Jem spoke with enormous care; talking to Will about anything personal was like trying not to startle away a wild animal.

You never cared that I was your sister before.” “Didn’t I?” His black eyes flicked up and down her. “Our father’s dead,” he said. “There are no other relatives. You and I, we are the last. The last of the Morgensterns. You are the only one left whose blood runs in my veins, too. You are my last chance.

Goodness, real goodness, has it's own sort of cruelty to it.

Will looking after her, sighed.not for her, he said under his breath, though there was no one to hear him, for me.... And he leaned his head against the cold iron gate.

“ Turned you gay?” She sounded incredulous. “ Alec, you didn’ t tell me gay?” She sounded incredulous. “ Alec, you didn’ t tell me that.” “ I hope you told him you were bitten by a gay spider,” said Simon.

I would rather insult you than lose you, he said, and before any of them could make a move to stop him, he cast both items into the fire.

Gideon touched her cheek, lightly, with the tips of his fingers. “Did you know your name means ‘wisdom’? It was very well-given.