Devon Monk Quotes

And it's just a hunt?" Bea asked. "Just tracking the guy down, or are we going to have to do a little covering up of our own?"
Had she just told me she was willing to kill someone and cover it up? She gave me a happy smile, but that glint in her eyes told me that, yes, she'd just offered to off someone. ~ Devon Monk

Meditate, he'd said. Jingo Jingo was such a joker. ~ Devon Monk

You're a good kid. If you'd work on your pain-in-the-ass tendencies, you'd be real nice."
"Too bad that isn't going to happen anytime soon," he muttered. "Real nice doesn't get you very far."
"Real nice can keep you from getting beat up," I said.
He smiled. "Right. Maybe we should both work on it, then. ~ Devon Monk

I opened the door as quickly as I could - speedy as a snail in glue. My fine-motor coordination was set on suck mode. ~ Devon Monk

We didn't like each other when you were alive," I muttered to my father. "You think living in my head is going to change that? ~ Devon Monk

That's crazy-rare."

"And now it's extinct. ~ Devon Monk

Violet, Kevin, the crowd, and my annoying father would all just have to wait while I ate half that torte and drank half that coffee.
Violet, however, was a multitasker. ~ Devon Monk

Rough night?" Zay asked.
"Oh, no. Glorious, thanks. Mum had me cross-checking data on solid Veiled all damn night.Fuckin' A, there better be a shot of whiskey at the end of this damn morning."
"Nola said she'd have fresh coffee," I said.
"Whiskey. I'll say it slow: whiiiskey. ~ Devon Monk

Magic was not a required course. He could have a degree in Wiffle ball for all I knew. ~ Devon Monk

I felt like I should be wearing a sign that said "damaged" or "failure" or, at least, "injured." But some wounds only scar on the inside. Ryder ~ Devon Monk

Last time you walked into death, Jones was miserable to be around."
"I was in a coma." Zay said.
"Like I said no fun at all. I have pictures to prove it." Shame smiled and leaned back in the seat. ~ Devon Monk

Since I didn't have a spork handy, I leaned over the sink and scooped up a palmful of cold water and pressed it against my face. There had to be a better option than a violent sporking. There had to be a way to get rid of my dad. ~ Devon Monk

Should I take anything?" I asked, as Shamus slammed the trunk shut.
"A healthy sense of self-preservation would be good," he said. ~ Devon Monk

Stone growled and stepped toward Dad, fangs bared. That's a good gargoyle. Take a bite out of Daddy for me. ~ Devon Monk

Horseshit," Shame said cheerfully. "He can dispossess you and die. Pretty easy, really. Most people die the right way the first time. You'd think a genius like him wouldn't screw it up so badly. ~ Devon Monk

Fucking fuck fuck of a fuck." Shame dug in his pocket for his cigarettes and lighter. His hands shook as he lit up.
"Eloquence, thy name is Flynn," Terric said ~ Devon Monk

The price for using dark magic is death, so that goes a long way toward deterring users. ~ Devon Monk

Foolish heart, I thought. I don't have time for you.
But my heart, being foolish, did not listen. ~ Devon Monk

Okay, that was so far down Creepy Lane that it had intersected with Scaring the Hell Out of Me Avenue. I hated that avenue. ~ Devon Monk

So if my ability to meditate was what was going to save the world, or at least save Portland, then I was pretty sure we should all think about moving to Seattle. ~ Devon Monk

Shame scowled. "How about I just make you angry again? That coat makes you look fat."
"Even more reason to take the stairs. ~ Devon Monk

But it was getting pretty hard to grieve someone who wouldn't just get on with the dying. ~ Devon Monk

I dressed in my bedroom, tugging on a pair of jeans, T-shirt, and heavy brown sweater that I'd picked up at a thrift store and loved down to holes. ~ Devon Monk

I cupped my hands over my ears. No, no, no. Get out. Get dead. ~ Devon Monk

My dad told me he knew where to find Zay. Which meant I had to cooperate with him.
...
"Do you see what we have accomplished together? The healing of souls with the magic you carry. We have healed souls in death. With light and dark magic."
"We? No, you stuck your hands in my chest and stole my magic and threw it at them. If you try that again, you won't have hands. Where's Zayvion?"
Okay, maybe I was a little rusty on the whole cooperation thing. ~ Devon Monk

You told Detective Stotts you think a wild storm is coming." "I thought you were puking." "Not with my ears," he said. ~ Devon Monk

Whether you approach your dreams on soft feet or in a breathless run, just so long as you acknowledge that your dreams are valuable and worthy of pursuing, then you've made it. ~ Devon Monk

