“Who loves you, Warren Valentine?” She did. I want Lilla to know that kind of love. The kind of love that never leaves or abandons.”

“Why are you dim when your face is so fucking pretty? When your eyes are bright enough to light up my whole damn world. Why?”

“Good luck, Oretsev. Find the firebird, and when this is over, I’ll see you well rewarded. A farmhouse in Udova. A dacha near the city. Whatever you want.””I don’t need any of that. Just…” He dropped Nikolai’s hand and looked away. “Deserve her.”