Legendary

by Stephanie Garber

Every story has four parts – the beginning, the middle, the almost-ending, and the true ending. Your future is not complete until you flip over the fourth and reveal the true ending.’

But remember, Miss Dragna, Caraval isn’t about the clues. Your sister didn’t win because she solved simple riddles. 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.’

Although it still felt like the sort of thing Scarlett should have shared.

absolutely not?????

Tella was the sister who would destroy the world if anything happened to Scarlett, but Scarlett’s world would be destroyed if anything happened to Tella.

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.

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

She smelled of plumeria. A scent Tella thought she’d forgotten.

Her mother must have been a force to steal the Fates.

Tella felt it then. Wetter than tears dripping down cheeks. It pooled in her ears before trickling down her lobes to her cool neck. Blood. Thick and warm and awful.

The blood she’d lost at Minerva’s was a trickle compared to this. It oozed from her ears onto her bodice in thick crimson streams. Another reminder from the Prince of Hearts that she was not playing this game for fun.

No one wore masks unless they were celebrating something, or committing a crime.

The scent of their overripe perfume grew, sharpening to the scent of decayed flowers and twisted obsession. Tella gagged. But they didn’t even notice.

‘You’re all madder than poisoned fish!’

absolutely yes

Tella didn’t escape her father, a trio of Fates, and every other trial in her life to allow herself to be killed by some cold water and a shattered wrist.

If she were Scarlett, someone would have come to her rescue by now. Julian would have probably flown in on a hot-air balloon, and then sprouted wings to soar down and carry her away. Unfortunately Tella wasn’t the sort of girl people saved – she was the one they left behind.

She reminded herself she was the daughter of two dangerous criminals. She’d once bet her life on her sister’s love. She’d kissed the Prince of Hearts and still lived. These Fates would not kill her tonight.

‘I should have warned you – I’m more trouble than I’m worth.’

They dredged her from the water, encasing her with the scent of ink and heartbreak. Dante.

‘Who did this to you?’ he asked.

!!!!!

I’m starting to believe …’ Tella began to slur, ‘it might not be just a game. …’

The sharpness left his face, and for a moment Dante looked so treacherously young.

Wherever she was, this new universe was delightfully cozy and sweet, as if someone had tucked her into the center of a holiday.

You think my only power was having a deadly kiss? I was called the Prince of Hearts because I could control more than just the beat of someone’s heart. With one touch I could give or take away feelings and emotions. If I were at my full powers, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. You’d be so uncontrollably in love with me, you’d do whatever I asked without question.’

Either way, handing Legend over to Jacks at the end of the game didn’t feel quite the same as it had before, not even close.

Instead she found herself imagining what Jacks would be like at full power. When the Fates had ruled before, they were said to be more like gods than humans. She pictured his lips forever stained with blood and a pile of dead maidens at his feet.

There are only two ways to free someone from a card. A human must willingly take their place inside the card, or an immortal with great power must break the curse and free all of those imprisoned in cards.

His glow meant he would never die of natural causes or mortal wounds, but her radiance meant she would truly live.

‘That looks like one of the keys from the Temple of the Stars, and, if it is, your mother must have paid a very high price for it.’

Dante spoke against her mouth, this time loud enough for her to hear his words. ‘I think I’d like you even if you were the villain.’ She smiled against his lips. ‘Maybe I’d like you even if you were a hero.’ ‘But I’m not the hero,’ he reminded her.

‘Trust me, Tella. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.’

Paradise merely said she loved trouble. But I believe what she really loved was life.’

Only those who persevere can find their true ending.’

The air was so thick with magic it fell like confectioner’s sugar on Tella’s tongue, a sweet welcome to a darkly enchanted world.

He was supposed to break her heart. She wasn’t supposed to break his.

She’d underestimated Love in the past. She’d imagined the romantic sort to be a stronger type of lust – but this moment had nothing to do with lust and everything to do with caring more about saving Dante and her mother than saving herself. It made her fearless in a way she’d never been.

She tried to smile then. She was finally the hero. All it had cost her was everything.

She’d seemed promising. Now she was useless. Paper. But it was interesting to watch how her young man responded.

It was a delight to see him in pain. This boy, who never seemed to care about anyone but himself, shook with rage. Hopefully he didn’t do anything too foolish. He’d made a deal with them that they hungered for him to keep. It would do them no good if he were trapped in a card or dead.

The boy sliced it across his palm. Blood spilled, as red as heartbreak and terror, and full of power.

The stars watched with grim interest as he covered the deck of cards with the magic from his veins, more magic than a human should possess. Then he spoke the words, ancient, terrible words he should not have known, let alone been willing to utter.

The blood covering the deck turned black, and the world ...

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

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

‘I thought you were giving Julian another chance.’ ‘I am. But I’m giving Nicolas a chance as well.’

literally why?

But, of course, Legend was playing more than one game. He hadn’t come to Valenda merely to destroy the Fates and take all their powers for himself. He’d chosen this city as his game board so he could claim the throne.

Her heart was still a little heavy, but she’d decided carrying it around would only make her stronger.