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  I smile at my sisters. I’m amazed by how far we’ve come—how much we’ve grown and changed and accomplished—in such a short time. We are amazing, and the monster world had better behave, because the Key Generation can kick some serious beastie butt.

  We found and opened the door between the realms without even a single casualty on our side. We’re taking up the legacy that began with our ancient ancestor, Medusa, and has been passed down through countless generations. We have each other, we have boys and friends and family who care about us, and we have definitely earned the right to enjoy the moment.

  “That’s it, enough blubbering.” I start toward the parking lot, one sister under each arm. “Let’s go celebrate.”

  CHAPTER 36

  GRACE

  Around us, the coffee shop bustles with late afternoon activity. I’m amazed to watch these ordinary humans go about their daily lives, unaware of just how close they came to a monster apocalypse earlier today.

  It’s better this way, I suppose. Better my sisters and I keep them from ever finding out.

  Milo and Thane return to the table, each with an armful of drinks.

  “One strawberries-and-cream frappe,” Milo says, handing me my drink as he takes the seat next to me, “and a double espresso for you, man.”

  Nick accepts the drink with a nod of thanks. He looks pretty comfortable, sitting there with his arm around Gretchen’s chair—around her. And she looks pretty comfortable too.

  Thane hands her a red eye—more caffeine than a person should be legally allowed to consume in a single cup—and she relaxes back against Nick’s arm. Then Thane takes a sip of Greer’s nonfat, half-caff vanilla latte before setting it down at her empty spot.

  “Not bad,” he says with a shrug, but then he goes back to his hot apple cider.

  When Greer gets back from the restroom, I raise my cup.

  “A toast,” I say. “To a battle hard won.”

  “And more to come,” Gretchen adds.

  That’s a fair toast. We might have succeeded today, but there will be more challenges to come. Not as big, I hope, and not as terrifying. We all cheer and are about to take sips of our drinks when we are interrupted.

  “Isn’t this sweet,” a sickly female voice says. “Three pretty huntresses and three pretty boys.”

  I turn, appalled to find Nyx standing at our table, all dark and cloudy looking, though now she’s more of a charcoal gray than the inky black that surrounded her earlier.

  I knew we hadn’t gotten rid of her permanently, but I thought we might at least have a little break before she returned. Clearly not.

  My hands start to shake, so I shove them into my lap.

  “Oh, worry not,” she says when Gretchen starts to her feet, “my powers are weakened. I am not here to rekindle the fight.”

  “Then why are you here?” Gretchen spits.

  “To give warning,” Nyx says. “You might have won today’s clash, but this war is far from over. My forces might have suffered losses today, but we will rise again.”

  To my utter shock, Gretchen laughs. “You can try.”

  Greer sits up a little straighter. “Rise again,” she says, “and we will defeat you again.”

  My sisters are right. We have nothing to be afraid of. We beat them today, we will beat them tomorrow. It’s our destiny. Our legacy.

  Nyx glares at each of us for a moment. Then there’s a swirl of gray smoke, and she’s gone.

  “Nice exit,” Greer says with a shaky laugh.

  Gretchen lifts her cup again. “To battles, past and future.”

  “Past and future,” I say.

  Everyone echoes the toast, and we drink. I’m happy to have this battle behind us, and I’m ready for whatever battles are coming. Everything is so very different now. And different is definitely good.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  TERA LYNN CHILDS is the award-winning author of several books for teens, including the first two books in the Sweet Venom series, the mermaid romances Forgive My Fins, Fins Are Forever, and Just for Fins, as well as another mythology-inspired series, including Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp. Although Tera always dreamed of discovering a secret twin (or triplet), she is sad to report she remains an only child. Find extras—such as excerpts and cool contests—for all of Tera’s books at www.teralynnchilds.com.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.

  ALSO BY TERA LYNN CHILDS

  Sweet Venom

  Sweet Shadows

  Forgive My Fins

  Fins Are Forever

  Just for Fins

  BACK AD

  CREDITS

  Cover photography © 2013 by Gustavo Marx/MergeLeft Reps, Inc.

  Cover design by Joel Tippie

  COPYRIGHT

  Katherine Tegen Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

  Sweet Legacy

  Copyright © 2013 by Tera Lynn Childs

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  www.epicreads.com

  * * *

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Childs, Tera Lynn.

  Sweet legacy / Tera Lynn Childs. — First edition.

  pages cm

  Sequel to: Sweet shadows.

  Summary: Now united, the three descendants of Medusa must find the gate between the human and monster world to achieve their destiny.

  ISBN 978-0-06-200185-6 (hardcover bdg.)

  [1. Fate and fatalism—Fiction. 2. Medusa (Greek mythology)—Fiction. 3. Mythology, Greek—Fiction. 4. Monsters—Fiction. 5. Sisters—Fiction. 6. Triplets—Fiction. 7. San Francisco (Calif.)—Fiction.] I. Title.

  PZ7.C44185Su 2013

  2012043499

  [Fic]—dc23

  CIP

  AC

  * * *

  EPUB Edition JULY 2013 ISBN 9780062239198

  13 14 15 16 17 LP/RRDH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  FIRST EDITION

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