Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart, #1)

by Stephanie Garber

“I think he wants to find you!” LaLa threaded her arm through Evangeline’s, tugging her close as she squealed, “You must be his Fox.”

“No one can remember how that story ends, but it doesn’t matter. He’s not trying to re-create the tale. He’s making a romantic gesture!”

“There was never any magic in your kisses,” Jacks interrupted. “When Apollo fell in love with you, it wasn’t because you kissed him, it was because I willed it.”

“Your tears aren’t normal. I think you’ve been poisoned.”

“But if this were purely your feelings, I should be able to take them away.”

“Do not start giving up,” Jacks growled. “Giving in to the poison makes it work faster.”

She’ll need close physical contact for at least a full day for the cure to take.”

He held on to her as if she were a grudge, his body rigid and tense, as if he really didn’t want her there, and yet his arms were tight around her waist as though he had no intention of ever letting her go.

always pictured in a veil of tears. She represented rejection, loss, and unhappily ever afters. It seemed that, unlike Jacks, LaLa could easily find someone to love her whenever she wanted, but the love was doomed to never last. Every girl feared becoming the Unwed Bride, and Evangeline had pitied the idea of her, but the reality of LaLa almost made Evangeline envious.

“I thought Chaos was another Fate?” Evangeline hazarded. “Chaos isn’t like the rest of us.” LaLa set her teacup down with so much force the porcelain cracked and tea spilled through. Jacks slid her a taunting look. “Still not over things, after all this time?” “I’ll never be over what he did.” “What did he do?” Evangeline asked. “Chaos is a murderer,” LaLa spat. “He’s also extremely useful,” Jacks said, kicking his boots up onto the low table. “Chaos is as old as the North, and unlike the rest of us, he was never trapped in a deck of cards. He’s been here all this time, collecting favors and people and information. If anyone knows who wanted you and Apollo dead, it will be Chaos. He’s the Lord of Spies and Assassins.” “He’s also a vampire,” LaLa supplied dryly.

“I did it because you and I are friends.”

He abruptly stopped when he reached all the skin that went from her chest to her neck. A muscle jumped in his jaw. The color deepened in his eyes. For a fraction of a second, he looked murderous.

“Why are you looking at that book as if it’s dangerous?” “Because it is,” Jacks said. “It’s a very nasty spell book,” LaLa explained.