Captive Prince

“Damen said, ‘I made him a promise.’ ‘And when he learns who you are?’ said Jord. ‘When he learns that he is facing Damianos on the field?’ ‘Then he and I meet each other for the first time,’ said Damen. ‘That was also a promise.” — Book III, I

“Don’t,’ said Laurent, ‘toy with me. I—have not the means to—defend against this.’ ‘I don’t toy with you.’ ‘I—’ ‘Don’t think,’ said Damen. ‘Kiss me,’ said Laurent. And then flushed, a rich colour.” — Book III, XII

“When you lost your brother, was there someone to comfort you?’ ‘Yes,’ said Laurent. ‘In a way.’ ‘Then I’m glad,’ said Damen. ‘I’m glad you weren’t alone.’ Laurent pushed himself away, up into a sitting position, and for a moment he sat, without speaking.” — Book III, XIII

“You’re alive,’ Damen said, and the words came out on a rush of relief that made him feel weak. ‘I’m alive,’ said Laurent. They were gazing at one another. ‘I wasn’t sure you’d come back.’ ‘I came back,’ said Damen.” — Book II, IX

“Why do you give me good advice?’ asked Laurent. Isn’t that why you brought me with you? Instead of speaking those words aloud, Damen said, ‘Why don’t you take any of it?” — Book II, II

“I see you are once again assisting—’ Charls leaned in conspiratorially, ‘cousin Charls on his travels.’ ‘Cousin Charls wants to keep his identity hidden. I hope you understand. The Veretian Council think he’s hunting at Acquitart.’ ‘I am the soul of discretion,’ said Charls.”

“Fuck me,’ said Laurent. ‘I want to,’ said Damen. ‘Can you let me?’ ‘I am letting you,’ said Laurent, the terse words pushing out.” — Book II, XIX

“You were a force of nature. (…). Frightening to have you on my side.’ ‘Frightening?’ ‘You didn’t know how afraid I was of you?’ ‘Of me? Or of yourself?’ ‘Of what was happening between us.’ ‘Sometimes I’m still afraid of it.’ Laurent’s voice was honest.” — The Summer Palace

“(…) Laurent drew his horse up in a little circle, and met Damen’s gaze, his pale brows rising, as if to say, ‘Well?’ Damen grinned. He hefted the spear he had caught, and (…) threw; let it go (…) to thunk into the target alongside Laurent’s spear, where it rested, quivering.”

“I remember how much it maddened you in the palace, to be powerless. I felt yesterday how badly you wanted to hit someone.’ Damen found he’d moved without realising it, his fingers lifting to touch the bruised edge of Laurent’s jaw. He said, ‘The man who did this to you.”

“DAMEN WAS SMILING. (…) Laurent missed him. He felt a flutter of illicit joy when he thought of it. He remembered Laurent gazing up at him. You keep overturning all my plans. Laurent was going to be furious when he arrived at the morning meeting.” — Book III, X

“I forgot, you don’t fuck boys.’ Damen said, ‘Men, sometimes.’ ‘In the absence of women?’ ‘When I want them.’ ‘If I’d known that, I might have felt a frisson of danger, lying next to you.’ ‘You did know that,’ said Damen.” — Book II, XVII

“Say it,’ said Damen. ‘I yield.’ It was gritted out. Laurent’s head turned away to one side. ‘I want you to know,’ he said, the words thick and heavy as they pushed out of him, ‘that I could have done this any time when I was a slave.” — Book III, VIII

“Laurent had placed his boot flat against the plane of Damen’s chest, and pushed. And he didn’t remove his boot from its position, he held Damen in place with it, the firm pressure of the ball of Laurent’s foot a warning to stay back.” — Book II, XIX

“I knelt for you,’ said Damen. The remembered words when Laurent had forced Damen to his knees, and extended the toe of his boot. He thought, Laurent would never do that. Laurent had too much pride. Deliberately, Laurent went to his knees.” — The Summer Palace

“Kallias’s unselfconscious ease made Erasmus feel happy and very shy.” — The Training of Erasmus

“You were jealous.” — Book III, XVI

“You and Auguste would have been slapping each other on the back and watching tournaments, and I would have been trailing around tugging on your sleeve. He would have liked you.’ ‘Even after I started courting his little brother?’ said Damen carefully. ‘Yes,’ said Laurent softly”

“Jokaste is confined in a cell in the east wing. Do you have further orders?’ ‘Strip her and send her to Vere as a slave?’ Damen didn’t move from the sill. Nikandros said, ‘You don’t really want that.’ ‘No,’ he said. ‘I want it to be worse.” — Book III, XI

“Laurent had placed his boot flat against the plane of Damen’s chest, and pushed. And he didn’t remove his boot from its position, he held Damen in place with it, the firm pressure of the ball of Laurent’s foot a warning to stay back.” — Book II, XIX