, about five and a half feet?"
"Five and a half feet," I continue evenly. "The terrifying ability to kick a man's ass. Stunning smile. Ridiculously stubborn. Hair like molten silver. Quick to threaten me with a dagger." I smile down at her. "Should I go on?”
― Lauren Roberts, Reckless

“No, I'm sick of running. And I won't spend the rest of my life doing it unless it's you I'm running back to."
"Then I'll spend the rest of my life tracking you down," he says quietly. "Glimpsing you in shadows. Fighting you in the streets. Dancing with you in my dreams. Because living without you is only bearable when I know you are out there still living too.”
― Lauren Roberts, Reckless

“She is the torture I may not survive.
Eagerly, she is my undoing.
Her gaze lifts, meeting eyes that are not my own.
Eyes of the man who gets to have her-if she allows it.
She was supposed to be my forever.
Now I'll watch her become someone else's.
Because the beast doesn't get the beauty.”
― Lauren Roberts, Reckless

“Tell me you hate me, and I'll still count every heartbeat, every freckle, every shiver of your body, if only you say it with a smile.”
― Lauren Roberts, Reckless

“I wanted to kill you," I whisper, forcing his eyes to open. "I wanted to be your undoing. But even then, I knew I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I had."
He inches toward me, head shaking and eyes roaming as though overwhelmed by what he is seeing. "Oh, but you are my undoing. My deliverance. my downfall disguised as a deity." Another slow step. "You are my ruin.”
― Lauren Roberts, Reckless

“You asked me what my favorite color was once. I'd never even pondered the answer to that question before you. And yet, I realized in that moment that it was blue." He bends to brush a kiss to my temple, a murmur against my skin. "It is your eyes.”
― Lauren Roberts, Reckless

“She's bewildering as much as she is beguiling. That pretty mouth of hers says one thing, but those ocean eyes say another. She pulls a knife from my back only to say she'll bury another one there. She's confusing, captivating, and we're completely wrong for each other in all the right ways. She's a flame, and I'm going to get burned. An ocean and I'm going to drown.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“A forget-me-not, since you always seem to be forgetting who I am.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“Mark my words, Prince. I will be your undoing."

"Oh Darling, I look forward to it.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“You're not just a mission to me. You're not just another enemy for me to find. You're something even more terrifying."
Her voice is little more than a whisper. "And what is that?"
"A need."
We stare at each other, both surprised by the words that pushed their way past my lips. Sunlight is streaming through her hair, making her glow like something far too heavenly for me.
"I thought you had found your courage," she says softly.
I smile slightly. "Maybe I'm fine with being a fool. So long as it's for you.”
― Lauren Roberts, Reckless

“Walking on a sharp blade and hoping I don't get cut. Playing with fire and hoping I don't get burned. Swimming in a dangerous current and hoping I don't drown.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“It's strange," he says quietly, his eyes scanning the crowded garden. "I haven't known her for long, and yet, I find myself wanting to know her for longer.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“And what was your title again? The Silver Saviour?"