I glanced up at the trees too.
Dead. Every one of them gray and white, needles rusted, leaves shriveled at the tips of branches. All the life sucked out of them. Not just the trees. All the plants, ferns, grasses and brush were shriveled, brown, barren.
As if a month of winter had set down right here in my driveway and gone on a killing spree.
...
"Love what you've done with the landscape," Cody said. "You could open your own business, you know."
...
"The hell you talking about, Miller?" I asked Cody.
"Yard care. You're poison and weed whacker all in one. You can call it Death to All Shrubbery. ~ Devon Monk

Greyson is gone."
A high-pitched ringing started in my ears.
"Dead?" I asked, not at all ashamed at the tiny bit of hope that leaked into my voice.
"No. Escaped. He'll be hunting you."
With that as the option, I liked dead better. ~ Devon Monk

Let go of the past, of the things I wanted, of the people I loved, and move forward. ~ Devon Monk

He shoved at me, tried to take control, but I was nothing if not made of stubborn. ~ Devon Monk

If you are to survive, you need to put your stubbornness aside and listen to me."
"Oh, I just love that idea. ~ Devon Monk

More drinking, less flirting," he said. "Or so help me I'll throw ice at you. ~ Devon Monk

And wonders of wonders, they both shut up and did as I said.
If I'd had time I would have pulled out my journal and made a note: Shame and Terric actually listened to me for once. Warn Hell. There's a freeze coming. ~ Devon Monk

He trotted down the hallway on all fours and started in on his second favorite pastime, conversations with plumbing. Just what I needed: Stone, the Toilet Whisperer. ~ Devon Monk

The three women laughing over there? Dark wavy hair, coffee skin, and beautiful matching sets of big, lovely - "
I slapped him on the arm.
"Hey. Eyes. I was going to say eyes. What were you thinking? ~ Devon Monk

Instinct told me it was dangerous.
I could handle dangerous. Dangerous and me went back a long way. We did lunch when dangerous was in town. ~ Devon Monk

I thought you people had a manual for this kind of thing."
He laughed. "We have a manual. Magic doesn't. ~ Devon Monk

The Focal must hold magic, light and dark, together long enough for it to mend."
"How long does it take to mend?"
"No one's survived long enough for us to know."
I could see why people weren't rushing to volunteer. ~ Devon Monk

You were saying?" I prompted. "Oh, right. Don't get pregnant. It ruins your short-term memory." I was the last person she needed to explain memory loss to. "Keep a journal," I suggested, with as little sarcasm as possible. She actually laughed at that. "I can't believe I said that to you." She pressed her fingertips against her lips. "Pregnant makes me a little stupid. I'm sorry." "At least you won't be pregnant forever." I gave her a crooked smile to take the sting out of my words. ~ Devon Monk

He rolled his tongue around in his mouth and made a sour face. "Got any gum? Mints?"
"No. You going to hark again?" He shook his head. "Mouth tastes like the bottom of my shoe." I didn't ask him how he knew that particular flavor. ~ Devon Monk

Zayvion and I had an agreement that we were going to give this relationship everything we could. And that included trust, faith, and honesty. Not a single one of which was among my strong points. ~ Devon Monk

Did you refuse to be tested to see if you and he were Soul Complements because you were afraid you might want sex with him?
Yes, I am tactful that way. ~ Devon Monk

I wouldn't want you to get in the shower and then pass out or some such. How about if I help you get out of your clothes? I'm an expert in platonic undressings." He gave me that wicked smile. "Give it a rest. I'm not going to strip naked in front of you, and I'd rather pee in private." "Half the injuries in a home happen in the bathroom. What kind of friend would I be to let you face that kind of danger alone? I mean, sure, you walked out of death, but this is a shower." "Shame. Get out of my bathroom. ~ Devon Monk

If this was what Mikhail called opening the gate close to Zayvion's body, I was going to kill a compass and a slide rule and send them through the gates of death to him. ~ Devon Monk

He shifted, rolled. I ended up kneeling with him beneath me. Boo-ya! I was on top. ~ Devon Monk

She had that motherly no-bullshit way of using her hands as a second communication device and I always fell for it. ~ Devon Monk

Don't tell me there are more things like that on the streets."
"Okay," he said. ~ Devon Monk

Is there an option C? Take a vacation somewhere sunny, and drink a lot of rum until the world unfucks itself? ~ Devon Monk

I resisted the urge to pour mouthwash in my brain. ~ Devon Monk

Then Shame raised his voice, obviously talking to me. "Aren't you going to ask why I came by?" I shrugged the shoulder that didn't hurt. "You need a reason to harass Zay?" "Hell no. But I'm not here to talk to Zay. I'm here for you." He strolled across the room toward me. ~ Devon Monk

Zay shrugged one shoulder. "I wouldn't say it was entirely innocent. All that warm, wet water touching us everywhere. And the soap definitely had ulterior motives."
I wrapped the towel around me, tucking it tight at the top. "That career in comedy? Walk away now, Jones. ~ Devon Monk

Then you showed up on my doorstep, all good-looking and bleeding and..."

