Tella’s eyes flashed open, and words spilled out before she could stop them. “You told me you weren’t capable of love.”
“I didn’t think I was.”
Legend moved his hand from her hair to cup her cheek, holding her face as if he’d never touched anything so precious. “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 somewhere deep inside, you still love me, too.” His mouth slowly lowered to hers, moving incrementally closer, warning her that if she didn’t want to kiss him, she needed to pull away.
But she no longer wanted to pull away, and she wasn’t even sure she could have. Love really was another type of magic. She was trembling all over. Shaking off the rest of the spell that Legend had broken when he’d told her he loved her. He loved her! Her limbs trembled harder with something like wonder at the thought.
She couldn’t bring herself to speak, so she tried to tell him that she loved him with a kiss when his warm lips finally pressed against hers. They were so perfect and soft and sweet and gentle. Even though she was supposed to be letting Legend know that she loved him, she felt as if he was the one repeating the words with every languorous press of his lips, as if they weren’t in any rush, as if they had all the time in the—
Abruptly Tella shoved him away. It was the last thing she wanted to do. She loved him, she knew she did. She wanted his lips on hers until she forgot how to breathe. She wanted to hold on to him forever, but he wouldn’t have a forever if she didn’t let him go right now.
His jaw tensed and the pained look returned to his face. “What’s wrong?”
“You need to leave.” Tella didn’t recognize her own voice, as if she were battling herself with every word. She wanted to be selfish, she wanted to keep him. She loved him—which was why she forced herself to push him away. “You need to leave me before you stay like this.”
“It’s too late.”
“No, it’s not.” Tella shoved him again.
He didn’t even stumble backward on the moonstone steps.
She turned to run. If he wasn’t going to leave, she would. But before she moved an inch, his hand clasped around her wrist and he pulled her back, binding her to him with his arms. “Tella.”
“Let me go.” She could already see him changing. She could see it in his smile, in the way it filled with love as it lit up his entire face. She tried to pry his arms away, but it was less than half-hearted. She’d always thought he was beautiful, but when he looked at her the way he was looking at her right now, he was absolutely everything. “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.” He lifted her a little and pressed another kiss to her lips. “This is my choice, and I choose you, Donatella. I don’t need immortality. You’re my forever.”
THE TRUE ENDING
* * *
Welcome, welcome …
You have been invited to the official coronation of Scarlett Marie Dragna,
to take place on the 1st day of the Harvest Season.
The festivities will begin at twilight and hopefully never come to an end.
* * *
Scarlett
Anyone else might have thought it was the perfect dress. But there wouldn’t be another perfect dress for Scarlett. She would never replace her Fated gown. But the piece of artwork she wore today was lovely—entirely fitted save for in the back, where a train flowed behind her, whiter than untouched snow and decorated with silk red roses. It matched the cape Poison had sent as her coronation gift, which was covered entirely in flower petals. It was glorious and extravagant and though Scarlett would have looked like a true empress in it, she couldn’t wear it.
Poison had returned everyone he’d turned to stone to their human forms and agreed to a truce with Scarlett. But after one night with the Fallen Star as emperor, Valenda was still wary of all things Fated, and as the daughter of a Fate, the city was cautious of her as well; it didn’t matter that she’d never stepped into her full powers.
“You look spectacular.” Tella grinned wider than a cat that had just caught a bird as she stood behind her sister in the gilded mirror that matched everything in the imperial suite—even the drapes had gold leaves sewn between the gauzy panels. And it was all Scarlett’s. Part of her was constantly tempted to use the Reverie Key and disappear from such an enormous responsibility. But she didn’t think the key had come into her possession for that reason.
“The whole empire is going to fall so madly in love with you that Julian might get jealous,” Tella said.
Scarlett laughed under her breath. “Julian’s already jealous—he actually thinks Poison has a crush on me.”
“Poison does have a crush on you. Why do you think he agreed to a truce with you so quickly?”
“Maybe because my sister is nicknamed the Fate Slayer.”
Tella’s cheeks pinked with pride. “You think I could get a Wanted poster with a picture of me on it and that title beneath it?”
“You’re not a criminal,” Scarlett said. “You’re a hero.”
“Yes, but I’ve always wanted my own Wanted poster.” Tella laughed, but her face turned wistful in a way that let Scarlett know she was thinking about their mother again.
“Do you believe our mother really was Empress Elantine’s daughter?” Scarlett asked.
“I don’t know that we’ll ever know for sure. But I like to think she was. When Empress Elantine talked about Paradise, she’d sounded fond and regretful.” Tella rambled toward the wall of windows, and pulled back a pair of curtains to look out at the crowd already forming in the glass courtyard for that evening’s ceremony. “We could always ask the Assassin to take us back in time to see her again and find out for certain.”
