--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though every instinct screamed against…" description: "\"“Though every instinct screamed against it, she closed her eyes. Took a breath. Then another. Her lungs opened, full of cool, soothing air, and she won..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/sarah-j-maas-58_screamed_though-every-instinct-screamed-against-i_3206669.jpg" --- # Though every instinct screamed against it, she closed her… ![“Though every instinct screamed against it, she closed her eyes. Took a breath. Then another. Her lungs opened, full of cool, soothing air, and she wondered if Rowan was helping with that, too. He was helping. And he was willing to meet a horrible fate in order to keep her alive. He hadn’t left her…” quote by Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/sarah-j-maas-58_screamed_though-every-instinct-screamed-against-i_3206669.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/sarah-j-maas-58_screamed_though-every-instinct-screamed-against-i_3206669.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/sarah-j-maas-58_screamed_though-every-instinct-screamed-against-i_3206669.jpg) > ““Though every instinct screamed against it, she closed her eyes. Took a breath. Then another. Her lungs opened, full of cool, soothing air, and she wondered if Rowan was helping with that, too. He was helping. And he was willing to meet a horrible fate in order to keep her alive. He hadn’t left her alone. She hadn’t been alone. There was a muffled curse, and Rowan slammed his body against hers, as if he could somehow shield her. No, not shield her. Cover her, the flash of light. She barely registered the pain—if only because the moment her Fae senses snapped into place, she had to shove a hand against her own mouth to keep from retching. Oh, gods, the festering smell of them, worse than any corpse she’d ever dealt with.”” [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In a desperate moment, a character sacrifices herself to protect another, showing deep loyalty and love despite fear and horror. **In simple terms:** Self‑sacrifice shows love and protection amid danger. Key Takeaway Embrace protective love even in terrifying times. Themes sacrifice loyalty love danger Mood intense emotional Type literary dramatic When to use this quote - battle scenes - emotional climax - protective instincts Key Concepts mythical fantasy character development Questions to Reflect On - What does true loyalty look like? - How do we face fear to protect loved ones? A Different Perspective The graphic description may overwhelm some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Curse Rowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse-rowan-5974529/) [Fae Senses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fae-senses-5974528/) [Instinct Screamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct-screamed-3520950/) [Rowan Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rowan-helping-5974530/) [Screamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screamed/) ## Related quotes > [“Every night she wrote in that ledger. 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Instead, she looked at Jonas with a soft smile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-rose/everything-inside-of-her-screamed-not-to-do-it-but-she-didn-t-listen/) [Willow Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-rose/) > [“Everything about him had screamed, I"m going to take you right here and make you foreget your own name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/everything-about-him-had-screamed-i-m-going-to-take-you-right-here/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) > [“She was reluctant at first, but when I screamed that she was ruining my life, she relented. I’d have to use that tactic more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sterling/she-was-reluctant-at-first-but-when-i-screamed-that-she-was-ruining/) [J. 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She buried her head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-standiford/if-you-d-only-let-me-come-by-myself-none-of-this-would-have-happened/) [Natalie Standiford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-standiford/) ## More by Sarah J. Maas > [“Light it up, bitch.' 'Light it up, asshole,' ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/light-it-up-bitch-light-it-up-asshole/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. 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Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“To being the most fearsome and imposing girls the world has ever seen.” Celaena raised her goblet high before she drank. As she swallowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/to-being-the-most-fearsome-and-imposing-girls-the-world-has-ever-seen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“have no interest in prisoners or battling today,” Manon said. The Queen of Terrasen gave her a grin. “Good.” Manon turned away, barking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/have-no-interest-in-prisoners-or-battling-today-manon-said-the-queen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Well, I'm late for something incredibly important," Lucien said, and before I could call him on his outright lie or beg him to stay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/well-i-m-late-for-something-incredibly-important-lucien-said-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She bellowed the last word with such soul-deep hatred that he felt it like a punch to the gut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-bellowed-the-last-word-with-such-soul-deep-hatred-that-he-felt-it/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Afraid she and I had a summer romance?" That insufferable grin was still there. "I hope you did. I certainly enjoyed myself this summer."