“Melbourne, I always knew you'd need to learn about this kind of thing. I 'd just kind of hoped you'd learn it on a real guy.”
― Richelle Mead, The Fiery Heart

“Did you just use juxtaposition in a sentence?"
"Yes, Sage" he said patiently. "We use it all the time with art, ... That, and I know how to use a dictionary”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“All right," I managed to say, just before I crumpled to the floor. "Let's see what you've got.”
― Richelle Mead, The Fiery Heart

“Why?" He asked. " because it was the closest I could get to doing this."
He reached out and pulled me to him, one hand on my waist and the other behind my neck. He tipped my head up and lowered his lips on mine. I closed my eyes and melted as my whole body was consumed in that kiss. I was nothing. I was everything. Chills ran over my skin, and fire burnt inside me. His body pressed closer to mine, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. His lips were warmer and softer than anything I could have imagined, yet fierce and powerful at the same time. Mine responded hungrily, and I tightened my hold on him. His fingers slid down the back of my neck, tracing its shape, and every place they touched was electric.
But perhaps the best part of all that was that I, Sydney Katherine Sage, guilty of constantly analyzing the world around me, well, I stopped thinking.
And it was glorious.
At least, it was until I started thinking again.”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“Sydney: I can do a lot of things, Adrian.
And—at the risk of sounding egotistical —I mean, well, I can do a lot of pretty awesome things that most people can’t."

Adrian: “Don’t I know it. You can change a tire in ten minutes while speaking Greek.”

Sydney: “Five minutes.”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“Adrian: Do you smell that?"
Sydney: “I smell the paint, and . . . wait . . . is that pine?”
Adrian: “Damn straight. Pine-scented cleaner. As in, I cleaned. With these hands, these hands that don’t do manual labor.”
― Richelle Mead, Bloodlines

“Sage!" he called. "You have got to see this."
Eddie and I reached the next green and stared in astonishment. Then I burst out laughing.
We had reached Dracula's Castle. (...)
I couldn't stop laughing. Adrian and Eddie looked at me as though they'd never seen me before.
"I don't think I've ever heard her laugh," Eddie told him.
"Certainly not the reaction I was expecting," mused Adrian. "I'd been counting on abject terror, judging from past Alchemist behaviour. I didn't think you liked vampires.”
― Richelle Mead, Bloodlines

“You're in an awfully good mood," he observed. "Was there a sale at Khakis-R-Us?"
I gave up on my artistic interpretation and turned to him. "Nope. Brayden just broke up with me."
Adrian's smirk faded. "Oh. Shit. I'm sorry. Are you... I mean, do you need a drink? Do you need to, uh, cry or anything?”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“Speaking of that dress,” he added, “I still haven’t seen it.”
I laughed softly. “You couldn’t handle it.” He raised an eyebrow at that. “Is that a challenge, Sage? I can handle a lot.”
“Not if our history is any indication. Each time I wear some moderately attractive dress, you lose it.” “That’s not exactly true,” he said. “I lose it no matter what you’re wearing.”
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell

“I wrapped my arms around his neck, and this time I was the one who drew him closer.
“Damn,” he murmured.
“What?” I asked, never taking my eyes off his.
He ran his hands over my hips. “I’m not supposed to kiss you.”
“It’s okay.”
“What is?”
“It’s okay if I kiss you.”
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell

“That hand slipped under my dress, running along the side of my leg and up to my hip. I burned where he touched me, and everything within me became focused on that hand. It was moving far too slowly, and I grabbed it, ready to urge it on. Adrian chuckled and caught hold of my wrist, pulling my hand away and pinning it down against the covers. “Never thought I’d be the one slowing you down.” I opened my eyes and met his. “I’m a quick study.”
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell

“This might seem kind of weird... but I mean, I wouldn't mind asking Jill out."
Adrian was on that before I could even think of a response. "What, do you mean like on a date? You son of a bitch! She's only fifteen." You never would of guessed he'd been talking about easy Moroi girls only moments before.
"Adrian," I said. "I'm guessing Lee's definition of a date is a little different than yours."
"Sorry, Sage. You've got to trust me when it comes to dating definitions. Last I checked, you aren't an expert in social matters.”
― Richelle Mead, Bloodlines

“Unexpected treat," he said. His eyes fell on Marcus and widened. "I'll be damned. You found him."
"Thanks to you," I said.
Adrian glanced over at me. A smile started to form-and then instantly dried up. "What happened to your face?"
"Oh," I lightly touched the swollen spot. It still smarted but wasn't as painful as it had been earlier. I spoke my next words without thinking. "Marcus hit me.”
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell

“He always got this glint in his eyes when he complimented my looks, like he was seeing so much more than just my actual appearance.”
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell

“She's an Alchemist," continued Nathan. "Not a chauffeur. There's a big difference." Actually, there were days at Amberwood I doubted that. "Come, Miss Sage. If you've wasted your day driving my son here, the least I can do is buy you lunch."
I shot a panicked look at Adrian. It wasn't panicked because I was afraid of being with Moroi. I'd long since gotten used to these sorts of situations. What I was unsure of was if Adrian really wanted me around for his family reunion. That hadn't been part of the plan. Also, I wasn't sure that I really wanted to be around for said reunion either.
"Dad-" Adrian attempted.
"I insist," said Nathan crisply. "Pay attention and learn common courtesy." He turned and began walking away, assuming we'd follow. We did.
"Should I find a reason to leave?" I whispered to Adrian.
"Not when he uses his 'I insist' voice," came the muttered response.”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“She was so beautiful that it made my soul ache.”
― Richelle Mead, The Fiery Heart

“And yet, once again, you’re the one who finds romantic subtext in everything I say.”
“I do not. You know that’s not what I meant.”
He shook his head in mock sympathy. “I tell you, Sage. Sometimes I think I’m the one who needs to take out the restraining order on you.”
“Adrian!”
But he was already out the door, knowing laughter echoing behind him.”
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell

“Why would you do that? Why would you act like you didn’t know how to drive?”
“Isn’t it obvious, Sage? No, of course it isn’t. I did it so I’d have a reason to be around you—one I knew you couldn’t refuse.”
“But… why? Why would you want to do that?”
“Why?” he asked. “Because it was the closest I could get to doing this.”
He reached out and pulled me to him, one hand on my waist and the other behind my neck. He tipped my head up and lowered his lips to mine. I closed my eyes and melted as my whole body was consumed in that kiss. I was nothing. I was everything. Chills ran over my skin, and fire burned inside me. His body pressed closer to mine, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. His lips were warmer and softer than anything I could have ever imagined, yet fierce and powerful at the same time. Mine responded hungrily, and I tightened my hold on him. His fingers slid down the back of my neck, tracing its shape, and every place they touched was electric. But perhaps the best part of all was that I, Sydney Katherine Sage, guilty of
constantly analyzing the world around me, well, I stopped thinking.
And it was glorious.”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“Do you know why I don’t like him? Brayden? Because of what he said.”
“What part?”
“‘Historically inaccurate.”’ Adrian gestured at me with his other hand, the one
not on my shoulder. “Who the hell looks at you and says ‘historically
inaccurate’?”
“Well,” I said. “Technically it is.”
“He shouldn’t have said that.”
I shifted, knowing I should move away… but I didn’t. “Look, it’s just his
way.”
“He shouldn’t have said that,” repeated Adrian, eerily serious. He leaned his
face toward mine. “I don’t care if he’s not the emotional type or the
complimentary type or what. No one can look at you in this dress, in all that fire
and gold, and start talking about anachronisms. If I were him, I would have said,
‘You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth.”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“I’m not dangerous,” I breathed.
He brought his face toward mine. “You are to me.”
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell

“Sage, I distinctly remember every part of that night. You didn’t seem that unwilling. You were practically on top of me.”
“I don’t really remember the details,” I lied.
He moved his hand from my neck and rested a fingertip on my lips. “But I’ll stick to just kissing these if it makes you feel better. No mark.” He started to lean toward me, and I jerked away.
“You will not! It’s wrong.”
“What, kissing you, or kissing you in Pies and Stuff?”
“Both,” I said, feeling my cheeks burn. “If you’re going to attempt something inappropriate—something you said you wouldn’t do anymore—then you could at least pick a better place.”
He laughed softly, and the look in his eyes confused me further. “Okay,” he said. “The next time I kiss you, I promise it’ll be in a more romantic place.”
“I—what? No! You shouldn’t try at all!”
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell

