Rebel (Legend, #4)(101)

But then June’s tears finally spill down her face, and her smile is the brightest light I have ever seen, and she is wrapping her arms around my neck, crying and laughing and shaking, and I am so overwhelmed with joy that for a moment all I can do is embrace her. I take the new ring and slide it onto the finger where she’d once worn a twist of paper clips that represented our history.

A past. A future. Something that can be ours.

I realize I’m crying too, because the final puzzle piece of my heart has fallen into place.

June’s answer drifts up into the night air and echoes across the cityscape, one of millions of things happening in each of our lives, the small steps you take that are invisible to everyone else in the world. The steps that, nevertheless, matter the most.

Yes.

Always.

Forever.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS



The idea for Rebel first came to me while I was still writing Champion, but it arrived in fragments—a gamified society, an augmented reality, and a pair of brothers healing in the aftermath of a war. I had to write an entirely separate duology (Warcross) before I understood what I wanted for this final story set in Legend’s timeline, and for a while, I didn’t think I’d ever get to it. During all those years, the reason I kept revisiting this idea was because of readers who wanted to know what happened after the end to the original trilogy. So thank you firstly to my wonderful audience. You all always inspire me.

To Jen Besser, who has been my editor, champion, and friend from the very beginning. I can’t tell you how happy I am that I got to work on all four of the Legend novels with you. You are one in a million.

To the entire team at Macmillan Children’s who have welcomed me and my stories with so much warmth and enthusiasm. I’m incredibly honored to be working with you all.

Kristin, I don’t know where I’d be without you. You’re the best agent a writer could hope for, and I’m excited for all the stories we’ll continue to work on together.

Legend couldn’t have found its legs without the support of so many school librarians and teachers. I am endlessly grateful to you all for bringing my books into your classrooms and libraries, and hearing stories from you about students reading the series is such an honor. Thank you.

To my wonderful friends, for letting me lean on you as I talked this one out. Tahereh, Leigh, Amie, Dianne, Sabaa, and Renée: I’m so lucky to have you in my life.

Finally, to Primo, my forever confidante and best friend. Love you, always.