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“The past is never really gone. It only lies in wait for you, remembered or forgotten.”
― Sharon Cameron, The Forgetting

“This was going to kill her. This, right here, this beautiful boy and his monstrous power and his lies and the knowledge that nothing mattered, they would always betray each other in the end.”
― Emily A. Duncan, Ruthless Gods

“True,â€� said Nikolai. “But they know what you are too, Sankta Zoya.â€�
“Do not call me that.�
“It has a nice ring to it,� said Tamar.
“Our Lady of Dragonfire?� Suggested Nadia.
“Sweet scaly vengeance?� Said Genya.
Zoya turned her back on all of them and strode towards the tents. “I’m going to go live in a cave.”
― Leigh Bardugo , Rule of Wolves

“It's my choice today that is the memory of tomorrow. It's my choice that determines what I will become. Not the memories of the past.”
― Sharon Cameron, The Forgetting

“I hope you’re all enjoying yourselves.â€�
Tamar hooked a scarf over Nadia’s neck and drew her in for a kiss.
“Oh, for Saints� sake,� complained Zoya. “Is everyone pairing up now?�
Genya snickered. “Take heart. I’ve seen Stigg casting mournful glances your way.�
“He’s Fjerdan,â€� Zoya said. “That’s the only kind of glance he has. And I can arrange my own assignations, thank you very much.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Truth can look so flimsy and feeble sometimes. It's one of the things I hold against it.”
― Sharon Cameron, The Forgetting

“Today I found I'm not afraid of the unknown. Today I discovered that the unknown loved me, and that I loved it back.”
― Sharon Cameron, The Forgetting

“Nadia was an optimist, and Adrik was a member of the doomsayers club- the one they didn't allow at meetings because he brought the mood down.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Rule of Wolves

“Nadia," she says, very softly. I lean forward, straining to hear. Her expression has changed, drawn, as if in pain. "She's gone," she whispers. "The bed is empty."
"Who, Mother?"
"Nadia," she says again. "Her book is wrong. It's not Nadia's book." I know Mother. But it was only ever the book that was wrong. Not the daughter. Never the daughter.”
― Sharon Cameron, The Forgetting

“Nadia looked...weird. Like chugged-a-Butterfinger-Blizzard-in-ninety-seconds-and-got-on-the-Tilt-A-Whirl weird.”
― Claudia Gray, Spellcaster

