The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1) QUOTES

1 " But the past holds her secrets dear, and try as I may, I cannot coax them out of her. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

2 " • “Arthur’s whole demeanor shifted as he gestured with so much animation he nearly spilled his drink. “Did you see him fight? Oh, he is magnificent. I have longed to declare a tournament for him, but the problem with rule of law is that you have to abide by your own silly ideas.” P.73
“There was a dangerous magic in pretending… But when Arthur looked across the room and his entire being lit up with happiness at seeing her, she forgot again. She beamed at him as he rushed to her and gave her an exaggerated, silly bow. In the space of crossing the floor, he had transformed from conquering king commanding men twice his age to … Arthur.” P.83
“Iron bites, but it does not kill. And I am accustomed to pain.” P.319
“You cannot let her rise. You know what it would mean.”
“A return to nature. A return to the wild magic at the heart of this country. Do you know who carved Camelot out of the mountain? It was not men. Men came in and claimed it, because that is what men do.” He held his sword and stared at how it caught the moonlight. “I do not want men to die. But they need to be reminded of their place in this world. Someone has to stop them claiming everything worth having. Stop them claiming everyone worth having.” He held a hand out to Guinevere. “You do not belong in Camelot.” P.320
“Guinevere understood Mordred’s anger. She felt it herself. Everything wondrous was being unmade, and it was terrible beyond comprehension. But wonder, too, was terrible.” P.321
“She looked into Arthur’s warm eyes. The boy king. He carried the weight of a kingdom.
She nodded. “Do it.”
Arthur held her gaze. And then the king disappeared, leaving only her friend. Her Arthur.
He sheathed his sword.” P.325 "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

3 " She did not want to be an invisible queen in the castle. Arthur did not rule that way. And she wanted to be his match. His equal.

His partner.

She could no longer deny it. She wanted to be more than a protector to him. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

4 " What about the queen?" Sir Tristan asked, challenge in his voice as he used her as a reason not to follow Arthur's plan.
"The queen," Guinevere said, pulling up her hood, "is ready to ride at the king's side, wherever that takes her. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

5 " I have to keep you safe," he whispered, Arthur once again. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

6 " A man dove in front of her, tackling the wolf and rolling with it. Sir Tristan. The wolf clamped down on his forearm, breaking through the leather. Sir Tristan shouted with as much fury as the wolf's growls. He threw it free. Then he ran to Guinevere, picked her up, and tossed her into Arthur's waiting arms. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

7 " This time the crashing through the trees was not beast, but beloved. Arthur rushed toward them. He grabbed Guinevere from the horse and crushed her to his chest. "We found your hood, your cloak. There were more tracks, more boar prints. We thought - I thought you were taken. Dead."

Guinevere held on to his just as tightly. Something inside her broke and healed at the same time, as she felt how much she mattered to him by the strength of his embrace. She allowed herself one moment to cherish it. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

8 " Ready to burst, she spoke first. "You cannot be angry with me for saving him."
Arthur sighed. "I can, and I am. And I am not. I am glad Sir Tristan is alive. He is very precious to me. But I cannot risk you. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

9 " Guinevere. Please. The banished woman will wait. When I get back, we will discuss it and come up with a plan. Together. Promise me you will wait for me."

She wanted to be defiant, but it was not anger or command in his face. It was genuine worry pulling his features tight with strain. She sighed, the fight leaving her. "Oh, very well."

"Thank you," he said. Then, to her surprise, he pulled her close and brushed his warm lips against her cheek. The heat of him lingered as she watched him ride away once more. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

10 " Mordred ever seemed to burn. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

11 " Oh, I wanted to strangle him tonight."
"Was he difficult during the discussions?"
"No, I mean when he would not stop staring at you. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

12 " Every day is filled with lying about my very self. When I am with you, I do not have to."
Arthur's motions paused, then became softer as he massaged down each of her dedicate fingers. "Keeping secrets is like a thorn beneath the skin. You can get used to it, but it is always there, festering. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

13 " Her voice betrayed her. She could say so many things. She wanted to move to his side. To rub his weary forehead for him. To curl into him. To tell him about the dragon and how lonely thinking of it made her feel.

She wanted to run her finger along the fullness of his lower lip. To feel his smile against her own. And that was dangerous. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

14 " The Lady of the Lake..." His voice went distant, and a spike of jealousy pierced Guinevere. Because here, finally, she saw what Arthur looked like when he longed for something. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

15 " Arthur was carved from the same stuff as Camelot - regal and majestic. But Mordred belonged out here, with her. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

16 " Arthur nodded, slipping his arm around her and stroking her hair with a movement so soft she wondered if he realized he was doing it. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

17 " They are not always green, your eyes. Sometimes they are blue like the sky. In Camelot, they are gray like the stones. I like green and blue better. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

18 " She took the flower. "Thank you," she whispered. Relief and gratitude swelled in her. Mordred was on her side. Guinevere tucked the flower beneath her dress, against her heart, where it would be both secret and safe. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

19 " You are a different person when you are outside," Mordred said. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)

20 " He shifted closer to her, his body solid and radiating heat. "I would never give people a reason to talk about us, or to scorn you. I know we do not have a normal marriage, but I am happy with you by my side. Are you?"
"Yes." She did not hesitate. In this moment, the heat of him warming her through, she was perfectly happy.
"Good. I want-" He paused.
She strained closer, the pause after want hinged with unknown promise. Finally, he spoke again. "I want to get to know you. The real you. We are both here because Merlin wanted it so, but it is time he is no longer between us. We are in this together, Guinevere. I like that. "

― Kiersten White , The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising, #1)