“Maybe,” Scarlett said. But she doubted it. After the Fallen Star’s death, the Assassin had disappeared along with most of the other Fates. Poison was the only one who’d stayed behind, and Scarlett really hoped he didn’t have a crush on her. Fates’ affections tended to turn into deadly obsessions, as it had with Jacks and Tella. Thankfully, no one had seen Jacks since Legend’s love broke the spell he’d placed on Tella.
Scarlett didn’t know if Jacks had fled with some of the other Fates to the northern kingdoms, where it was rumored that other Fates had been living quietly. Now that the Fallen Star was dead, the Fates he’d created were no longer immortals, but were ageless. They could live supernaturally long lives, but they could also die if they gave people reason to come after them.
Scarlett would have spies look into it once she was officially crowned empress. She still wanted to track down some of the crueler Fates, like Jester Mad, the Murdered King, and the Undead Queen and bring them to justice. For her sister’s sake, she wanted to make sure Jacks wasn’t coming back, either.
“Excuse me, Your Highness.” The crisp voice of a maid followed a soft knock on the door. “Mister Julian is here to see you.”
“Let him in.” Scarlett crossed the room with a speed that was probably improper for an empress. But she couldn’t help herself, just as she couldn’t stop herself from grinning as Julian stepped inside. Her mother’s dagger, now infused with the Fallen Star’s magic, had removed the Fated iron mask from his face with one touch. Scarlett couldn’t even tell that Julian had ever worn it. He looked both dapper and rakish in the suit he’d had made for tonight’s coronation. Scarlett especially liked his gray vest and the thin red stripes that matched the flowers in her gown.
Tella closed the drapes with a dramatic swish. “I think it’s time for me to go.”
“You don’t have to leave,” Scarlett said.
“It’s all right. I’m sure the two of you would rather smolder at each other in private, and I need to go and write a letter to Legend.”
Julian gave Tella a crooked smile. “I think my brother’s in the palace right now.”
“I know. But I’d much rather write him a letter.” Tella skipped to the door with an impish look on her face, which probably should have concerned Scarlett. But she was too distracted by Julian to worry about anything else.
As soon as Tella left, Julian stalked deeper into the room. His eyes slowly raked over the fitted lines of Scarlett’s white gown, leisurely moving from her hips all the way up to the golden circlet she’d wear until she was officially crowned. “I wasn’t sure you’d have time to see me today.”
“I am very important.”
“I know,” he said solemnly.
“Julian, I’m only joking.” She swiped his arm playfully. He took the opportunity as an excuse to steal her hand.
“You look bewitching,” he said, pulling her closer. “But I think your dress is missing something.”
He lifted the coat folded over his arm to reveal a present resting in his hand. The box was small and thin, and tied with a simple red bow that made her think he’d wrapped it himself.
“I told you I didn’t need any gifts today.” But she was grinning wider as she opened it.
Inside was a pair of crudely stitched gloves that went only to the wrist. For a moment, she wondered if this was his way of proposing. Gloves used to be a symbolic gift that gentlemen gave ladies they wanted to propose to. But the custom was out of style, and these didn’t seem to be ordinary gloves. When Scarlett touched them, they began to shift. They moved the way her Fated dress used to, transforming from simple white gloves with crude stitching to long, elegant sheaths of deep ruby lace.
“Where did you get these?” Scarlett breathed.
“I went back to the dungeon and there were a few scraps of fabric from your dress that I sewed together.”
“You sewed these yourself?”
A sheepish grin. “I didn’t trust anyone else to touch them.”
Scarlett hugged the sheaths to her chest. If she didn’t already love him, she would have fallen in love with him then. Julian tried to act like a scoundrel, but he was the sweetest person she’d ever known. “You know, that dress always fancied you more than anyone else.”
“Of course it did.” He smirked. “It was always reflecting your feelings.”
In the past she might have protested, but Scarlett didn’t even want to deny it. “Thank you, this is the most perfect gift.”
“I’m glad you like it.” His smile returned but it looked a little bashful again as he tugged on the back of his neck with one hand. “Gloves were once a symbolic gift.”
“Yes,” she blurted.
His brows danced up. “I haven’t even asked.”
“Whatever you ask, the answer is yes.” She threw her arms around his neck.
His hands tightened around her waist in response. “What if I asked for half your kingdom?”
“Then I’d say you could have all of it. Everything that’s mine is yours, Julian.”
“What about these?” He touched her lips.
“Especially those.” To prove it, Scarlett pressed her mouth to his. “Now you’re mine as well.”
He pulled back just enough to give her a wicked grin. “I’ve always been yours, Crimson.”
ENCORE
Legend
Legend did not believe in endings.
For most of his immortal life, he believed his world would come crashing down if he fell in love and became human. Instead, his world had become more precious, particularly the pieces involving her.
