10 quotes from 'we free the stars' by hafsah faizal that made me swoon
nasir ghameq the man that you are
1. Page 66
“This is all I’ve been able to think about. You. Us. Those damning words,” he said softly, his voice liquid darkness.
“You said them,” Zafira breathed.
“I take them back.”
“Is that how you say you’re sorry?”
“I can get on my knees for you, fair gazelle,” he whispered against her cheek, “if that is what you wish.”
2. Page 103
“Your turn. What color do you like most?”
His eyes flared before he could mask his surprise. Did he not think she’d ask him in return? It was always a game, capturing the small displays of Nasir Ghameq’s emotions. A game she liked, she realized. One she could play forever and never tire of.
“You,” he said, so softly it was only sound.
The intensity of his gaze stole the air from her lungs. She shook her head. “That—”
“Every color that makes you.”
3. Page 111
“You’re like a room full of books. Every time I see you, I discover something new.”
4. Page 131
Anger. That was what she needed to feel right now. Not … this. But the flickering sconces lit the anguish in his eyes, making it hard to focus.
“I was giving you privacy.” Steel rang in her voice.
He backed her toward the wall, uncaring of the doors that could open at any moment. He pitched his voice low. “The only privacy that I want is with you.”
4. Page 132
“What do you want?”
The Lion’s death. Altair’s safety. Magic’s return. Baba’s justice. You. You. You. He was a rhythm in her blood.”
4. Page 272
“Do you wish for me to scribe poetry in your name, fair gazelle?” His voice was rough.
“Pretty words are nice sometimes.”
He brushed a hand down the shimmer of her sleeve, touched the inside of her wrist. “Did the stars fall from the sky to adorn you in their luster? No—liquid silver. You are the well that forged every blade in the world.”
5. Page 273
“How long can a stolen moment last?” The words were half to herself. That was the reason for her boldness. For her abandon.
It hurt him.
A single chord of perception stood in her blue gaze before she spoke in a breathless rush. “Will you speak these words to your bride? Kiss her so?”
“My bride. My queen. My fair gazelle,” he said in the barest shred of a whisper. “Cannot all three be one and the same?”
6. Page 401
“Her voice might have been melodic, if it was not full of the hate he was used to. “If you hurt her—”
He didn’t wait for her to finish. “If I hurt her, I will bring every weapon at my disposal and lay them at your feet for you to do to me what you will. If I hurt her, I will no sooner carve out my own heart than dare draw breath again.”
She was silent. Her eyes were no longer narrowed.
“Do you understand?” he prompted.
“You love her.”
She spoke the words like a subtle knife: rife with disbelief. As if it was impossible to comprehend that the Prince of Death would care for anyone.
No, he did not love her. The word for what he felt for Zafira bint Iskandar did not yet exist.”
7. Page 421
“Zafira looked down at the Jawarat. “I’ll find myself a horseman who knows their way around a weapon.”
He knew of such a person, as skilled with a weapon as he was with a horse. He knew of a person who would take her to the ends of the world, if only she would ask. He would take the stars from the sky and fashion them into a crown, if only she would have it.”
8. Page 475
“If I did not know any better,” she said around the fist in her throat, “I’d say you came along solely to kiss me.”
And be with me. And keep me sane. And protect me.
He laughed. “You speak as if you didn’t enjoy it.”
“Maybe I didn’t. Maybe I was only indulging you.”
“Those were not the sounds someone makes,” Nasir murmured against her ear, “when they’re merely indulging another.”
9. Page 486
“The way you breathe drives me to insanity, fair gazelle.”
10. Page 569
“Tame me,” he said in desperation. Shadows bled from his fingers.
Marry me. Love me. Be with me.
“Be mine, wholly and utterly.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “What if I want you to be mine?”
“Fair gazelle, jewel of my soul, I was already yours. I’ve changed for you. I’ve—”
“But I like you just the way you are,” she whispered. “Scarred, deadly, and beautiful.”
11. Page 578
“Habibti,” her husband said, touching a kiss to her lips.
There was a scar at her breast, and another in her heart, for people had died because she lived.
“Hayati,” he breathed, pressing another to her ear and stealing her thoughts.
Around her, silver gossamer. Above, a painted sea of stars.
“Roohi,” he rasped, feathering her jaw until they were both panting, until a hot tear rolled down his face and fell to the hollow beneath her shoulder, searing her bare skin.
“Why do you cry?” Zafira whispered.
Roohi, roohi, roohi. He stitched her soul anew.
“Because my heart cannot contain it.”
Bonus quote from We Hunt The Flame:
12. Page 252
“Do you even know what it feels like to have a man breathing down your neck?” Nasir asked.
— featured image: pinterest
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