The kissed surprised him because it had been so long since he'd kissed anyone but Elspeth. It surprised Valentina because she had hardly ever kissed anyone that way - to her, kissing had always been more theoretical than physical. Afterwards she stood with her eyes closed, lips parted, face tilted. Robert thought, She's going to break my heart and I'm going to let her.

I feel moderately bad about this whole thing. On the one hand, I am providing myself with urgently required survival skills. Other lessons in this series include Shoplifting, Beating People Up, Picking Locks, Climbing Trees, Driving, Housebreaking, Dumpster Diving, and How to Use Oddball Things like Venetian Blinds and Garbage Can Lids as Weapons. On the other hand, I’m corrupting my poor innocent little self. I sigh. Somebody’s got to do it.

It comes out so quietly that I have to ask her to repeat it: “It’s just that I thought maybe you were married to me.

one of the best and the most painful things about time traveling has been the opportunity to see my mother alive.

…she smiles in an exhausted but warm sort of way, as though she is a brilliant sun in some other galaxy

I feel that I an everything to her.

Clare seems so pleased with the idea of me as a pirate that she forgets that I am Stranger Danger.