“A love spell doesn’t feel like regular love,” Marisol explained. “At first, it was exciting, but that quickly wore off. Then everything went sour. I lied to you about Luc avoiding me. I was the one who tried to break things off after the second failed wedding. I was petrified of what would happen if we tried to marry again, and I’ve felt miserable ever since. When you and I were traveling here, and you were telling me all your mother’s weird stories, I decided to find another spell book with a cure for Luc in case he ever returned to Valenda. That’s why someone spied me looking for spell books. It wasn’t because I wanted to hurt you, it was because I wanted to mend things. I’ve felt so terrible, Evangeline. You turned to stone for me and then you brought me here so that I could get a fresh start, and all this time, I’ve walked around with the knowing that I don’t deserve any of your kindness. I’m so sorry. I’ve felt so guilty and so ashamed, and for so long I’ve wanted to tell you. But I’ve been terrified you’d hate me.”
“I don’t hate you,” Evangeline said. Her stepsister had made mistakes, but Evangeline was starting to believe that murder wasn’t one of them.
As far as the love spell she’d used on Luc, Evangeline couldn’t entirely fault her. If anything, she related to Marisol.
Evangeline had been living with the same guilt and fear for the secrets she’d been keeping. If only she hadn’t been so afraid to be honest, both of them could have been spared some pain.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you did hate me. I swear I didn’t kill Apollo or enchant Tiberius, and I didn’t frame you for murder. But I know I’ve done unforgivable things. I deserve to be the Cursed Bride.”
“You’re not the Cursed Bride,” Evangeline said gently.
“You don’t have to keep saying that. The spell that I used warned me there would be consequences. That’s why the Fates attacked my wedding, and that’s why a wolf attacked Luc. I know I shouldn’t be engaged to Tiberius now,” Marisol mumbled. “I keep fearing that something horrible will happen to him, too. But I also keep hoping that I’ve suffered enough.”
Marisol closed her eyes, and a tear fell as she shook. The bedpost at her back seemed to be the only thing holding her up. Evangeline imagined that if she were to tug on one of the ribbons in Marisol’s hair, her stepsister would unravel like a skein of yarn.
Evangeline might have wanted that earlier, but now she’d rather help hold her stepsister together. She reached out and gave Marisol a hug. Marisol had made mistakes, but she was not the only one. “I forgive you.”
Wide, shocked eyes met Evangeline’s. “How can you forgive me?”
“I’ve made some poor choices as well.” Evangeline squeezed her stepsister a final time before letting her go. Now it was her turn to be nervous. But Marisol deserved to know the truth. It wasn’t fair to let her carry all the guilt or believe that Evangeline was entirely innocent. Evangeline didn’t know if they would ever be true sisters, but they would never mend all their wounds if some were still infected with lies.
“You’re not the only one who was jealous,” Evangeline confessed. “I was so upset and hurt that you were marrying Luc, I prayed to the Prince of Hearts to stop your wedding.”
“You what?” Marisol’s spine stiffened, and her shoulders straightened.
“I didn’t think he’d turn you to stone—”
“What did you think would happen?” Marisol spat.
The words hit like a slap, stunning Evangeline.
“You’re just as selfish as my mother always said. You ruined my wedding so that you could become a hero and I could become the Cursed Bride.”
“That’s not what I—”
“You let me believe I was cursed!” Marisol cried, but there weren’t any tears this time. Her eyes were two pools of anger.
Evangeline thought Marisol would understand and then maybe they’d laugh about it. But clearly she’d made a great error in judgment.
“Marisol,” Evangeline said, alarm slipping into her voice. If her stepsister kept raising her tone, the soldiers outside the door would surely hear. “Please, calm down—”
“Don’t tell me to calm down,” Marisol raged. “I felt so guilty, and all along, you’d done something just as bad, even worse. You made a deal with a Fate to curse me.”
“That’s not what I—”
“Guards!” Marisol screamed. “She’s here! Evangeline Fox is in my room.”