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It was barely visible as Julian wrenched it open and pushed Scarlett forward. She stumbled inside. But before Julian could follow, the door slammed shut. Wood
HE MADE SURE SHE GOT IN EVEN IF HE DIDNT 😭🙏🏼
Her heart pounded. “Julian!” “Crimson?”
but she swore the sailor looked haunted, as if those moments outside had cost him something valuable.
My little liar, Julian mouthed,
“I know you want to find your sister, but on this isle secrets are valuable. Be careful about giving yours away too freely. If people know what you want the most, it can be used against you.
She remembered her first impression of him, tall, roughly handsome, and dangerous, like poison dressed up in an attractive bottle.
“You did a very good job convincing her we’re in love.” Julian’s eyes cut to the lavish bed.
“There you go being dramatic again. You think everything is going to destroy your life.”
“No one will find out. I imagine that’s why there are two doors with different numbers.”
“I’m Dante, by the way, and this is my sister, Valentina.”
She gasped. The evil gown had transformed again, turning sheer and lacy and far too scandalous to be worn in a public hall or while talking to a strange young man.
No wonder Dante had been unable to take his eyes off her.
“I didn’t invite you here to watch, precious.” His mouth moved closer to hers, as if he was about to kiss her. “I want you to play the game,” he whispered. Then he threw her off the balcony.
OOOP
“Is your sister Donatella Dragna?”
“Sorry, dear, just because she’s your sister doesn’t mean you get all the clues.”
Your father gave me these, she said, because scarlet was my favorite color.
Like the mate who ran off with your ear-things.”
For Scarlett to make it home in time for her wedding, she would have to solve all the clues and find Tella before the last night of the game.
Trust me when I say Legend knows how to take care of his guests.”
“How do you know how Legend treats his guests?” “Look at the room we were given because you’re his special visitor.”
“Ah, I get it,” Julian added. “You’re jealous.” “No I’m not.” “It would make sense if you were. You were the one who wrote him letters all those years. No one would blame you if you felt bad he chose her instead.” “I’m not jealous,”
“What is it?” Julian asked. When Scarlett didn’t answer right away his tone turned charming. “Come on, I thought we were a team.” “Being teammates has mostly benefitted you, not me.” “I wouldn’t say ‘mostly.’ You forget, if it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t even be here.” “I could claim the same,”
“From now on it will be a more even partnership. I’ll keep telling you what I know about the game. We share with each other what we learn, and we trade days for the room. When you sleep in there, I promise I will not. Though you are welcome to join me whenever you want.”
Then she turned the picture card in her hand toward Julian. “This did not belong to my sister.”
Tella never told Scarlett, but she wanted to be a mermaid.
Because Tella’s fantasy of being a mermaid gave Scarlett hope—that despite their mother’s abandonment, and their father’s lack of love, her sister could still dream, and that was something Scarlett never wanted to destroy.
TEARS. SHES THE BEAT AISTER ANYONE COULD HAVE
“Believe it or not, Crimson, I like working with you.
“Why, hello there,” Dante greeted her, with a smile a little too crooked to be perfect. Again he was dressed in all black, matching the darkness of his tattoos, but he seemed to brighten at the sight of Scarlett. “I was just going by to check on you. Did you sleep well in my room?”
“But you enjoyed the way he was looking at you?” Julian gazed down at Scarlett, blinking thick, dark lashes as he gave her an intentionally lopsided smile. “You think he practices that look in a mirror?”
“As if you’re any better.” “I’m not saying I’m a good man,” Julian
He won Caraval last time I played.
IS IT LEGEND!?!?
lost. If you think my moral compass is damaged, his doesn’t exist.”
“You’ll need all you have inside there. Time goes even faster in the Castillo.”
“No need to be embarrassed,” he said. “Although if you need some practice before your wedding, I’m more than willing to help for free.”
“That means he’s a noble, and no one holds a position like that and manages to stay honest. If he’s looking for an island bride, it’s probably because his family is inbred, which also means he’s unattractive.”
Scarlett remembered now: she had been intrigued, but she was surprised he’d noticed.
“Do you want to go in with me?” Scarlett asked. “I’d rather my future remain a surprise.” Julian cocked his head toward the kissing tent.
“Your eyes land here as well. You want love and protection.” “Isn’t that what every girl wants?”
The future knows what things we desire, unless there is something greater in our path that chases us away.”
Every person has the power to change their fate if they are brave enough to fight for what they desire more than anything.”
JACKS COULD LEARN FROM HIM
And even though she would never tell him, she loved the way he moved, with total confidence, as though nothing in the world could harm him. It made her less fearful when she was around him. As if boldness and bravery did not always end in defeat.
“I think he’s the most attractive person I’ve ever seen.” She wanted to clap her hand over her mouth and shove the words back inside. “I also think he’s thoroughly full of himself,”
“No one is truly honest,” Nigel answered. “Even if we don’t lie to others, we often lie to ourselves. And the word good means different things to different people.”
“If you really care about this sister, why didn’t you ask about her first?” “I don’t know,” Scarlett said.
“Wait!” Scarlett called as he started walking again. “It was the heart,” she blurted. “Every time I looked at you I saw the heart around your lips and it made me think of my wedding, which is only a week away.
“If you want to win this game,” Nigel said, “you should forget about your wedding. And if you want to find your sister, you will not find her in this Castillo. Follow the boy with a heart made of black.”
“If someone is about to cause you harm,” she went on coolly, “this will stop them. All you need to do is spray a bit on their face.”
“My perfume merely opened your eyes so you would see what you might need.”