We were in front of my door now. He stepped up and draped his hand on the door above me. Leaned in just a fraction shy of intimate distance. Close enough I could feel the heat of him, smell the warm notes of the cologne he wore.

"Good-looking and what?" he asked with a burr in his voice that gave me shivers.
"And I couldn't leave you bleeding."
"For that, I should thank you." He moved just a half inch closer, his mouth opening slightly on a smile. "Thoroughly," he added. Then, "Unfortunately, I have other pressing matters to attend."

He reached behind me and was skillful enough that we didn't even touch as he opened the door. He leaned back so I wouldn't fall through it by accident and pointed at the room. "I do hope you will refrain from running out for another cup of coffee or starting an in-House war for the next few hours."

(...)"Sure," I said, trying not to sound hot or bothered. "For the next few hours anyway." I smiled innocently. ~ Devon Monk

Gotta say you Portland people take weird to a new level. ~ Devon Monk

What the hell?" I muttered. Then I realized it was Jack Quinn's car. Jack was a Hound and Bea's boyfriend. The left blinker flashed on for just a second, and then Jack drove at speed again.
"Zayvion, I'm sorry to tell you I think I have a crush on another man."
"Who is this unfortunate and soon-to-be-dead fool?" he asked.
"Jack. That's his car. He must have been waiting for us, or maybe he followed us."
"Jack Quinn has been following us?" Shame said.
"And now he's taking us to Collins, I think."
"Or a trap," Shame said.
"He's a Hound, Shame."
"My statement stands."
"You still don't get it, do you?" I turned left, following the car. "Hounds are loyal. Jack and Bea told me they'd help me if they could. They're not going to turn against me while I'm in trouble."
"What happens when you're not in trouble?" Shame asked.
"Don't know. It's never happened. ~ Devon Monk

Right. Conversation. I might want to try some of that. ~ Devon Monk

If you need us, for anything, never forget we are here for you. All of us. You have done amazing things to make this world a better place."
That was really sweet. And sincere. And if I didn't look away from his kind expression, I was just going to cry like a little girl.
"Wait until you see my encore," I said. ~ Devon Monk

I came here on a matter of some urgency," the man said. "To take your father to safety."
"I'm pretty sure the grave is as safe as man can get. ~ Devon Monk

I think you're possessed."
"Old news."
"Huh. Anyone I know?"
"My dad. It's a family issue I'm working on. ~ Devon Monk

I was about to meditate like no one had ever meditated before. ~ Devon Monk

It isn't just training that makes a person good with magic." "True. Blind stupidity and a high pain tolerance helps. Still don't think I'm going to be all that useful. ~ Devon Monk

It's a strange world you live in, Abraham Seventh."
"You have a dragon in your backyard."
"It's a lizard."
"A lizard with wings."
"Okay, so that's a little odd. ~ Devon Monk

But it is clear to me that our survival - both yours and mine - will be dictated by how well you and I can work together."
"So we're screwed? ~ Devon Monk

I doubt she likes the idea of seeing him put back in a cage." "Maybe not," he said. "But she knows that the Authority are the only people who might be able to help him." "Or kill him," I said. "That too. What is life without risk?" "Long?" Terric laughed, a sort of high whooping that made me - and Zayvion, much to my surprise - smile. Contagious. For all he had a serious exterior, Terric was the guy you'd want to sit next to at a funny movie, just to hear him laugh. ~ Devon Monk

The pink rose Zayvion had given me looked a little worse for the wear, but it wasn't dead yet. Tough flowers, roses. ~ Devon Monk

For a brief, weird minute I felt like Dorothy in Oz, walking down the street with Terric the doubtful, Shame the brainless, and heartless Zay. ~ Devon Monk

The last void stone I'd worn was a beautiful black stone caught in vines of copper and silver. It looked like a necklace, a piece of art, really. This thing was spud-ugly. ~ Devon Monk

