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

by Stephanie Garber

“You want me to bring her back?” “No,” Evangeline replied. But it was too quick. A smile tugged at the corner of Jacks’s mouth. “Jealous, Little Fox?”

I MISSED MY BLEEDING HEART BOY GODDAMMIT AND HES BEING PLAYFUL TODAY WHAT A TREAT

“Now, did you want something? Or just my attention?” He flashed one of his dimples as his mouth formed a mocking smirk.

Absolutely gagged rn hahahaha

“You’re asking the wrong girl, Jacks. Unlike her, I know you’re not a god.” “Yet you’re the one who prayed at my church.”

OOPS

She felt her cheeks go splotchy, which of course only made him laugh harder. “Clearly, I was mistaken,” she said.

JACKS PLS UR FKING THIS UP IN THE FIRST MIN

“Wait.” Jacks jumped up from his seat and grabbed her arm. “What’s this?”

He shoved up the edge of her sleeve to reveal one arm of Apollo’s crudely carved words. I DON’T WANT TO KILL YOU. Jacks’s nostrils flared. “Looks as if your husband has gotten worse at his love letters.”

((((((:

suddenly she could see details she hadn’t noticed before. The shirt under his doublet was incredibly wrinkled, and there were tired circles under his eyes that made her wonder what he’d been off doing over the last ten days.

Thats just his normal look

“Where were you?” she asked. “I was killing innocent maidens and kicking puppies.” “Jacks, that’s not funny.” “Neither is what’s carved into your arm.” He glared at the words. “When did this happen?”

CHILLS ALL OVER

imperiously.

“Chaos can’t know we’re going to House Slaughterwood.” “Why?” “Because if he knows, he won’t let us go.”

Daddy Chaos

One young man looked friendly, one looked highborn, and one looked exactly like Jacks. The hairs on her arms rose up. Jacks’s clothes were different, an older style

Mwhahahahahhaha

described the members of the Merrywood Three as scoundrels. They were Prince Castor Valor, Lyric Merrywood—son of Lord Merrywood—and a nameless archer who she suspected could have been the same Archer from The Ballad of the Archer and the Fox.

Chilll wtf also idk if im right but honestly i felt like Jacks was human in the past, possibly all the fates… i def felt like him and LaLa were

This young man was almost painfully handsome. The type of handsome that made her wonder if he was entirely human.

Its weird to me that she doesnt recognize him because he isnt wearing a helm?!?

Jacks looked human, not immortal. Evangeline had never considered the idea that Jacks had been human before, but if he was part of the Merrywood Three, then clearly he’d been human once. And being human looked good on him—or maybe it was just that he looked so happy.

!!!!!!!

He never looked this happy now, and she couldn’t help but wonder what had changed. “Little Fox!” Jacks knocked as he called her name through the door.

Jfc id literally have to change my diaper if this was me

It was as if a sculptor had taken a dagger to who he had once been and carved out all the softness. “You’re staring at me.” Jacks’s mouth curved up as he spoke.

The Merrywood Three died a long time ago, and I was never one of them.” “I know what I saw.” “I’m sure you do. But that doesn’t mean you can trust it. These stories, the pictures, they lie.” “So do you,” Evangeline countered.

Jacks is like: you got me there

But if he was telling the truth, why had his knuckles suddenly gone as white as the apple in his hand?

Also why tf doesnt he want her to know

Jacks had the travel carriage of a villain. The exterior was smooth matte black, perfect for blending into dark alleys and shadows, yet it had just enough gold trim around the wheels and the windows to be unexpectedly tempting.

which part of the country they were now in, but he was asleep. His golden head rested against the window, only moving when the coach went over a bump in the road.

Is he pretending to sleep so he doesnt have to talk about the accusations because im freshly deceased if so

Across from her, Jacks stirred. Evangeline slowly lifted her eyes from the page in time to see his shoulders shudder—as if he was having a bad dream.

Interesting!!?

Jacks rolled his neck and made a sound somewhere between a sigh and a groan. He was waking up.

I love him he’s so comfy with Evie

“Don’t fret, Little Fox, it’s just this place,” Jacks said, but his voice lacked its usual swagger.

“No. This is where they all died.” He turned away from the window. He didn’t meet her gaze, but she could see the light in his eyes was gone. His gaze was now as gray as the world outside

I mean technically human Jacks would be considered dead so he technically not lying

Evangeline swiped the tears from her eyes and did her best to narrow them at Jacks. He responded with a sliver of a laugh. “As much as I enjoy the theatrics, if you don’t believe me, all you have to do is ask what happened.”

