How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Stop pretending you had nothing to do with my decision. I know what you can do […] You made me doubt him." (21.33)
It takes Nikki a little while to put together the puzzle pieces, but eventually she realizes that Cole had been manipulating her emotions all along. Cole made her doubt Jack during a crisis in their relationship, and that's part of what got her to agree to become a Forfeit in the first place. The fact that Cole could do that to Nikki while claiming to care about her shows that he's not very principled, at least not compared to her. Or he is principled—but his principles are terrible.
Quote #8
Jack didn't give up on me when I left. Jules told me he never stopped looking. Never stopped hoping I'd come back. I couldn't give up on him now. (25.92)
Jack's dedication to finding Nikki helps inspire Nikki to stay on target with her own sense of right and wrong. The invitation to go with Cole (again) and let him take away all her pain (again) is super tempting, but this time, Nikki doesn't give into temptation. She sticks to her guns, thanks in part to remembering how principled Jack was in his loyalty to her.
Quote #9
"I've never followed someone during the Return, but I know for a fact nobody would choose the Tunnels over the Court. Except you. You're stalwart in your selflessness, to the point of self-destruction […] You would never come with me." (32.42)
Cole knows that Nikki is unique because she's so principled and focused on doing the right thing. However, this presents problems when Nikki tries to make a gamble for Cole's heart. Because Cole knows how Nikki is, he's not necessarily going to buy it when she says she's changed her mind about going with him. Of course, it's kind of ironic that Nikki is lying about this in order to preserve her principled sense of right, but go figure.