“I mean that after the little accident with your mom, you'd think you'd never come out here again."
My heart stops. I'm not exaggerating. I swear, for a pure second, my chest seized and all the blood flowing in my veins pauses. I can't believe he would say something like that. From the look on everyone's faces, they can't believe it either.
Aidan's the first to react as he growls, "Shut up! You jerk...how can you say something like that?"
Dunstan ignores Aidan's outburst as he keeps his eyes trained on me. His face is indifferent, but I know he's smirking on the inside. Why's he doing this? What does he want me to do? React? I would, if I could get any movement back in my freakin' legs. However, they seem to be paralyzed at the moment. I settle for glaring at him.
"Don't tell me you haven't gotten over it. It's been, what? Ten years since?"
"He said shut up!" Nadia snarls. She bares her teeth in primal fury and seems almost ready to pounce on him.
But if he catches on, Dunstan doesn't show it. "I just think it's amazing you'd still come out here. I know I wouldn't."
"Mr. Lebelle, it is in my power to turn this boat around and end this tour early. So I suggest that you stop this conversation at once," Babette threatens him. She doesn't shout, but her iron tone is just as—if not more—frightening as any yelling could be.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“I'm seeing someone."
It gets quiet enough to hear our breathing.
"You're dating someone?" Aidan asks, sitting back down in my chair. Nadia retakes her spot on my mattress.
I glance down at my hands, feeling my cheeks redden. "Not dating, really. It's more like I have feelings I haven't told her about yet."
"Do we know her?"
I shake my head.
"Who is she?" Nadia inquires. I glance up and instantly hate the look of rejection on her face,
The lies flow out of me too easily. "Her name's Ivy. She lives over in Harraway with her parents."
"Is she our age?"
"Yeah. She's only a year older."
Try a lot older. I'm answering myself again.
"An older woman? Awesome! What does she look like?"
I close my eyes as I remember her human form from my dreams. "She's about my height, has long white-blond hair, and green eyes. Ivy's very beautiful."
Beautiful? More like drop-dead gorgeous.
"She sounds like it." Aidan leans back, putting his hands behind his head. "So where's you meet her?"
"At the hospital in Harraway. Ivy does her service hours there."
"How come we never saw her?"
"You missed each other. She came there at different hours than you guys did."
Nadia sticks her hands up and stretches. "What did you two do?"
"Talk. Just what we do now. Ivy gave me her phone number and email before I left."
"Have you talked to her since?"
"Practically every day. She's a wonderful person. You guys would like her."
That or you would run away in terror.
"So let me get this straight." Aidan scrunches up his face as he thinks everything over. "The reason that you're not gag over Melanie anymore is because of some older chick you met in the hospital?"
"Yep."
Aidan lets out a long, low whistle. "Damn. If she's good enough to kick Melanie off the love pedestal, she has to be worth going after."
I nod. "Yeah. Ivy is. I...I think I like her."
If this were a cartoon, Nadia would have a rain cloud over her head—she looks that bashed from my news.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“RYLAN!"
The yell comes out of nowhere and nearly gives me a heart attack. Tearing my eyes away, I watch as Babette comes crashing through the undergrowth. With no regard that I might be severely injured, she bounds over and grabs me in a bear hug.
"Rylan! Oh my God, Rylan," Babette whimpers. She gently rocks me like I'm five years old again. There are some more footsteps, and Aidan and Nadia soon appear. Relief fills both their faces, with Nadia crying happily on Aidan's shoulder.
Just as I think she's going to crush me, Babette finally pulls back, her face shiny with tears. "Rylan, I thought I'd lost you. I thought I was never going to see you again. I�"
I hold up a hand. "Babette, it's okay. I'm alive. Not perfect, but I'm alive." I gesture to my leg.
"Holy crap!" the twins say together, staring at my leg in horror and disgust. It only takes one glance for Nadia to really start sobbing.
"Nadia! Nadia...don't cry," I murmur in an attempt to comfort her. Since she's such a happy person most of the time it hurts to see her like this. "It'll heal up. It's fine."
"B-but it-it's horrible! You near-nearly drowned an-and now you're hurt!" Aidan pulls her into an awkward hug, trying to calm her down.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“Rylan!" Melanie squeals, high-pitched enough to break glass. "I'm, like, so sorry I haven't talked to you all night. Being a hostess is hard work." She dramatically wipes imaginary sweat off her forehead. "Anyway, I finally have some free time. So why don't we go dance, hmm?"
Gripping my waist a little too tightly for my taste, she tries to pull me back to the house. I stand strong., jerking Melanie back when I don't move.
"No thanks, Melanie." My free arm tightens around Ivy's waist. "I already am dancing with someone."
Melanie's sight flickers to Ivy, and for a moment contempt skews her big grin. But it's gone in an instant as Melanie stretches her fake smile to the point she's showing gums and asks, through gritted teeth, "Hi. What's your name?"
Ivy can tell there's something off with the girl in front of her, but she still gives her a polite greeting. "Hello. My name is Ivy. How do you do?"
Melanie completely ignores the question and turns back to me. "You never told me you invited someone else, Rylan." Melanie's smile goes harsh. "I'm sorry, but unless I give the okay, no one outside of school is invited." She glares at Ivy. "I'll have to ask you to leave."
Ivy tilts her head, befuddled at the sudden hostility. "You want me to go?"
Melanie rolls her eyes. "Uh, yeah. I just said that."
Ivy stares down at her feet, ashamed and no doubt guilty for the wrong reason. She nods. "Okay."
She begins to leave but I grab her wrist and pull her back against me. I glare at Melanie. "What if I don't want her to go?" I growl.
"Yeah, Melanie!"
To my relief, I see Aidan and Nadia wiggle through the crowd. Neither of them look very happy; Nadia's downright fuming. Despite the whole "my liking Ivy" case, she's still there for me.
"Don't go telling people they can't be here," Nadia growls, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Who died and made you think you can boss everyone around?"
"Last time I checked, this is my party, and therefore I choose who I invite or not," declares Melanie with an obvious edge in her voice.
"That's no excuse! The only reason you want her gone is so you can make Rylan your new boy toy, which he doesn't want!"
"Oh, like you know him so well?"
"I'm his best friend, bitch!"
" Excuse me!?"
"ENOUGH!"
With one word, I bring the argument to an end and all attention back on me.
"Nadia's right," I state, glowering at Melanie. "Nadia's always been right. You know one of the reasons I came, other than to show Ivy a good time? It was to tell you to leave me alone, okay? I. Don't. Like. You. So leave me alone!"
It was like I announced I farted. Everyone starts whispering with disbelief. No one has ever turned down the advances of Melanie Sweet—until now. It's turning into a night of first for them.
Melanie obviously isn't used to this, as her face reddens like a tomato, her beautifully manicured hands clench into fists, and her usually angelic face morphs into a full-blown snarl.
How sweet.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“Nadia...first, I'm flattered you like me. You're a wonderful girl, and I'm lucky that I met you. You're one of my best friends, my only friends. And since that night with Ivy, you've been amazing. You and your brother have truly been there when I needed you to be."
I sigh. "Maybe if things had stayed normal—if I never got attacked, if I never met Ivy—I may have been able to return your feelings. But now...right now, I need a friend more than a girlfriend to help me get through this."
Nadia didn't look very happy, but she nodded; she understood. "You really liked her, didn't you?"
There was no doubt about my answer.
"Yeah. I did. I still do. And I will for the rest of my life.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“As I came closer, it took shape: long, slender, and curling, with numerous heart-shaped leaves. I felt my soul leap inside me.
For Ivy's tree was now hung with her namesake. Jade-green ivy clutched the bark with such strength that, no matter how hard you pulled, it would never let go.
I know I started crying then.
My friends came to my side at once, patting my back and telling me that everything was going to be okay. And though the tears kept coming, I knew they were right. Everything was really going to be fine now.
Because here, in front of me, was something I'd been hoping and praying for. I'd been searching for a sign, a signal to give me comfort in Ivy's passing and to tell me she was okay. And at last, here it was, growing all around me.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel