Legendary (Caraval, #2)

by Stephanie Garber

Demon was too appealing a word for him.

Legend could be wicked, but the Prince of Hearts was evil. The sort who’d rip a girl’s heart from her chest and sink his teeth into it as if it were an apple.

All of it monstrously beautiful, like the treasures of a magical nightmare, which she supposed Jacks was.

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.

But Tella wanted love about as much as she wished to contract a disease. There were no kisses worth dying for. No souls worth merging with.

At least remember the stories Nana Anna told us—Legend likes to be the villain.” Tella grinned. “How could I forget? That was always my favorite part.”

But Tella knew Jacks was the real Prince of Hearts. She knew it as deeply as she’d known that her sister would be able to wish her back to life if she died.

Even if I wasn’t Legend I would want you to win.

Paradise the Lost. Wanted for thievery, kidnapping, and murder.

But if the real Aracle was trapped inside this card, wouldn’t it show Tella whatever it needed to so that she would help it escape?

What mattered was that being his true love meant she was immune to his kiss. She no longer needed to win the game to live.

Tella imagined them doing it again as she reached into the wooden box, boldly picked up her mother’s cursed Deck of Destiny, and officially won Caraval.

“I don’t want to talk to you,” she said. “I want to talk to Legend.” “Then open your eyes and speak to me.”

Legend was someone she could never have. He was like a moment in time; he could be experienced but never held on to.

The night. The world. The stars watching from above all disappeared. Then Tella disappeared as well.

“I know you were willing to sacrifice yourself for her, but I wasn’t willing to sacrifice you.”

“I can’t believe you did this for me.” She looked up from Legend’s wounded palm to his beautiful face. “I think that means you’re the hero after all.”

“I made a mistake, Scar. I never wanted to fall for anyone, but I think I’ve fallen in love with Legend.”