“She said no, okay?
How many times does she have to refuse?” Adrian demanded. “If she doesn’t
want to, then that’s all there is to it. This has nothing to do with her. This is our
science project. She’s here to protect Jill and has plenty to do there. So stop
harassing her already!”
“‘Harassing’ is kind of a strong word,” Dimitri said, calm in the face of
Adrian’s outburst.
“Not when you keep pushing someone who wants to be left alone,” countered
Adrian. He shot me a concerned look before fixing his anger back on Sonya and
Dimitri. “Stop ganging up on her.”
“Take Eddie’s blood. Take Belikov’s
blood. Take your own for all I care. But if she doesn’t want to give hers, then
that’s all there is to it. She said no. This conversation is done.”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“I said it on Halloween and meant every word: you are the most
beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth. And you don’t even know
it. You have no clue how beautiful you are or how brightly you shine.”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“Miss Melbourne?
“Yes, ma’am?”
“You might want to do something about your neck.”
I was totally lost. “My neck?”
She reached into her purse and handed me a compact mirror. I opened it and
surveyed my neck, still trying to figure out what she could be talking about.
Then I saw it. A small, brownish purple bruise on the side of my neck.
“What on earth is that?” I exclaimed.
Ms. Terwilliger snorted. “Although it’s been a while for me, I believe the technical term is a hickey.” She paused and arched an eyebrow. “You do know what that is, don’t you?”
“Of course I know!” I lowered the mirror. “But there’s no way—I mean, we barely—that is—”

I have a hickey. I let Adrian Ivashkov give me a hickey.

We had another minute before we would reach my dorm, so I sent a quick text
to Adrian: "I have a hickey! You can’t ever kiss me again."
I honestly hadn’t expected him to be awake this early, so I was surprised to get a response: "Okay. I won’t kiss you on your neck again."
So typical of him. "No! You can’t ever kiss me ANYWHERE. You said you were going to keep your distance".
"I’m trying," he wrote back. "But you won’t keep your distance from me."”
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell

“He turned his head toward me and froze. I had never seen him so still—or so
quiet. His shock was so thorough and intense that he actually dropped his
cigarette.
Adrian slowly sat up, eyes wide. He slid off the hood and didn’t seem to leave
any marks. Obviously, I’d have to check it later. “Sage,” he said. “What are you
wearing?”
I sighed and stared down at the dress. “I know. It’s red. Don’t start. I’m tired
of hearing about it.”
“Funny,” he said. “I don’t think I could ever get tired of looking at it.”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“Glancing over, I was
astonished to see Adrian watching me, a look of contentment on his face. His
eyes seemed to study my every feature. Seeing me notice him, he immediately
looked away. His usual smirky expression replaced the dreamy one.”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“No, you will listen. For once, you’re going to hear something that doesn’t fit
into your neat, compartmentalized world of order and logic and reason. Because
this isn’t reasonable. If you’re terrified, believe me—this scares the hell out of
me, too. You asked about Rose? I tried to be a better person for her—but it was
to impress her, to get her to want me. But when I’m around you, I want to be
better because… well, because it feels right. Because I want to. You make me
want to become something greater than myself. I want to excel. You inspire me
in every act, every word, every glance. I look at you, and you’re like… like light
made into flesh. I said it on Halloween and meant every word: you are the most
beautiful creature I have ever seen walking this earth. And you don’t even know
it. You have no clue how beautiful you are or how brightly you shine.”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“I’ve said over and over, I’d do anything for you. I just keep hoping it’ll be something like, ‘Adrian, let’s go hot tubbing’ or ‘Adrian, take me out for fondue.’”
“Well, sometimes we have to—did you say fondue? Why in the world would I ever say that?”
He shrugged. “I like fondue.”
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell

“What’s a little crazy here and there? I’m supposed to be doing experiments…
why not see which is brighter: your aura or the sun?”
― Richelle Mead, The Golden Lily

“You wouldn’t think so, but . . . well. You were . . . amazing, throwing that fire like some kind of ancient warrior goddess.”
Annoyed, I turned away. “Stop making fun of me.”
He caught my arm and pulled me back toward him. “I am absolutely serious.”
I swallowed, speechless for a moment. All I was aware of was how close we were, that he was holding me to him with only a few inches between us. Almost as close as at the sorority. “I’m not a warrior or a goddess,” I managed at last.
Adrian leaned closer. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re both.”
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell