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.