We couldn't very well let February go without discussing our favorite bookish OTP moments that made us swoon, cry happy tears, or reread the scene over and over because . . . well, that's what you do when you're obsessed with fictional relationships ami'right?
Check out these top OTP moments that made me fangirl, and stay tuned for Kori's!
BOOK: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
SCENE: Ash's Knight Oath to Meghan
"If you are so worried about him," Grimalkin said into the quiet, "why not ask him to be your knight? [. . .] It is an old tradition," he began. "Even among the fey. A lady asks a warrior to become her knight, her chosen protector, for as long as they both draw breath. [. . .] It is the ultimate show of faith between the lady and the knight, for she trusts him above all others to keep her safe, knowing that he would lay down his life for her. [ . . .] The courts love such dramatic tragedies."
"Why is it a tragedy?"
"Because," came Ash's voice from the doorway, making me jump, "should the lady die, the knight will die, as well."
As described by my favorite talking cat, the knight's oath is pretty serious business in the land of Faery. By this point (Book 3), Ash and Meghan have been a couple since the end of Book 1 and have a pretty solid foundation. Even so, that doesn't stop them from having the occasional issue—like Meghan accidentally breaching faery etiquette by suggesting she release Ash from his vow to follow her into a dangerous Iron Kingdom.
"I'm just trying to keep him alive. I don't want him following me because he's being forced to by some stupid vow."
Puck winced. "That stupid vow is the most serious declaration we can make."
Like humans, Ash is still prone to having his ego bruised and feeling the sting of rejection. When she realizes her mistake, Grimalkin suggests she show her faith in Ash by asking him to be her knight.
"Will you be my knight?"
For a few heartbeats, he stared at me, surprise and disbelief written across his face. [. . . ] Slowly, he reached for my hand, barely holding my fingers as his eyes met mine. "Are you sure?"
It gets me every time how reverently he treats her and this moment. So dang sweet.
"My name is Ashallyn'darkmyr Tallyn [. . .] I vow to protect Meghan Chase, daughter of the Summer King, with my sword, my honor, and my life. Her desires are mine. Her wishes are mine. Should even the world stand against her, my blade will be at her side. And should it fail to protect her, let my own existence be forfeit. This I swear, on my honor, my True Name, and my life. From this day on . . ." His voice went even softer, but I still heard it as though he whispered it into my ear. "I am yours."
BOOK: Winter by Marissa Meyer
SCENE: Cress and Thorne's First "Official" Kiss
After two books of Cress's not-so-subtle swooning over the roguish spaceship captain Carswell Thorne and his very secretive growing feelings for Cress, the two finally fan everything into the open in a pretty hilarious jealousy scene that quickly turns romantic.
Shaking with contempt, Cress backed into an alcove behind a pillar. There she waited, arms crossed and red sparks in her vision, as Thorne kissed the girl.
Though Thorne can't help that Lunars are able to mind control him into doing whatever they want (including kissing a stranger), it still strikes Cress as believable since Thorne is a notorious flirt.
"I know it wasn't your fault, but that doesn't excuse everyone else. [. . .] But I'm not invisible!"
Cress's insinuation that she was stupid to ever have fallen for him when she knows better doesn't sit well with Thorne.
A second later, she heard another sigh. "Cress?"
"I'm all right. I just don't want to talk about it."
[. . .] "I don't want to talk about it either."
In one movement, Thorn lifted her onto the desk and pressed her back against an enormous potted fern [. . .]
"Cress." He said her name like a vow.
It only gets more adorable when Cress asserts she doesn't want to be "just another girl," to which he confesses that the Lunar woman he kissed manipulated herself to look like Cress, and that's why he kissed her.
"But . . . you told her you loved her."
BOOK: Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
SCENE: Alex and Willow's Confessions
After a couple weeks driving cross-country to escape the angels hunting them down, Angel Killer Alex and half-angel Willow grudgingly go from hostility to friendship as Alex lets go of his prejudice towards Willow. There are hints throughout the book that Alex cares a lot more for Willow than she thinks, and finally having it confirmed is possibly the best scene in the book.
"I've been wanting to do that since practically the first time I saw you."
Willow pulled away slightly, her eyes widening in surprise. "But you hated me then."
"No, I didn't," he murmured. He kissed her neck, her cheek. "I never hated you. Even when I thought I should, I was so attracted to you that I could hardly stand it. I've been going insane these last few days."
[. . .] "It really doesn't bother you, then? What I am?"
[. . .] "Willow, all I care about is that you're you, and—and that you're with me. That's all that matters."
BOOK: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
SCENE: Percy and Annabeth's Descent into Tartarus
Between a series and a half (Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus), Percy and Annabeth have been through a lot. They've grown up and trained together, fought monsters and went on quests, and saved the world while having each others' backs. After frantically searching for a missing Percy at the beginning of Heroes of Olympus, Annabeth and her boyfriend reunite. But of course it isn't long before something else threatens to tear them apart.
Something yanked Annabeth backward and dragged her toward the pit. Percy lunged. He grabbed her arm, but the momentum carried him along as well.
After fruitlessly trying to pull Annabeth away from Tartarus, the two realize it's hopeless. But it's not the end for this power couple.
"Percy, let me go," she croaked. "You can't pull me up."
[. . .] "Never," he said. [. . .] "We're staying together," he promised. "You're not getting away from me. Never again."
Only then did she understand what would happen. A one-way trip. A very hard fall.
"As long as we're together," she said.
[. . .] Then Percy let go of his tiny ledge, and together, holding hands, he and Annabeth fell into the endless darkness.
No, I'm not crying—you're crying.
Enjoy this fangirl moments roundup? Be sure to keep an eye out for Kori's in the near future, and drop your favorite bookish OTP moments in the comments below!