Nikolai Lantsov Quotes

“I took a breath. “Your highness—”
“Nikolai,” he corrected. “But I’ve also been known to answer to ‘sweetheart’ or ‘handsome.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“I hope you weren’t looking to me to be the voice of reason. I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Stop punishing yourself for being someone with a heart. You cannot protect yourself from suffering. To live is to grieve. You are not protecting yourself by shutting yourself off from the world. You are limiting yourself.”
― Leigh Bardugo, King of Scars

“Jesper couldn’t quite believe he was having a conversation with the Sturmhond. The privateer was a legend. He’d broken countless blockades on behalf of the Ravkans and there were rumors that… “Do you really have a flying ship? blurted Jesper.
“No.”
“Oh.”
“I have several.”
“Take me with you.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom

“I want to kiss you,” Nikolai said. “But I won’t. Not until you’re thinking of me instead of trying to forget him.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“I saw the prince when I was in Os Alta,” said Ekaterina. “He’s not bad looking.”
“Not bad looking?” said another voice. “He’s damnably handsome.”
Luchenko scowled. “Since when—”
“Brave in battle, smart as a whip.” Now the voice seemed to be coming from above us. Luchenko craned his neck, peering into the trees. “An excellent dancer,” said the voice. “Oh, and an even better shot.”
“Who—” Luchenko never got to finish. A blast rang out, and a tiny black hole appeared between his eyes.
I gasped. “Imposs—”
“Don’t say it,” muttered Mal.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“You’re mad,” I said. “You know what he can do. No prize is worth that.”
Sturmhond grinned. “That remains to be seen.”
“The Darkling will hunt you for the rest of your days.”
“Then you and I will have something in common, won’t we? Besides, I like to have powerful enemies. Makes me feel important.”
Mal crossed his arms and considered the privateer. “I can’t decide if you’re crazy or stupid.”
“I have so many good qualities,” Sturmhond said. “It can be hard to choose.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“You know the problem with heroes and saints, Nikolai?” I asked as I closed the book’s cover and headed for the door. “They always end up dead.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“Most women suffer thorns for the sake of the flowers, but we who wield power adorn ourselves with flowers to hide the sting of our thorns”
― Leigh Bardugo, King of Scars

“You never know," said Nikolai. "I've been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet."

"Please tell me you plan to dress up as a volcra and jump out of a cake."

"Well, now you've ruined the surprise.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Nikolai had been told that hope was dangerous, had been warned of it many times. But he’d never believed that. Hope was the wind that came from nowhere to fill your sails and carry you home.”
― Leigh Bardugo, King of Scars

“Anything worth doing always starts as a bad idea.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“I can’t decide if you’re a fearmonger or a coward.”
“And I can’t decide if you’re an idiot or an idiot.”
― leigh bardugo, Siege and Storm

“And there’s no way I’m leaving you alone with Prince Perfect.”
“So you don’t trust me to resist his charms?”
“I don’t even trust myself. I’ve never seen anyone work a crowd the way he does. I’m pretty sure the rocks and trees are getting ready to swear fealty to him.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“Do that thing you do where you use too many words to say something simple and confuse the issue.”
― Leigh Bardugo, King of Scars

“It's not exciting if nothing can go wrong.”
― Leigh Bardugo, King of Scars

“Because I am greedy for the sight of you. Because the prospect of facing this war, this loss, without you fills me with fear. Because I find I don’t want to fight for a future if I can’t find a way to make a future with you.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Rule of Wolves

“I suppose that's why I love you."
His eyes flew open and his face lit in an extraordinary grin. "All Saints, say it again."
"I will not."
"You must."
"I'm the queen. I must do nothing but please myself."
"Would it please you to kiss me?”
― Leigh Bardugo, Rule of Wolves

“Say something spiteful.”
“Why?” she asked faintly.
“Because I’m fairly certain I'm hallucinating and in my dreams you're much nicer.”
“You're an idiot, Nikolai.”
― Leigh Bardugo, King of Scars

“There had been a time when words had been the only place he could find solace. No book ever lost patience with him or told him to sit still. When his tutors had thrown up their hands in frustration, it was the library that had taught Nikolai military history, strategy, chemistry, astronomy. Each spine had been an open door away whispering, Come in, come in. Here is the land you’ve never seen before. Here is a place to hide when you’re frightened, to play when you’re bored, to rest when the world seems unkind.”
― Leigh Bardugo, King of Scars

“My mother was an oyster,” he said with a wink. “And I’m the pearl.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Siege and Storm

“Alina, I'll be back to fetch you for dinner, but should you grow restless, do feel free to run screaming from the room or take a dagger to her. Whatever seems most fitting at the time."

"Are you still here?" snapped Baghra.

"I go but hope to remain in your heart," he said solemnly. Then he winked and disappeared.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Wretched boy.”
“You like him,” I said in disbelief.
Baghra scowled. “Greedy. Arrogant. Takes too many risks.”
“You almost sound concerned.”
“You like him too, little Saint,” she said with a leer in her voice.
“I do,” I admitted. “He’s been kind when he might have been cruel. It’s refreshing.”
“He laughs too much.”
“There are worse traits.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“Maybe the gift of being human is that we do not give up- even when all hope is lost.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Rule of Wolves

“Don’t go,” he said, still half asleep.
“I have to bathe. I smell like a forest fire.”
“You smell like wildflowers. You always do. What can I say to make you stay?” His words trailed off into a drowsy mumble as he fell back asleep.
Tell me it’s more than war and worry that makes you speak those words. Tell me what they would mean if you weren’t a king and I weren’t a soldier.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Rule of Wolves

“I like to bet on myself whenever I can. But usually with other people’s money.”
― Leigh Bardugo, King of Scars

“A privateer learns to press any advantage.”
“And a prince?”
“Princes get used to the word yes.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising

“You do realize you just referred to yourself as the queen. That means you agreed."
"I am going to kill you."
"So long as you kiss me again before you do.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Rule of Wolves

“Is that all?' said Zoya. 'Will you be taking up juggling as well?'
'Don't be ridiculous,' Nikolai replied. 'I already know how to juggle. Literally and figuratively.”
― Leigh Bardugo, King of Scars

“What are you two doing barefoot and half naked in the mud?" asked a familiar voice. "Looking for truffles, I hope?”
― Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising