--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Koschei smiled. His pale lips sought…" description: "\"“Koschei smiled. His pale lips sought hers, crushing her into a kiss like dying. She tasted sweetness there, as though he still kissed her with honey a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/catherynne-m-valente-375_gaze_koschei-smiled-his-pale-lips-sought-hers_2273963.jpg" --- # Koschei smiled. His pale lips sought hers, crushing her… ![“Koschei smiled. His pale lips sought hers, crushing her into a kiss like dying. She tasted sweetness there, as though he still kissed her with honey and sugar on his tongue. When he pulled away, his eyes shone. "I don't care, Marya Morevna. Kiss him. Take him to your bed, and the vila, too, for…” quote by Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/catherynne-m-valente-375_gaze_koschei-smiled-his-pale-lips-sought-hers_2273963.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/catherynne-m-valente-375_gaze_koschei-smiled-his-pale-lips-sought-hers_2273963.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ea/catherynne-m-valente-375_gaze_koschei-smiled-his-pale-lips-sought-hers_2273963.jpg) > ““Koschei smiled. His pale lips sought hers, crushing her into a kiss like dying. She tasted sweetness there, as though he still kissed her with honey and sugar on his tongue. When he pulled away, his eyes shone. "I don't care, Marya Morevna. Kiss him. Take him to your bed, and the vila, too, for all it matters to me. Do you understand me, wife? There need never be any rules between us. Let us be greedy together; let us hoard. Let us hit each other with birch branches and lock each other in dungeons; let us drink each other's blood in the night and betray each other in the sun. Let us lie and lust and take hundreds of lovers; let us dance until snow melts beneath us. Let us steal and eat until we grow fat and roll in the pleasures of life, clutching each other for purchase. Only leave me my death — let me hold this one thing sacred and unmolested and secret — and I will serve you a meal myself, served on a platter of all the world's bounty. Only do not leave me, swear that you will never leave me, and no empress will stand higher. Forget the girls in the factory. Be selfish and cruel and think nothing of them. I am selfish. I am cruel. My mate cannot be less than I. I will have you in my hoard, Marya Morevna, my black mirror.”” [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A passionate, dark confession of mutual selfishness and boundless desire, urging total surrender and shared cruelty. **In simple terms:** Intense love demands total surrender and shared. Key Takeaway Embrace wild, shared desire. Themes love desire selfishness power rebellion Mood intense defiant dark Type romantic philosophical When to use this quote - intimate partnership - creative collaboration - shared ambition - extreme loyalty Key Concepts mutual domination hedonism mythic romance Questions to Reflect On - What would you sacrifice for absolute union? - How does shared cruelty affect trust? A Different Perspective Such total devotion can erase personal boundaries and ethical limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lovers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovers/) [Pleasures of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasures-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [“Let us be greedy together; let us hoard. Let us hit each other with birch branches and lock each other in dungeons; let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/let-us-be-greedy-together-let-us-hoard-let-us-hit-each-other-with/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [I am selfish. I am cruel. My mate cannot be less than I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-am-selfish-i-am-cruel-my-mate-cannot-be-less-than-i/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“Marya put down her fork. “Why are you doing this, Koschei? I have had lovers before. You have, too. Remember Marina? The rusalka? She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/marya-put-down-her-fork-why-are-you-doing-this-koschei-i-have-had/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“Yes," he growled, "yes, I will put you there and turn out the light in your eyes and come to stare at you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/yes-he-growled-yes-i-will-put-you-there-and-turn-out-the-light-in/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“How long your hair has grown. You could strangle a man in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/how-long-your-hair-has-grown-you-could-strangle-a-man-in-it/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“When you are this hungry, you cannot even remember who you used to be, she whispered. Who you might have been, if not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-you-are-this-hungry-you-cannot-even-remember-who-you-used-to-be/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“Tell me, if I ever caught you and kissed the arch of your foot, wouldn't you limp a little after that for fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichita-st-nescu/tell-me-if-i-ever-caught-you-and-kissed-the-arch-of-your-foot-wouldn/) [Nichita Stănescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichita-st-nescu/) > [When you write the story of two happy lovers, let the story be set on the banks of Lake Como.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-liszt/when-you-write-the-story-of-two-happy-lovers-let-the-story-be-set-on/) [Franz Liszt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-liszt/) > [I wanted him. I arched my back, fully aware of how vulnerable that made me and that I was giving him an invitation. