Home > Work > The Fairest Beauty (Hagenheim, #3)
1 " Let Valten go save his own damsel in distress. I'm sure there are other maidens he can fall in love with. "
― Melanie Dickerson , The Fairest Beauty (Hagenheim, #3)
2 " Valten always did say you were the luckiest boy alive. "
3 " She did not want wealth or fame or power, but simply to be loved, to be cherished, to feel safe, cared for, and protected. She wanted someone to be kind to her and love her. "
4 " She didn’t realize how beguiling she was in her innocent gestures. "
5 " Once or twice she’d looked back at him and seen such a look of compassion in his brown eyes it had made her heart flop around like a fish on dry land. "
6 " Men were such strange creatures. Perhaps getting shot at and defending a woman against wild animals and evil archers truly was his idea of enjoyment. "
7 " You must let God’s love heal you. "
8 " Sophie lay down next to him, the crossbow beside her. “Planning to use that?” “Only if we’re threatened.” She had a plucky, defiant look on her face that made respect well up inside him. “Do you know how?” he goaded her. “Yes, I do. "
9 " When he tore his eyes from the piece of parchment, his gaze went straight to Sophie, a strange look on his face. He tossed the letter over his shoulder, strode across the room toward her, his eyes alight with triumph. He grabbed Sophie around the waist, tilted her backward, and kissed her passionately on the lips. Finding herself off balance, Sophie held onto his shoulders. Her heart soared at his sudden display of affection. "
10 " Before Sophie could say anything, Gabe dipped her backward and kissed her again. And she kissed him back. "
11 " Gabe tried to force himself to listen to and comprehend the priest’s words, but it was difficult, as Sophie’s beauty kept distracting him. "
12 " He moved close to her. “Do you think I still have a fever?” He hoped she would press her soft hand to his forehead. “I’m sure your fever must be gone” — she gave him a saucy smirk, seeing right through him — “or Bartel never would have let you come downstairs.” “Bartel doesn’t know.” He smirked right back, leaning dangerously close. "
13 " Gabe prayed for the strength not to strangle his future father-in-law for the fiftieth time. "
14 " I will never leave you again,” he said softly against her ear. “I will follow you around like a lost puppy if you let me. I love you, Sophie. God has given me back my little girl.” Sophie "
15 " It’s human nature to be angry at someone who’s been as cruel to you as the duchess has. You should forgive her, but you should forgive yourself too, if you feel angry and unforgiving sometimes. God understands. He’ll help you. "
16 " She breathed in the warm air, thanking God for the sun, for the warmth, for this moment of exquisite freedom. Then she stared down at the flowers below them, so close and yet too far to reach. "
17 " The petals were almost transparent. How wonderful that such a delicate thing could provide such vivid color. "
18 " There was something about music, the way it flowed through his body and mind and spirit all at the same time, that felt like an intimacy between him and the person listening to it. "
19 " Keep smiling. "
20 " Facing the small window, Sophie let her mind travel. She was standing in the middle of a sunlight-drenched meadow, situated in a safe, spacious, warm land far away from the duchess and her evil intentions. She was free. No one was yelling at her or belittling her or locking her in a dungeon. "
