His words were still clear in her mind from that first meeting. "Whoever eats this will love you." She looked into the mirror, at her birthmark, bright as blood, at her kiss-stung lips, at the absurd smile stretching across her face. Carefully separating out the crushed pieces of shell, she pulled the dried pulp free from its cage of veins. Piece by piece, she put the sweet brown fruit in her own mouth and swallowed it down.
Holly BlackYou got a lot of ladies to get through. Youโre still young. First loveโs the sweetest, but it doesnโt last.โ โNot ever?โ I ask. Grandad looks at me with a seriousness he reserves for moments when he wants me to really pay attention. โWhen we fall that first time, weโre not really in love with the girl. Weโre in love with being in love. Weโve got no idea what sheโs really aboutโor what sheโs capable of. Weโre in love with our idea of her and of who we become around her. Weโre idiots.
Holly BlackHe's the kind of liar who totally forgets what he told you the last time, but he believes every single lie with such conviction that sometimes he can convince you of it.
Holly BlackEven from the beginning, that was the problem. People liked pretty things. People even liked pretty things that wanted to kill and eat them.
Holly Black