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Started reading
August 24, 2025
During her search for the missing door, she’d read that the Prince of Hearts’ church held a different aroma for everyone who visited. It was supposed to smell like a person’s greatest heartbreak. But as Evangeline entered the cool cathedral, the air did not remind her of Luc—there were no hints of suede or vetiver. The dim mouth of the church was slightly sweet and metallic: apples and blood.
According to the myths, the Prince of Hearts was not capable of love because his heart had stopped beating long ago. Only one person could make it work again: his one true love. They said his kiss was fatal to all but her—his only weakness—and as he’d sought her, he’d left a trail of corpses.
In one elegant move, the young man reached into the inner pocket of his ripped burgundy coat, pulled out a pure white apple, and took one bite.
“And you’re praying to an immortal who kills every girl he kisses. You really think he deserves any reverence?”
He gave her a real smile, revealing a pair of dimples that briefly made him look more angel than devil. But she imagined even angels would need to beware of him. She could picture him flashing those deceptive dimples as he tricked an angel into losing its wings just so he could play with the feathers.
“It’s you,” she whispered. “You’re the Prince of Hearts.”
But this was not the lovesick Prince of Hearts she’d imagined. Jacks didn’t look like heartbreak come to life.
“I don’t know if I can fix your broken heart, but you can take mine because it’s already yours.”
The Fates weren’t dangerous because they were evil; the Fates were dangerous because they couldn’t tell the difference between evil and good.
But as hopeful as Evangeline was, she knew the Prince of Hearts wasn’t a savior. He was the one people needed saving from.
But if you desire a chance at happiness, fight the pull—Jacks will only lead to your destruction.”
Evangeline didn’t know how long she stood there. But eventually, she recalled Jacks’s words, and she wondered if he’d been right when he’d said, If he loved you back, he wouldn’t be marrying someone else. End of story.
“I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endings.”
Stepping into the North didn’t just feel like the start of something, it felt like the start of everything.
For now, Evangeline would just have to hope that things really would be different here—and that the North had enough magic to create happier endings for both of them.
She’d come here to forget about Luc, to find a new happy ending, and she planned to do just that, hopefully with a very different prince from the one standing before her.
But it seems I was right when I called her a risky bet.
“You will know her because she will be crowned in rose gold. She will be both peasant and princess.”
So you can either marry him and save him from a life of misery, or you can try to prevent a dusty prophecy that you don’t even understand.”
Was Jacks hoping to find the Valors’ greatest treasure, or free their greatest terror?
And it was. It was very nice. Possibly the last nice thing between them.
But the day must have been cursed, or the story curse was affecting it, for she couldn’t seem to hold on to any of the memories of her wedding, even as they happened.
I tie not only their wrists but also their hearts. May they beat as one from this moment on. If one is pierced with an arrow, may the other bleed for them.”
Heroes don’t get happy endings.”
“Not actually a soldier, princess.” His voice was softer when he spoke to her, pure velvet without the smoke. “I’m Chaos. Welcome to my home.”
Jacks was not her friend, but he’d taught her that she could open any door she wanted, and Evangeline knew exactly which door she needed to open next.
In another part of Wolf Hall, a door that had not been opened for centuries began to stir. Its hinges creaked. Its wood groaned. And the wolf’s head emblem carved upon its center curved its mouth into a smile.
