Jacks slowly dragged his eyes up to Evangeline. They were pale blue, like the ice of his throne, and surrounded by a crown of dark blue hair that curled around his face from the cold. He wore a half-undone doublet of smoky blue gray, raven-black pants, and a low-slung belt that rested just above his hips, giving him the appearance of a tousled winter king. An angry one, from the way he glared at Evangeline. “I would have thought you’d have learned your lesson about making deals with our kind.”
“I have, which is why next time I need something, if I make a deal, it won’t be with you.”
“This isn’t something to joke about,” Jacks growled.
“I didn’t think you cared.”
“I don’t. But you still owe me one more kiss, and until I collect it, you’re mine, and I do not like to share.”
“If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you sounded jealous.”
“Of course I’m jealous. I’m a Fate.”
“If you’re so envious, then why haven’t you undone the spell that’s on Apollo?”
“I couldn’t care less about what happens between humans.”
“Then undo it, because Apollo and I are married,” she said firmly. “I kept up my half of our bargain. It’s time for you to keep your promise to me.”
“Very well,” Jacks drawled, shocking her with his easy acquiescence. “I still think this is a shortsighted choice, but if you really want Apollo to no longer feel for you, I’ll give you the means to do it.” Jacks pulled out his jeweled dagger and pricked the tip of his finger, drawing a drop of familiar gold-flecked blood.
The fox sniffed the drop once and reared back with a whimper.
“See?” Jacks said blandly. “Even the creature knows this is a bad idea.”
“No, it knows you’re bad. There’s a considerable difference.” Although Jacks’s blood made Evangeline uncomfortable as well. “What’s the catch?”
“Is it that difficult to believe that I’m willing to keep my word?”
Fates were actually known for keeping their word when it came to bargains. It was why, despite all the warnings, people were willing to make deals with them. But something kept her from moving forward.
“Having second thoughts? I’ll be the last being to judge you if you want to keep him under your thrall.”
“It’s not my thrall, it’s yours.” Evangeline took a step toward the throne.
Jacks’s brows jumped up, betraying his surprise.
It should have made her feel triumphant. But instead it made her think of the last time she’d shocked him. When she’d drunk from Poison’s cup and turned herself to stone.
She swallowed thickly.
Jacks leaned forward with indolent grace and lightly pressed his bleeding finger to her lips.
Gooseflesh pebbled across her skin. His touch wasn’t colder than the castle, but it was always unnerving to be caressed by Jacks.
“Once you kiss him, any false feelings that Apollo has for you will disappear.” Jacks dragged his icy finger more firmly across her mouth, rough and a little punishing. Today, his blood tasted bitter instead of sweet. The taste of a mistake. “You must kiss him before sunrise for the magic to work. But I warn you, if you do this, your prince won’t think that you’ve done him a favor. Heroes don’t get happy endings.”
35
Evangeline had not thought this through quite enough. If she had, she would have asked Apollo exactly where the wedding suite was. Upon learning that it was at the top of one of Wolf Hall’s spiraling towers, she then might have suggested they meet somewhere else—somewhere closer to the ground, preferably with multiple exits.
She didn’t actually believe that Apollo would throw her from the tower window once she’d rid him of Jacks’s magic. But Evangeline still didn’t know who Apollo would be after she broke this spell. Would he be the sweet prince who had told her fairytales, or would he become the angry prince who’d nearly attacked his brother tonight?
Would this be the true beginning of their love story or the end of it?
Evangeline was committed to the idea of loving Apollo and making this marriage work after the spell was broken. But all she could hear were Jacks’s words. Your prince won’t think that you’ve done him a favor.
There were six soldiers guarding the wedding suite she was about to enter.
It was suddenly very tempting to turn around, to leave things as they were.
Or she could go in and avoid kissing Apollo. She had until sunrise to break the spell. What if she went in but didn’t kiss him right away? They could stay up talking. How long was it until dawn?