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And in that moment, Legend no longer felt like Tella’s enemy, or her friend, or the boy she used to love – Legend felt like every story she’d never wanted to believe about him.
‘I don’t need to prove anything,’ said Julian. ‘I’m not trying to win her hand. I’m offering her mine, and everything that comes with it, hoping she’ll take it and decide she wants to keep it.’
My mind is made up.’ ‘Since when do you make up your mind so fast?’ argued Julian. ‘Since five weeks ago.’ Her smile was an exclamation point.
Tudun!
Fear was a poison that people mistook as protection. Making choices to stay safe could be just as treacherous.
Their mother had once told them there was nothing like the love of a sister, and this was one of the moments where Tella could feel that truth. She could feel her sister loving her twice as much as before, trying to heal the wound her mother’s death had left.
‘Your old room in the golden tower is still yours if you want it, and your sister’s old room is hers, too.’ Tella narrowed her eyes. ‘What do you want in return?’ ‘I never wanted you to leave in the first place.’
The pillows beneath Scarlett were so much fluffier than the lumpy things in her rented apartment. The sheets were far softer as well. They smelled of cool breezes and starlit nights and the only boy she’d ever loved. Not her pillows. Not her sheets. Not her bed. Julian’s bed.
She couldn’t give him her hand in marriage, but she could give him this final meeting. She owed that much to him.
Ecco fatto.
‘I came here to claim a prize, not to be played with.’ Tella held out a hand as if to collect. Legend laughed, deep and rumbling. ‘I’ll always want to play with you. But tonight I’m not playing. I want you, Donatella Dragna. I’ve never felt like this about anyone,
This had to be a mistake. She already had one murderous, power-hungry father. She didn’t deserve another one.
She didn’t need to erase her pain; she needed it to propel her into action. Just because it was a negative emotion didn’t mean it wasn’t a valuable one.
He’d never be perfect; he’d told her that. But she didn’t want perfect – she only wanted him.
I choose you, Julian, and I promise I will always choose you, and I will always love you. I will love you with every bone in my body, so that even after my heart stops beating, a part of me will remain to forever love you.’
Even if we didn’t share any blood at all, I would still call you my sister and I would battle anyone who tried to say it wasn’t true. You are my family, Scarlett. Who your birth father is doesn’t change that.’
‘Be careful, Crimson.’ ‘I’m always careful.’ ‘I don’t know …’ He pulled away just enough for her to see his mouth twitch at the corner. ‘A careful girl wouldn’t say she loved me.’ ‘You’re wrong. I don’t think my heart could be safer than in your hands.’
All that I ask is that you don’t muck it up. Don’t just love her back, Julian, fight for her every day.’ ‘I intend to.’
The new voice was low and deep and the sound of it made Tella’s heart race twice as fast. She spun around. Everything in the Vanished Market blurred, colors merging together as if the world around her was moving too fast, except for the handsome boy standing in front of her, taking up the entire doorway to the tent. Legend was there.
He didn’t kiss her as if he’d simply just come back to life. He kissed her as if he’d died, been buried and clawed his way out of the grave and through the dirt just to get to her.
‘You’re not playing fair,’ she murmured. ‘I never said I did, and I won’t this time.’ His thumb stroked the sensitive column of her neck. ‘You’re too important, Tella.’
‘Daeshim,’ the Maiden Death chided in a voice far softer than her cloaked companion’s, ‘remember what we talked about?’ ‘You said to be friendly. That was a joke.’ No one laughed except for Jovan. ‘I think you need some work on your humor, mate.’ ‘If you don’t kill us all, I’ll help you out,’ added Caspar. ‘Thank you,’ the Assassin answered.
Enough would never be enough for Tella.
‘We should go.’ ‘But I’ve just got here.’ The Prince of Hearts appeared at the top of the steps.
Oh for fuck sake! Jacks, I love you, but get the fuck out!
‘I’m sorry about the dreams.’ ‘I don’t care about the dreams.’ His voice turned rough in a flash. ‘I care that you almost died.’
‘Legend—’ Tella protested. ‘I don’t need you to carry me.’ He continued picking her up, and cradled her to his chest, so close she could feel his steady heartbeat. ‘He tried to kill you. I need to carry you.’
His voice had softened, and she might have called it sweet, but there was nothing sweet about the way he smiled. It was a smile that promised she’d enjoy this new game, even as she lost it.
‘When did you become such an idealist?’ ‘When I met a girl who loved her sister so much she was able to wish her back to life. You might possess magic, but love like that is real power.’ ‘And yet all the love in the world wouldn’t have brought Tella back without my magic.’ ‘She never would have died without your magic, either.’ Julian’s smile disappeared. ‘Tella would have found another way. She didn’t and doesn’t need you to save her. She needs to save you.’
‘Most of my life, I’ve romanticized death. I used to love the idea of something being so tremendous that it was worth dying for. But I was wrong. I think the most magnificent things are worth living for.’
‘I think you’re spectacular, Legend, and I want to spend an eternity with you.’ She leaned up and slowly brought her mouth toward his. Legend was still, but he let his lips brush against hers once. ‘You really mean this?’ ‘More than I’ve ever meant anything.’
she was standing in a room full of impossible people – three Fates, one boy who didn’t age and a sister who had died and come back to life.
‘Trust me, Jacks, I have an idea.’ It was a terrible idea, but many of her most successful ideas were.
‘You’re just jealous! You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me.’ She tried to shove against his chest, to push him away at last. ‘Please, stop torturing me. Just let me go.’ The edge of Legend’s mouth slowly lifted. ‘You’re the one holding on to me, Tella.’ ‘No – I—’ She looked down to see her fingers gripping his frayed shirt.
‘I can’t say that I understand love, or that I’m very good at it, because I’ve never loved anyone before. But I love everything about you, Donatella Dragna. Everything.’ His hand dropped lower to stroke her jaw. ‘I love the secrets you haven’t told me, and the lies you’ve tried to get away with. I love your stubbornness and your persistence. I love the way you always pretend not to care when I visit you in dreams. I love that you never stop fighting for what you want or the people you love, even when they don’t deserve it. I love you, I don’t intend to stop loving you, and I hope that
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‘If you don’t let me go, I’m not going to be able to fight you anymore.’ ‘Good, because I don’t want to fight you. I just want to love you.’
‘This is my choice, and I choose you, Donatella. I don’t need immortality. You’re my forever.’
During her search for the missing door, she’d read that the Prince of Hearts’s church held a different aroma for everyone who visited. It was supposed to smell like a person’s greatest heartbreak. But as Evangeline entered the cool cathedral, the air did not remind her of Luc—there were no hints of suede or vetiver. The dim mouth of the church was slightly sweet and metallic: apples and blood.
I already feel like crying
