Цитаты из книги «Отбор», страница 23

"Oh! Oh, no. Maxon, I'm so sorry. I knew that was a stupid idea. I just didn't know of you'd be at diner, and I wanted to see you."

"Well, what for?" he asked. He was still looking me over with a furrowed brow, as if he was making sure nothing was broken.

"Just to see you."

Maxon stopped moving. He looked into my eyes with a kind of wonder.

"You just wanted to see me?" He looked happily surprised.

We were in the middle of a game of cards when I noticed a figure out of the corner of my eye. It was Maxon, standing at the open door, looking amused. As our eyes met, I could see that his expression was clearly asking what in the world I was doing. I stood, smiling, and walked over to him.

"Listen to me, kitten. Win or lose, you'll always be a princess to me."

"Oh, Daddy." I finally started to cry. That was all it took to unleash the fear, the sadness, the worry, the nerves - the one sentence that meant non of it mettered.

If I came back used and unwanted, he'd still be proud of me.

"America, I'm not taking this."

"The hell you aren't. I don't need it and you do. If you ever loved me at all, you'll take it. Hasn't you pride done enough for us?"

"But then... Part of me thinks it's a good idea. It's exciting. He's going to fall in love in front of everyone. And I like that someone gets a happily ever after and all that. Anybody could be our next queen. It's kind of hopeful. Makes me think that I could have a happily ever after, too."

— Aspen.

"America, my dear, I do hope you find something in this cage worth fighting for. After all this, I can only imagine what it would be like to see you actually try."

— Maxon.

"Maxon Schreave is the epitome of all things good. He is going to be a phenomenal king. He lets girls who are supposed to be wearing dresses wear jeans and doesn't get mad when someone who doesn't know him clearly mislabels him." I gave Gavril a keen look, and he smiled. And behind him, Maxon looked inrigued. "Whoever he marries will be a lucky girl. And whatever happens to me, I will be honoured to be his subject."

I saw Maxon swallow, and I lowered my eyes.

Если тщательно спланировать то, что спланировать можно, проще будет справиться с тем, что спланировать нельзя.

Не то чтобы наши дела были настолько плохи. Мы не балансировали на грани голодной смерти или что-нибудь в этом роде. Мы не нищие, нет. Но и состоятельными нас тоже едва ли можно назвать. Мы занимались искусством. А художники и музыканты находились всего лишь в трех шагах от грязи.

Он сначала в несколько толчков выдыхал из себя весь воздух, а потом слегка похрюкивал на вдохе, как