Legendary (Caraval, #2)

by Stephanie Garber

The words The Maiden Death were written at the bottom of the card.

She didn’t care if any of them saw her sneaking away from the pretty boy, but she didn’t want anyone telling her sister.

“You’re right.” Tella must have misheard. “Did you say I’m right?” Scarlett nodded. “I’m done with being scared all the time.”

Happiness made Scarlett even prettier.

Yet Tella could not forget the letter in her pocket, reminding her of a debt to be paid and a mother who still needed to be saved.

Congratulations on escaping your father and surviving Caraval. I am pleased our plan worked, although I had no doubts you would survive the game.

The horrid image remained for months, as if the card were asking Tella to prevent her sister’s arranged marriage and change the future—not

just glimpses, here and there—until, out of nowhere, he’d appeared at her side and kissed her until her knees gave out.

Dante tossed the coin once more. “It’s said these were forged by the Fates. People used to call them ‘luckless coins.’”

“Why did you just call him Armando?” “From the look on your face, I think you’ve already guessed. Armando was never engaged to your sister. He works for Legend, just like I do.”

It had never occurred to Tella that an actor might have been playing the role of her sister’s fiancé.

“It’s Nigel,” Julian answered quietly. “He’s Legend’s fortune-teller.”

For many, Legend was the definition of magic.

Tella might not have known Legend’s true name, but she knew he favored red and roses and games. Was this his way of toying with her? Did he know what she was up to?

And, unlike Tella, Scarlett wasn’t the one who’d been doomed to unrequited love by the Prince of Hearts.

Legend’s magic prevents his true name from being spoken or revealed, but it can be won.”

winning the game will come at a cost you will later regret.”

“I don’t want to sleep all the way to Valenda.” “I’m afraid it’s too late. Next time, do not agree to bargains so easily.”

All she could think was, The storybooks lied.

“It’s Donatella Dragna.” “I see a Scarlett Dragna.” “That’s my sister.” The woman looked up, eyes briefly darting to the guard who’d escorted Tella in. “Your sister might be a welcome guest, but I’m afraid I don’t have you written down. Are you certain you were invited?”

Contrary to the stories, the inside of the tower wasn’t golden; it was old. Even the air smelled archaic, full of forgotten stories and bygone words.

Tella might have been able to appreciate how well constructed his petty vengeance was if she’d not been the subject of it.

She liked the thrill that came with taking risks. She loved the feeling of doing something bold enough to make her future hold its breath

The superior drawl skimmed the back of Tella’s shoulders, as cool and polished as a freshly sharpened sword. Elantine’s heir.

The heir—Jacks—had sounded ruthless and far from lazy. Yet this young man with his bloodshot eyes and untamed hair

“Don’t look at the cage. Keep those pretty eyes on me.”

“I know it’s not just the cage that’s scaring you, darling.” “You’re giving yourself far too much credit.” “Am I?” He dropped his hand from her chin to her neck, soft leather resting against her pulse.

He tasted like exquisite nightmares and stolen dreams, like the wings of fallen angels and bottles of fresh moonlight.

It was the sort of kiss she could have lived in. The sort of kiss worth dying for.

“I think it’s too late for that.” She wanted to call him by his name, the Prince of Hearts, but she wasn’t quite ready to utter the words out loud. His dimples reappeared, cunning this time, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. She waited.

Waited for his assurance that his kiss would not kill her. Waited for him to tell her she should know better than to put too much faith in old stories.

Instead, he licked the blood at the corner of his mouth. “You should have brought me Legend’s name.”

Now Tella had to win the game or she would never dream again.

Soon you will be mine once more. The rasp of Death’s rotting voice woke Tella with a start.

To protect herself, she needed to stay away from Dante. Even if for a brief moment she just wanted to close her eyes and collapse in his arms.

Tella didn’t know if older sisters were always connected to their younger siblings this way, or if it was something special between the two of them.

“How could I forget? That was always my favorite part.” But it couldn’t be true for this game. If Legend was really the villain, then there was only one possible person he could be—Jacks.

Jacks could not be Legend. But if he was, then Legend was a greater villain than Tella had ever imagined.

Even though he had never been truly engaged to her sister she would always think of him as the villain he played in the last game.

“Then why don’t you look more worried about losing someone you care for?” “Because I’ve already lost her.”

She won because of what she was willing to sacrifice for those riddles, and for what she was willing to sacrifice in order to find you.”

“Because she’s my sister.” The fight returned to Scarlett’s voice. “You should understand that. Isn’t that the entire reason you lie so much for your brother, Legend?” Tella’s entire world froze. Legend was Julian’s brother.

Trimmed in a starry border, this portrait was prettier than the others, though maybe that was also because of the beautiful face beneath the word Wanted—a face that bore an uncanny resemblance to Tella and Scarlett’s missing mother, Paloma.

The reason you couldn’t find her before is because Paloma was not her real name.

The memory she’d expected Aiko to take was still there, and though Tella had been ready to part with it, she felt relieved it wasn’t gone. So then why did Tella sense that Aiko had stolen something even more valuable?

Because it wasn’t merely a card. It was a Fate, and Tella had it tucked inside of a little trunk.

These were the real Fates. They didn’t bleed because they weren’t human.

“What’s so dangerous about my arms?” he murmured. “For me, everything.” Tella slowly lifted one lid open.

“You really care about her?” Another pause. “I care about finding those cards, and she’s our best hope for it, brother.”

Julian had been telling Scarlett the truth about Legend being his brother, then Dante was Legend. But if Dante was Legend, why had he brought Tella to Julian for him to heal? Maybe Julian was really Legend.