"Fitting. I know how much you like silvers.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“Do you always fall into the arms of handsome strangers, or is this a new thing for you?”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“I show her my palms, surrendering before the fight has even begun. "You don't really want this and neither do I. Especially because I wouldn't want to mess up that pretty face of yours, darling."
She all but rolls her eyes at me. "That's funny because I won't hesitate to mess up your pretty face."
I smirk. "I knew you thought I was pretty."
At that, she throws another punch at my face that I easily evade. We continue circling each other, slowly. Damp hair clings to my forehead and I comb my fingers through it, pushing it off my sticky skin.
"You do know that I have eight powers at my disposal right now and any one of them could drop you." I grin as I say it, watching her eyes narrow.
"I don't want to fight your power-I want to fight you. Just you." Her piercing gaze never leaves mine as she says it, even as the other Elites turn their attention toward us, finding this fight far more interesting than their training.
"So, you just want me? No powers?"
"Yes, I just want you," she breathes, annoyed with me.
My mouth twists into a crooked grin. "I knew you wanted me, Gray.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“His voice is lower than before when he says, "You're a vision."
"She is, isn't she?"
My heart skips a beat. The voice coming from over my shoulder is so cold I nearly shiver. Kai brushes my arm as he steps around me, facing the stunned boy still clutching me to him.
"I'll be stealing her now," Kai says simply,...
He feels too familiar.
We fit together perfectly, pieces of a puzzle snapping into place. I shouldn't let myself relax into his touch. Shouldn't let the tension ease from my body when he holds me. But I can do nothing to stop it. Utterly and completely powerless.
His palm is flat and firm against my exposed back, calluses brushing my flushed skin. "You looked like you needed saving," Kai says, and I catch a glimpse of his smirk before he spins me.
"For once," I sigh, "I'm going to have to agree with you."
"I'm sure I could think of other things we agree on."
"Oh really? And what would those things be?"
"That he was right," Kai says softly. "You are a vision. I'm sure we can both agree on that.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“It's stiff, the fabric hugging my hips, making it impossible to move freely.
"Go on." It's Kai's taunting voice I hear behind me. "Ask for my help, Gray."
I roll my eyes at the wall in front of me. "Stubborn, remember?"
I hear Kitt's chuckle before I feel hands brushing my legs. Startled, I look down, eyes landing on a bent head of messy black waves. Kai is gripping the bottom seam of my dress, his eyes flicking up to mine.
"May I?" His voice is soft, tone amused.
I swallow, roll my eyes once again, and nod against my better judgment.
And then he's ripping my dress.
He tears the fabric easily, creating a slit up the side of my thigh, freeing me from the tight confines of the fabric. His rough fingers briefly brush my skin as he says, "I am more than willing to rip your dresses for you, Gray. To help, of course." Kitt snorts while Kai smirks. "You only need to ask."
"Why ask when you're so eager to offer?"
Kai's laughter follows me as I finally pull myself up, arms burning with the strain.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“And there she is.
She steps out of her room with her head down, quietly shutting the door before looking up and practically jumping at the sight of me.
"Plagues, Kai, don't scare me like that!" I blink.
It's the first time she's called me by my name, and I realize then that I could get used to the sound of it rolling off her tongue.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“I place a gentle hand on the small of Paedyn's back, prodding her forward.
It's a question, a tentative test, an innocent inquiry.
Is this okay?
I briefly wonder if she's considering breaking my wrist, maybe contemplating placing a dagger to my throat-
And then, she relaxes, easing into my touch.
An answer to my question without uttering a word.
Yes.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“I let out a low laugh. "Oh, 'sweet' isn't the word I would use to describe her, Gail. She held a knife to my throat only a few days ago."
"He deserved it," Paedyn says simply, shrugging slightly.
"Oh, I'm sure he did," Gail replies, grinning at her. "I probably would have done the same." She glances at me, nodding toward Paedyn. "I like this one.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“I jump off the counter and give Gail a peck on the cheek. "Don't miss me too much."
Then, I turn toward Paedyn, who's leaning casually against the counter, a small smile tugging at her lips. I take a slow step toward her. Her head tips up to look me in the eyes as I close the distance between us, so close I can smell the lingering scent of lavender on her skin. I reach around her back, fingers brushing her tank.
Her breath hitches and I feel my lips tug upward. When she opens her mouth to tell me off, I pull my hand back slowly, holding an apple in front of her face. "Always feeding you, remember?"
She stares at the fruit before snatching it from my hand, huffing in annoyance. And then, she smiles, the dazzling action lighting up her face as she rubs the apple on my shirt, right above my heart.
She takes a bite, her eyes locked with mine. "And you said you weren't a gentleman.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“Oh, and Kai?" she calls, her voice casual.
And then I'm ducking.
She spun, throwing the knife so suddenly that I barely had time to dodge it before it sank into the wooden target a few feet behind me.
"I don't want your mercy. Next time we fight," I can see her blue eyes smoldering from where I stand, "impress me."
A low whistle sounds from the crowd-Kitt, of course. Ignoring him, I shake my head, grinning at her as she turns away from me.
Vicious little thing, indeed.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“We make a right down a smaller corridor and head to the very last door on the left. He grips the handle and swings it open, revealing a bedroom beyond, lit only by the moonlight streaming through the window.
If I thought my room was magnificent, it pales in comparison to this. It's easily twice the size of my own, making it seem more like a house than a single bedroom. Though it's filled with a four-poster bed, dresser, and a desk-just as mine is-this room seems lived in. The shelf is overflowing, books stacked at odd angles to make them fit. Several of their worn covers tell me they consist of strategy, combat, and...poetry.
Interesting.
Everything filling this room is nicer than my own, yet used and worn.
This is his room-his real room.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“Do you wish it was you?" He blinks, dark lashes fluttering. "Do you wish you were the future king of Ilya? The heir?"
It's not at all the question I thought I would be asking, but here we are. "No," he states simply, holding my gaze.
I raise my brows in a silent question. When he doesn't continue, I say, "That's it? 'No'?"
"You got your answer, and I got my dance. That was the deal, darling.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“Before I can blink, the knife placed beside Paedyn's plate is now raised in front of her chest, its point aimed at her heart.
The sight sends a shock of anger through me, but my voice is far cooler than my sudden rage as I say, "Easy, ladies." Borrowing the Tele ability, I push the knife back down onto the table with a clatter while ignoring the glare Blair shoots me. "I'm not normally the one breaking up fights, but let's not try to kill each other before the Trials even start.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“I'm swept from my thoughts when Kai spins me and my eyes dart to his without my permission.
Mistake.
His midnight hair falls over his forehead in messy, silky waves. Smoky gray eyes meet mine, captivating, chilling. His set jaw loosens, pulling his lips into a cocky grin as he watches me take him in.
Dimples. Both of them mocking me.
"Like what you see, Gray?" he croons, knowing that will get a rise out of me. I huff, looking away from him to fight the flush that's finding its way to my cheeks. Rough fingers glide from my back to catch my chin, gently guiding my face back to his as he mutters, "By all means, carry on. I'll never deny myself the chance of watching you watch me."
"And why is that?" I ask with a nonchalance I don't feel.
His smile is wicked. "Because it is far more fun to admire you when the action is mutual.”
― Lauren Roberts, Powerless

“Me and my cold feet could always just sleep over there. Alone.”
“Like hell I’m letting you sleep alone,” I mutter.
And then I’m shaking my head, wrapping an arm around her legs, and pulling them against me.
She looks at me, shocked. And then she smiles, bright and big like the night sky hanging above us.
I fear she could rival the stars.”
― Lauren Roberts, Reckless