Finale (Caraval #3)(66)

Tella faltered, but she didn’t stop. “I thought I could consider it. But I actually think I fell more in love with the idea of you than the real you.”

Legend clenched his jaw. “You don’t mean that, Tella.”

“Yes, I do.” She forced the words out, each one tasting worse than the last. But she knew that if she didn’t go through with this now, she wouldn’t be able to do it again.

Legend might not have been able to feel love, but from the way he kept looking at her—from the way his mouth slammed into a taut line and his eyes turned distant and guarded—it was clear he knew how to feel hurt.

Tella made herself continue, her forced smile fading. “It’s sort of like how you wanted to see if you could convince the world you were Elantine’s heir. Only I…” She took a deep breath. “I wanted to see if I could make the Great Master Legend fall in love with me.”

Legend’s face became a mask of perfect calm, but what remained of the stars in their sky went out all at once, cloaking them both in sudden darkness. “If that’s true, Donatella, then we both failed at getting what we wanted.”

Before she could reply, he was gone.





35





Donatella


That night, Tella tried not to think about Legend. She needed to focus. She couldn’t think of the hurtful things she’d said to him, or the way he’d left her in total darkness, as she penned a note to her sister that would either doom them all or save them.



* * *



Scar,

We need a vial of the Fallen Star’s blood. But be very careful getting the blood, and with the Fallen Star—whatever you do, don’t try to make him love you. When I went to the Vanished Market, I learned that the Fallen Star loved our mother once—she was the only human he ever loved, and he killed her.

Be more cautious than you’ve ever been in your life.

Love,

T



* * *



Tella lost track of how many times she reread the note before finally giving it to Jovan, who would deliver it to Scarlett later that day, for it was already after midnight. Tella was beyond tired, but even after she climbed into bed, she fought against sleep, not wanting to face whatever waited for her—or rather, what didn’t wait for her—in her dreams.





36





Donatella


The dreamy sky carriage came into focus slowly. It enveloped Tella like a tucked-away memory laced with hints of apples and magic. The leather cushions beneath her were buttery and trimmed in thick royal blue that matched the heavy curtains lining the oval windows. It was exactly like the first sky carriage she’d ever been in, except for its size. It was about half the size of a regular coach, leaving practically no room between her and the young man who sat opposite her, Jacks.

He grinned like a scoundrel as he tossed a shimmery white apple between his pale fingers. And for the first time Tella was glad that she’d given him permission to enter her dreams.

His apple looked as if its skin had been dipped in glitter, and yet its shine was that of a spark to a flame when compared to the Prince of Hearts. He was a little disheveled, as usual—his light brown trousers were only half tucked into his boots, his rusty-red velvet tailcoat was wrinkled, and his cream cravat was only half tied. But his skin glowed like a star, his golden hair shone brighter than any crown, and his unearthly eyes gleamed with a shade of blue that made Tella think of the most wonderful mistakes.

“What are we doing here?” she asked. She knew they were in a dream, and, like Legend, Jacks appeared to have the ability to control it.

“I thought I’d try something new. I want us to start over.” He flashed his dimples in a way that Tella imagined was an attempt at an innocent smile.

She wondered briefly what might have happened if he’d given her that smile the first time they’d met, rather than threatening to toss her out of the carriage. She wouldn’t have thought he was the least bit innocent or harmless, but she would have been intrigued.

“Say you could relive that day. What would you have done differently?”

“Maybe I’d have offered you a bite of my apple.” He leaned forward, approaching her almost reverently, and set the glittering piece of fruit in her hands. It was colder than his skin, nearly burning in its iciness. “Go ahead and take a bite, my love. It’s just an apple.”

“For some reason, I don’t believe you.”

His grin twitched. “It may have a little magic.”

“What kind?”

“Taste it and find out.” Jacks’s challenging stare looked like a dare, the sort that was already lost as soon as it was accepted.

If this had happened the first time they’d met, she probably would have taken a bite, half curious about the magical white fruit, half hoping to impress the even more magical boy across from her. And it probably would have put her under a spell more treacherous than his kiss had.

“I think I’ll pass.” She handed him the apple.

Jacks took hold of her instead. In an instant she was across the carriage and folded neatly in his lap, his cool arms wrapped around her, and his lips were close enough to kiss.

“Jacks.” Tella placed a hand against his chest before he could lean any closer. “I would have been tempted by the apple, but I might have actually pushed you out of the carriage if you’d tried this that day.”