Lmaooo theyre so cute :')

“Lyric Merrywood, son of Lord Merrywood, had the misfortune of falling in love with Aurora Valor.”

Honestly this is all her fault

Vengeance’s father, Bane, had been Wolfric Valor’s greatest friend and ally.

These house members sound like a organized crime family or something lmao like you know theyre bashing your head in if you dont pay up

The thought made something inside of her ache for him. Before she could think better of it, Evangeline leaned across the carriage and put her hand atop his.

Jacks sighed as if disappointed. “Don’t feel sorry for me, Little Fox. I told you, this place makes everyone sad.” He pulled his hand away with a scowl. But it couldn’t quite hide the sorrow that was still deep in his eyes.

Jacks accept her comfort i stg

Evangeline watched Jacks’s handsome face closely for any sign that he was lying—a flicker of something that would tell her he was really Castor

Me asf

“He was no one,” Jacks said coldly, “except maybe to the Fox. But I’ve already told you how that story ended.” He gave her a smile that was all teeth, as if warning her away.

Ok Jack is def the archer then right?

“I went to see Tiberius,” she confessed. “You what?” he snarled.

Hehehehe Daddy is mad

“Oh no—you don’t get to be upset. You were gone. You wrote me a note that was practically two words and left me alone in a castle full of vampires.”

Lmaoooo

“You told him that?” Jacks’s nostrils flared. “If Tiberius shares this with anyone from the Protectorate, they’ll find and kill Apollo in order to kill you.”

Truly shouldve not left that beautiful rose gold dummy alone for several days

“And you should have told me this right away.” “Why, so you could kill him?” “Yes.” “No, Jacks. You can’t go around murdering people because they’re a problem.”

Hahahahahahahhaha

“Do you believe the owners will just hand them over because you give them a pretty smile? If the stones are here, people are going to die at this party.”

Evie: "woah woah wait back up, did you just call me pretty?! <3 :))))) <3"

I’m not going to kill anyone to get the stones. And neither are you.” “Then why are we even here?” Jacks sneered.

This argument is eating hahahahahh

Jacks dropped a heavy arm around her shoulders, sending a shock straight through her as he pulled her suddenly close. “Want me to kill any of them for you?” “No, they’re just gossiping.”

The way he would for her too :')

“Then what if I merely give them the urge to cut out their own tongues?” he asked, flashing one of his dimples. Evangeline stifled a giggle, though she knew she shouldn’t be amused.

She had no doubt he was serious about the tongues. “Don’t you dare—” “You sure? They deserve it.”...

LaLa’s pretty smile hardened. “You do not get to judge my choices, Jacks. Evangeline told me what you did. I know how you framed her for murder and poisoned Apollo.”

Love her standing up to Jacks for Evie :)

Jacks groaned. “First, I can’t kill anyone or cut out any tongues—”

JACKS PLEASE

“Put that down, Jacks. Your room is in a different wing.” “No.” He plopped into the leather chair and kicked his buckled boots up onto the desk. “I’m staying next door to Evangeline.”

What if we just shared one bed instead (:

didn’t want to spoil your engagement.” Evangeline gave Jacks a pointed look. He shrugged and tossed the little dragon as if it were an apple. “It’s not as if she’s really going to marry him.” “Jacks—” Evangeline hissed.

Im actually dead rn Evie apologizing for Jacks unruly behavior like LaLa hasnt known him forever lmaoo

“I’m so sorry,” Evangeline said to LaLa. “Jacks must have left his manners in the carriage. You don’t need to put him next door to me. You could place him in the barn—or the dungeon if there is one.”

I’m sorry did he have manners in the carriage i don't recall hahahahaha

She wore her smile again, but it was starting to look rumpled, like a piece of clothing that had been taken off and put back on too many times.

This is incredible figurative imagery & this is the poet shit im talking about bruh!!!! it hits different. These are my standards for a great book, its the perfect amount too *chefs kiss*

“Jacks also told me that House Slaughterwood is the reason we are all in this mess.”

Bitch tf you lying for?! Chaos said that shit

and she didn’t want him walking in on her as she dressed.

But why? I think its a great idea, itd be fun to make jacks stumble and be flustered

The words came from the room next door, low and hushed. Evangeline shouldn’t have been able to hear them, and she definitely shouldn’t have tiptoed closer to listen better—but it sounded like Jacks and LaLa, and they were obviously talking about her and Apollo.

Did LaLa do something so Evie could hear the convo somehow?

“I’m sorry. Nothing has changed since you came here last week. There’s still nothing I can do.” “You can try.” “You know there’s no cure.”