He stifled a laugh as he read her letter again. Tella wouldn’t like it if she knew he was laughing, but she was one of the rare things he found funny.
It was one of the many reasons he loved her.
* * *
Year 1, Scarlett Dynasty
Dear Caraval Master Legend,
I no longer believe you are a liar, a blackguard, or a villain, but I’m wondering if you’d like to become those things again, because I would very much like your help.
My sister is about to become an empress, which will make me a princess. I know you might not see this as a problem, but I assure you it is. I was not meant to wander around a palace or be followed around by guards. But I don’t want to make my sister look poorly by misbehaving; I promised her that I would not cause any scandals. So I need you to, please, cause a scandal for me, Legend. Kidnap me and take me on a new adventure.
I know it’s not really kidnapping if I ask you to steal me away, but I think it would be fun to pretend. I also think it might make a very interesting game, and I know how you like to play.
Yours forever,
Donatella Dragna
* * *
GLOSSARY OF FATES AND TERMS
DECK OF DESTINY: A method of fortune-telling. Decks of Destiny contain thirty-two cards, comprised of a court of sixteen immortals, eight places, and eight objects.
THE FATES: According to the myths, the Fates pictured inside Decks of Destiny were once magical, corporeal beings. They supposedly ruled a quarter of the world centuries ago until they mysteriously vanished.
THE GREATER FATES
The Murdered King
The Undead Queen
The Prince of Hearts
The Maiden Death
The Fallen Star
Mistress Luck
The Assassin
The Poisoner
THE LESSER FATES
Jester Mad
The Lady Prisoner
Priestess, Priestess
Her Handmaidens
The Unwed Bride
Chaos
The Pregnant Maid
The Apothic
THE FATED OBJECTS
The Shattered Crown
Her Majesty’s Gown
The Blank Card
The Bleeding Throne
The Aracle
Map of All
The Unbitten Fruit
Reverie Key
FATED PLACES
Tower Lost
Phantasy Orchard
The Menagerie
The Immortal Library
Castle Midnight
The Imaginarium
The Vanished Market
Fire Undying
LUCKLESS COINS: Coins with the magic ability to track a person’s whereabouts. When the Fates still reigned on Earth, if one became fixated on a human, they would slip a luckless coin into their purse or pocket so they could follow them wherever they went. The coins were considered to be bad omens.
ALCARA: The ancient city from where the Fates ruled, now known as the Meridian Empire’s capital city of Valenda.
RUSCICA: A book found in the Immortal Library that will reveal a person’s or a Fate’s entire history, if that person’s or Fate’s blood is fed to the book.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In the Caraval series I talk a lot about dreams coming true. I think part of that might be because writing this series was truly one of my dreams come true. It still feels like a miracle to me that I get to write books, and I thank God every day for that miracle.
I have loved writing this series and being able to share it with others. But I never could have written it on my own. There is a fundamental group of people that I need to thank. These acknowledgments might be simpler than the ones I’ve written in the past—as I type these now, I feel as if I’ve already put all my words inside of this book—but my gratitude for everyone mentioned below comes from the deepest place of my heart.
Thank you so much, Sarah Dotts Barley, Jenny Bent, Mom, Dad, Allison, Matt Garber, Matt Moores, Ida Olson, Stacey Lee, Kristin Dwyer, Adrienne Young, Kerri Maniscalco, Katie Nelson, Julie Dao, Liz Briggs, Amanda Roelof
s, Patricia Cave, Bob Miller, Amy Einhorn, Rebecca Soler, Liz Catalano, Nancy Trypuc, Donna Noetzel, Cristina Gilbert, Katherine Turro, Jordan Forney, Vincent Stanley, and Emily Walters—and everyone else at Flatiron Books, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Library, and Macmillan Sales—Molly Ker Hawn, Kate Howard, Lily Cooper, Melissa Cox, Thorne Ryan, and everyone at Hodder and Stoughton, Erin Fitzsimmons, Anissa de Gomery, Kristen Williams, Lauren (FictionTea), FairyLoot, and OwlCrate.
If you’re reading these acknowledgments, I want to thank you too—for picking up this book, for stepping into this world, and for sticking with me throughout this entire series. I am so thankful for every reader, every blogger, every bookstagrammer, every bookseller, every librarian, and every teacher who has read this book or supported it in any way. It has been one of my greatest joys to share these characters and their stories with you.
ALSO BY STEPHANIE GARBER
Caraval
Legendary
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Author photograph © Matthew Moores, www.matthewdavidfilms.com
Stephanie Garber is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Caraval and Legendary. She grew up in northern California, where she was often compared to Anne Shirley, Jo March, and other fictional characters with wild imaginations and stubborn streaks. When she’s not writing, Stephanie teaches creative writing and dreams of her next adventure. Legend has yet to send her a ticket to Caraval.
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