The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart Book 2)

Evangeline was beginning to fear that time was fueled by emotions and that things like dread made it move faster. There was a curvy black glass clock atop the fireplace mantel in Jacks’s room. Her palms started to sweat as she watched the spinning of the second hand, twirling faster and faster each minute.

Soon it would be nightfall. Soon she would forget him. She would forget this version of her life.

The door creaked open. Evangeline looked away from the clock to find Chaos standing in the doorway.

He was dressed more like a warrior than a prince, in red velvet and leather and gilded weapons. There was only one other time she’d seen him in something aside from leather armor, yet she couldn’t shake the sense she’d seen him dressed like this before. “Ready, Princess?”

“No,” Evangeline blurted. She would never be ready to have her life erased and replaced. “Don’t we need to wait for Jacks?”

She stole what she hoped was a covert glance down the hall in search of the errant Prince of Hearts.

“He won’t be joining us,” Chaos said. “I’m going to bring him the stones after you’ve opened the arch.”

“Actually, I changed my mind.” Jacks swaggered down the hall, a stunning young woman at his side. She had painted red lips, shimmering black hair, and a slip of a dress that didn’t even look like enough to be a nightgown.

Evangeline felt a surge of jealousy and confusion.

“What is she doing here?” Chaos gave a tight nod to the girl in the slip.

Jacks shrugged. “I thought you might need a snack when you get your helm off.”

Chaos made a sound like grinding teeth. “I’ll be fine.”

“I’m sure you will. But—”

“No,” Chaos said sharply.

“What if we just leave her in the carriage?” Jacks waved a thoughtless arm at the girl. She didn’t even move. Doll-like, the girl stared straight ahead, clearly under Jacks’s control.

“I agree with Chaos,” Evangeline said. “I won’t let you drag this poor girl around.”

“I’m hardly dragging her around.” Jacks flashed a dimple at the girl. “Isn’t that right, pet?”

“I’m happy to be here,” the girl said cheerfully. “I’ve always wanted to meet a vampire. I wore this dress so there would be lots of places—”

“Get rid of her,” Chaos interrupted. “Evangeline doesn’t want the girl to come with us.”

Jacks glared at Evangeline, but something about it was off. The firm set of his mouth was angry, but his eyes were filled with something else—pain. You’re picking the wrong thing to be stubborn about, he thought to her.

Why do you even care how I feel? she thought back tartly. It’s not as if I’ll remember any of this anyway.

Jacks worked his jaw.

She hoped that he would argue with her—she hoped that he would fight for her. She hoped despite everything that he would choose her. But after dismissing the girl, Jacks and Chaos and Evangeline walked in silence to the carriage.

The ride to Wolf Hall was excruciating. Evangeline’s heart felt especially fragile in her chest as they drew closer to the castle. These were her last moments with Jacks, and although he sat across from her, he wouldn’t even look at her.

He stared out the frosted window as if he wished the night were already over and the past were already changed.

Evangeline wished he’d have second thoughts about his plans, but he looked more unyielding than ever. She wished she knew what to say to make him change his mind, but she didn’t want to convince him to do anything. She wanted him to make the choice. And she feared she was running out of time.

Instead of time moving like sand slowly pouring through an hourglass, she felt as if the hourglass had cracked open and all the sand was quickly spilling out. She didn’t know if it was her fear or if it was something else, but she kept losing moments.

She didn’t recall arriving at Wolf Hall, but suddenly, they were there. Then, it was as if she’d blinked and they were back at the library door with the wolf head on it, ready to enter the room with the Valory Arch.