Legendborn (Legendborn, #1)

by Tracy Deonn

She eyes me as if gauging my mood. “ ‘I hate tiny parties—they force one into constant exertion.’ ” I squint, searching my memories for the familiar words. “Did you—did you just Jane Austen me?” Her dark eyes twinkle. “Who’s the literary nerd? The quoter or the one who recognizes the quote?” “Wait.” I shake my head in amusement. “Did you just Star Wars me?” “Nah.” She grins. “I New Hope’d you.”

Sometimes I wish I could shrink into someone more convenient.

This type of knowing is an expensive toll to pay. I can’t forget the knowledge just because the price is high. And yet, sometimes we have to tuck the reminders away today in order to grow power against them tomorrow.

I stand at that statue and claim the bodies whose names the world wants to forget. I claim those bodies whose names I was taught to forget. And I claim the unsung bloodlines that soak the ground beneath my feet, because I know, I just know, that if they could, they would claim me.

If there’s one thing the Order has taught me, it’s that I’m my family’s Scion. I have a duty to fight for them.

“How would you like me to carry you? What would please you, Page Matthews?” I huff and circle him, evaluating my options and ignoring his long-suffering stare. “Piggyback.” “Excuse me?” “You heard me.” “Like that movie—”

“Don’t make your life about the loss. Make it about the love.”