What's the matter, suddenly develop a fashion sense? ~ Devon Monk

Don't I know? Not like I haven't done this." He picked up the plant and lugged it with him, muttering, "Stand there, Shamus. Don't bother the new girl, Shamus. Don't back-talk me when I'm teaching, Shamus." Maeve raised her eyebrows. "Don't back-talk me even when I'm not teaching, Shamus," she said. ~ Devon Monk

Dad hit lecture mode from word one. ~ Devon Monk

You owe me money."
"No, I'm pretty sure I won that square."
"You stole it."
"You were drinking maybe a little," Robert suggested.
"You were stealing maybe a little," Abraham said.
"Wasn't I just?" Robert grinned. ~ Devon Monk

Hallelujah might be putting itself on the map, but that mark would be made in blood, as well as iron. ~ Devon Monk

Night Owls is a fast, fun read that kept me turning the pages. Lauren M. Roy delivers a plot that zips, dialogue that zings, and a cast of characters you'll cheer for to the very end. Thumbs up! ~ Devon Monk

Oh, I was so not a wilting flower. I'd let a man pick me up and carry me because I couldn't handle the price of using magic when I was dead. Again. ~ Devon Monk

You threw Shackle," Terric said. "At his head. With a hell of a lot of magic."
"He was trying to kill you guys. He'd trapped Zay. What did you want me to do, challenge him to a game of dominos? I was supposed to ride to the rescue, right? I rode. ~ Devon Monk

I did win, you know," I said.
"No, you didn't."
"Yes, I did. I knocked you out."
"Stunned me. I wasn't unconscious."
"Oh, please, save it for the preacher. You were out cold. ~ Devon Monk

I was now officially Beckstrom the storm rod. And I hated it. ~ Devon Monk

He was sunset against the mountains, strong, vibrant, dangerous, and yet somehow sheltering, protective. And married.
Picnic, meet rain. ~ Devon Monk

You prefer the bed on the opposite wall?"
"I prefer the bookshelf in the lower left corner of the room, and the ceiling fan not to be hanging over my head while I sleep."
"OCD?"
"Feng shui."
"Is it contagious?"
"Hardly anyone gets it. ~ Devon Monk

Maybe in the morning, sunlight would to turn him back into a statue; then I could take Stone out to the forest where he could frolic among the ferns, gurgle at streams, and make friends with the other interesting rocks. ~ Devon Monk

It's not a damn death wish. I just know how much my pain is worth. ~ Devon Monk

I don't know what's happened to you. You used to be such a nice girl. Now you've gone all stabby and whatnot. ~ Devon Monk

Are you carrying gold?" I asked sweetly.
He frowned.
"No? Silver? Lead? Copper?" I made big, innocent eyes at him. "A girl out in the brush doesn't need credit chits, Mr. House Gray. What do you have in your pockets that's worth my hospitality?"
One of the Neds coughed, and I realised that could have been taken in a very different manner.
Abraham flashed me a wicked smile.
"Don't flatter yourself," I said before he opened his mouth. ~ Devon Monk

Everything quiet?"
"You mean Shame"
"I mean your Pooh News. Any rumblies in the tumblies?" I gave him a grin.
He shook his head. "You just can't let that go, can you? ... ~ Devon Monk

Magic is a heartless bitch, and she's had me by the throat for years. ~ Devon Monk

He'd been working for my father and following me around for I didn't know how long. He probably knew a lot of things about me. Probably even knew what kind of underwear I wore.
Which begged the question. Was he a boxer or brief kind of guy? ~ Devon Monk

Aspirin? I asked. It came out sounding a lot like ass spoon, but Zayvion seemed fluent in mumbleze. ~ Devon Monk

I don't know how to explain it."
"Try words. If that doesn't work, we'll move on to interpretive dance. ~ Devon Monk

Don't know about my knives, but my gun's made of pain. ~ Devon Monk

The pillow was heaven feathers in six-hundred-count cotton joy. ~ Devon Monk

Shamus shrugged. "It's all about energy exchange. It could always go the other way, me feeding a plant instead of drawing the life out of it."
"Do that often?"
Shamus looked at me over his shoulder. "No."
"Why not? Have something against plants?"
"No, but I haven't met a vegetable good enough to sacrifice a year of my life for. ~ Devon Monk

You coming in here?" I asked.
"Afraid I'll gnaw on your stepmother? ~ Devon Monk

You know what you are, Mr. Vail?"
"In a hurry?" he answered.
"A coward. ~ Devon Monk

Matilda?" he said softly as he lowered his head to mine, his eyes shifting to gaze at my lips, then back to my eyes.
He was going to kiss me.
( ... ) "Y-yes?" I breathed.
His lips were almost on mine. His body bent over me, closer, closer. I thought I'd burst for want.
I held my breath and closed my eyes.
His fingers squeezed the back of my neck, gentle and possessive.
"If you make me late," he murmured, his breath warm across my mouth, "I will throttle you."
Wait. What?
My eyes snapped open.
( ... ) By the time I pulled my thoughts together, he was already out the door. His voice floated back to me. "Move, Matilda. We're late."
That was it? No kiss? What was wrong with that man? He was sending off more mixed signals than a three-armed traffic cop. ~ Devon Monk

Shamus ordered half a cup of house brew. Then he proceeded to fill the cup up the rest of the way with milk and sugar. Lots of sugar.
"Sure you got enough milk in your sugar?" I asked as we strolled out of the shop and headed south.
He flipped me off. "You drink your coffee your way, and I'll drink my coffee the right way. ~ Devon Monk

Portland's good at wet. The best. ~ Devon Monk

Devon Franklin

Oprah: One of the things that you say that really struck me is that if we look at our life as a movie and God as the director of our movie, then we use our faith to help propel us forward in trusting in the director, correct?
Devon Franklin: Yes. Absolutely. Because what I realized is that sometimes we, in the most difficult times in our story, we begin to lose faith.
Oprah: And start to think we're in control of things. But all it takes is one wrong turn and we quickly remember that's just not true. Here is what I love. You say: "The truth is, you and I are in control of only two things: how we prepare for what might happen, and how we respond to what just happened. The moment when things actually do happen belongs to God."
Devon: Amen.
Oprah: Brilliant. Brilliant.
Devon: It's true. Because what happens is, the moments when things happen in our life, we don't control. In a moment, life can change for the better or what in the moment may seem for the worse. So our job is to prepare.
Oprah: Prepare for only two things.
Devon: That's right.
Oprah: Prepare for what might happen. And then how we respond to what has happened.
Devon: That's right. Because so many times what keeps us in that valley of depression, what keeps us in that valley of frustration, is our response to a moment and not recognizing that it is exactly that. It's a moment. It's one scene of your movie. And what makes a great movie are scenes ~ Oprah Winfrey

He sent messages to all fifteen of my former suitors, asking if they were still interested in marrying me-"
"Oh, my God," Alex breathed.
"-and, if they were, he volunteered to send me to them for a few days, properly chaperoned by Lucinda," Elizabeth recited in that same strangled tone, "so that we could both discover if we still suit."
"Oh, my God," Alex said again, with more force.
"Twelve of them declined," she continued, and she watched Alex wince in embarrassed sympathy. "But three of them agreed, and now I am to be sent off to visit them. Since Lucinda can't return from Devon until I go to visit the third-suitor, who's in Scotland," she said, almost choking on the word as she applied it to Ian Thornton, "I shall have to pass Berta off as my aunt to the first two."
"Berta!" Bentner burst out in disgust. "Your aunt? The silly widgeon's afraid of her shadow."
Threatened by another uncontrollable surge of mirth, Elizabeth looked at both her friends. "Berta is the least of my problems However, do continue invoking God's name, for it's going to take a miracle to survive this."
"Who are the suitors?" Alex asked, her alarm increased by Elizabeth's odd smile as she replied, "I don't recall two of them. It's quite remarkable, isn't it," she continued with dazed mirth, "that two grown men could have met a young girl at her debut and hared off to her brother to ask for her hand, and she can't remember anything about them, except one of their names ~ Judith McNaught

Women have been trained to be deeply relational creatures with "permeable boundaries," which make us vulnerable to the needs of others. This permeability, this compelling need to connect, is one of our greatest gifts, but without balance it can mean living out the role of the servant who nurtures at the cost of herself. Referring to this feminine script in her essay "Professions for Women," Virginia Woolf describes the syndrome and offers a drastic remedy: "She was intensely sympathetic. She was immensely charming. She was utterly unselfish. She excelled in the difficult arts of family life. She sacrificed herself daily. If there was chicken, she took the leg; if there was a draft she sat in it - in short she was so constituted that she never had a mind or wish of her own, but preferred to sympathize always with the minds and wishes of others...I did my best to kill her. My excuse, if I were to be had up in a court of law, would be that I acted in self-defense. Had I not killed her, she would have killed me." At the very least we need to disempower this part of ourselves, to relieve ourselves of the internal drive to forfeit our souls as food for others. ~ Sue Monk Kidd

You're looking for a reason," she said. "And that doesn't help. It doesn't change the present. ~ Sue Monk Kidd