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-wanted-him-i-arched-my-back-fully-aware-of-how-vulnerable-that-made/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Art trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/art-trains-the-mind-through-the-eye-and-the-eye-through-the-mind-as/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [“Oh, for a life of Pleasure rather than of Labor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietros-maneos/oh-for-a-life-of-pleasure-rather-than-of-labor/) [Pietros Maneos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietros-maneos/) > [I loved the excitement and the pleasures of life in New York, the opportunities for advancement, the pursuit of ambition, the theaters, the places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-gilbert/i-loved-the-excitement-and-the-pleasures-of-life-in-new-york-the/) [Cass Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-gilbert/) > [Playing with appearances and mastering the arts of deception are among the aesthetic pleasures of life. They are also key components in the acquisition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/playing-with-appearances-and-mastering-the-arts-of-deception-are/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pleasure-s-a-sin-and-sometimes-sin-s-a-pleasure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I can understand the ignorant masses loving to soak themselves in drink—oh, yes, it's very shocking that they should, of course—very shocking to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-can-understand-the-ignorant-masses-loving-to-soak-themselves-in/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## More by Catherynne M. Valente > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." 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Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Her heart was bruised by the kiss, smashed and surprised and unsettled by it. September thought kisses were all nice, sweet things asked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/her-heart-was-bruised-by-the-kiss-smashed-and-surprised-and-unsettled/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“September put her hand on the grip of the Rivet Gun. She’d only just gotten it, and she’d promised to take copious notes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/september-put-her-hand-on-the-grip-of-the-rivet-gun-she-d-only-just/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Just tell yourself a story that'll satisfy you and pretend he told it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/just-tell-yourself-a-story-that-ll-satisfy-you-and-pretend-he-told-it/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You see, the future is a kind of stew, a soup, a vichyssoise of the present and the past. That's how you get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-see-the-future-is-a-kind-of-stew-a-soup-a-vichyssoise-of-the/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Fairy tales have always been about getting through the worst of everything, the darkest and the deepest and the bloodiest of events. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/fairy-tales-have-always-been-about-getting-through-the-worst-of/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“There is a place, September, oh, very far from Pandemonium. A place where it is always autumn, where there is always cider and pumpkin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/there-is-a-place-september-oh-very-far-from-pandemonium-a-place-where/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“I was happy, the sun was high. I had enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-was-happy-the-sun-was-high-i-had-enough/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Who are you?" "I am Death," said the creature. "I thought that was obvious." "But you're so small!" "Only because you are small. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/who-are-you-i-am-death-said-the-creature-i-thought-that-was-obvious/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) [Explore all 621 Catherynne M. Valente quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## More Gaze quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Taylor said a prayer for the man, and apologized out loud. Knowing there was nothing left to do, she turned to leave. 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Struggling for the right words, I opened my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/still-feel-the-same-way-could-he-have-changed-this-much-on-the-inside/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) > [“Being held by him, kissed and mastered, taken under and swept away, enthralled her in a way she—an independent woman if nothing else in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-sumner/being-held-by-him-kissed-and-mastered-taken-under-and-swept-away/) [Tracy Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-sumner/) > [“Don’t you remember how hot we were together, Lane? God.” He takes a quick breath through clenched teeth and runs his hand down my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-a-valentine/don-t-you-remember-how-hot-we-were-together-lane-god-he-takes-a-quick/) [Michelle A. Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-a-valentine/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. 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Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) > [“You know when I said I didn't need you?" I asked. He lifted one brow. "I was so wrong.I can't find words to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/you-know-when-i-said-i-didn-t-need-you-i-asked-he-lifted-one-brow-i/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“I didn’t say it just to get you to jump. I’m in love with you, Zane,” he admitted in a calm, clear voice. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-urban/i-didn-t-say-it-just-to-get-you-to-jump-i-m-in-love-with-you-zane-he/) [Madeleine Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-urban/) > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) Browse all 15,087 Gaze quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Koschei smiled. His pale lips sought hers, crushing her into a kiss like dying. She tasted sweetness there, as though he still kissed her with honey and sugar on his tongue. When he pulled away, his eyes shone. \"I don't care, Marya Morevna. Kiss him. Take him to your bed, and the vila, too, for all it matters to me. Do you understand me, wife? There need never be any rules between us. Let us be greedy together; let us hoard. Let us hit each other with birch branches and lock each other in dungeons; let us drink each other's blood in the night and betray each other in the sun. Let us lie and lust and take hundreds of lovers; let us dance until snow melts beneath us. Let us steal and eat until we grow fat and roll in the pleasures of life, clutching each other for purchase. Only leave me my death — let me hold this one thing sacred and unmolested and secret — and I will serve you a meal myself, served on a platter of all the world's bounty. Only do not leave me, swear that you will never leave me, and no empress will stand higher. Forget the girls in the factory. Be selfish and cruel and think nothing of them. I am selfish. I am cruel. My mate cannot be less than I. 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