Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2) QUOTES

2 " They were still holding hands. They hadn’t let go, not even once. Ayla’s hand was sweaty; there was dirt and sweat and probably blood slicking their palms, but she didn’t want to lose this point of contact. This point of warmth, solidity, in the middle of a huge and frightening thing. The machinery of war. "

― Nina Varela , Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2)

4 " Do wolves concern themselves with the slaughter of sheep? "

― Nina Varela , Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2)

6 " Because you deserve to be known, in whatever capacity you wish. I am trying to become a person who deserves to know you. I want that more than anything. "

― Nina Varela , Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2)

8 " Wars were won by whichever side caused the most suffering. How was that something to be proud of? "

― Nina Varela , Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2)

10 " I told you once I’m not a book to be read,” Ayla continued. “I take it back. I’m a book. Read me. "

― Nina Varela , Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2)

12 " There was no room inside her for emotions like this. For yearning like this. For loneliness like this. But she was so human-shaped. She was so human-shaped. How could she live in this vessel and not feel any attachment to the world, to its people? "

― Nina Varela , Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2)

14 " A law for a paradox. I’ll trade you.
We believe the Universe birthed an infinite number of stars. By this logic, you could stand anywhere in this world and look up at the night sky and your line of sight would inevitably end on a star. By this logic, the night sky shouldn’t be dark at all; it should be a blinding wash of starlight. Therein lies the paradox. The problem is the assumption that the Universe is static, unmoving; that every star has always occupied the same space in our sky. The paradox doesn’t account for the fact that the Universe, like all things, was born and has been growing ever since. Expanding outward—pushing, pulling, as you told me. Celestial bodies floating in a black sea, carried by a current older than life. Drifting farther and farther apart. The nature of the Universe is that everything inside it becomes lonelier and lonelier and lonelier. Some nights I can think of nothing else, and nothing more terrifying. Some nights I lie awake, thinking of this, and it makes me unspeakably sad.
Not as often, these days.
Because it’s you.
It’s you, the wash of starlight, the old paradox: if the Universe were static, I could stand anywhere in this world and I swear my line of sight would end on you. I swear I’d find you in the dark. "

― Nina Varela , Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2)

16 " Crier looked at her, and smiled. Wide and bright as the whole damn sky. "

― Nina Varela , Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2)

18 " My hear, if I have one, is a house of empty rooms and empty halls. My thoughts and footsteps echo. Sometimes I feel like a guest in the house of myself. But sometimes, someone’s footsteps cross my floor, and that is enough. These days, I luxuriate in my loneliness. I walk through my empty halls naked and singing. "

― Nina Varela , Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2)

20 " They melted into a series of deep, lush kisses, hot and dizzying and endless, lips moving together, Crier’s mouth opening beneath Ayla’s, the taste of her like summer rain. Ayla pushed into her over and over again, taking her mouth, already addicted to this, to her, to Crier, everything about her, taste and scent and the warmth of her skin under Ayla’s hands. "

― Nina Varela , Iron Heart (Crier's War, #2)