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/afraid-she-and-i-had-a-summer-romance-that-insufferable-grin-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“There are different kinds of darkness,” Rhys said. I kept my eyes shut. “There is the darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/there-are-different-kinds-of-darkness-rhys-said-i-kept-my-eyes-shut/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Gently, he pulled my hands away from my face. Gently, he took my cheeks in his hands and brushed away my tears. I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/gently-he-pulled-my-hands-away-from-my-face-gently-he-took-my-cheeks/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I barely saw my silk slipper as it flew through the air, fast as a shooting star, so fast that even a High Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-barely-saw-my-silk-slipper-as-it-flew-through-the-air-fast-as-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) [Explore all 1,807 Sarah J. Maas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More Screamed quotes > [“If you'd only let me come by myself, none of this would have happened. Having you around makes everything worse.' She buried her head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-standiford/if-you-d-only-let-me-come-by-myself-none-of-this-would-have-happened/) [Natalie Standiford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-standiford/) > [“Coitus Interruptus!” I screamed.  “Stop and put your hands where I can see them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-zolendz/coitus-interruptus-i-screamed-stop-and-put-your-hands-where-i-can-see/) [Christine Zolendz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-zolendz/) > [“His last name was Chew, and I didn’t care if he was Asian, I still screamed, “Not with your mouth open!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/his-last-name-was-chew-and-i-didn-t-care-if-he-was-asian-i-still/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“With her mouth closed, her mind screamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-charlo/with-her-mouth-closed-her-mind-screamed/) [Julia Charlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-charlo/) > [“She was reluctant at first, but when I screamed that she was ruining my life, she relented. I’d have to use that tactic more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sterling/she-was-reluctant-at-first-but-when-i-screamed-that-she-was-ruining/) [J. Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sterling/) > [“Everything about him had screamed, I"m going to take you right here and make you foreget your own name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/everything-about-him-had-screamed-i-m-going-to-take-you-right-here/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) > [“Everything inside of her screamed not to do it, but she didn’t listen. Instead, she looked at Jonas with a soft smile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-rose/everything-inside-of-her-screamed-not-to-do-it-but-she-didn-t-listen/) [Willow Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-rose/) > [“Nefertiti!" I shouted. "Meritaten!" How could they both be gone? Where could they be? I rounded the corner to the window of Appearences, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-moran/nefertiti-i-shouted-meritaten-how-could-they-both-be-gone-where-could/) [Michelle Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-moran/) > [“Bleep!" I screamed to the wall in front of me. "Bleep, bleep, bleep !" I kicked the dumpster, then grabbed at my foot. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/bleep-i-screamed-to-the-wall-in-front-of-me-bleep-bleep-bleep-i/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [Vishous screamed. The only thing that was louder was the pop as the hip was relocated, as it were. And the last thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/vishous-screamed-the-only-thing-that-was-louder-was-the-pop-as-the/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [I hate you!” I screamed at Fang. Tucking my wings in, I aimed downward, diving toward the ground at more than two hundred miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-hate-you-i-screamed-at-fang-tucking-my-wings-in-i-aimed-downward/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“And we screamed. We screamed our war cry, our shout of slaughter, our joy of being men in battle who are driven by terror.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cornwell/and-we-screamed-we-screamed-our-war-cry-our-shout-of-slaughter-our/) [Bernard Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cornwell/) > [He never yelled or screamed so I felt very at home and comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-o-brien/he-never-yelled-or-screamed-so-i-felt-very-at-home-and-comfortable/) [Margaret O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-o-brien/) > [I broke my finger in a stunt in a very not-too-romantic way. 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He hadn’t left her alone. She hadn’t been alone. There was a muffled curse, and Rowan slammed his body against hers, as if he could somehow shield her. No, not shield her. Cover her, the flash of light. She barely registered the pain—if only because the moment her Fae senses snapped into place, she had to shove a hand against her own mouth to keep from retching. Oh, gods, the festering smell of them, worse than any corpse she’d ever dealt with.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah J. 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