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

by Stephanie Garber

But she could hardly worry about her hair when she was traipsing around in nothing but a shirt. It looked like the same one Jacks had worn the night of the costume party.

Right next to the meal clock, carved into the wood, were two names: Aurora + Jacks. Her stomach dipped down to her toes.

Hmmm

The ridges of his abdomen were marble smooth. He was perfect—except for the reddened row of bite marks trailing down his neck to his shoulder.

“I’ll cover them up. If you give me my shirt back.” Jacks’s eyes glittered as he let his gaze drift lower, past the meager buttons of the top she wore and down to her very naked legs.

He traced a line down her neck with his finger and took hold of the chain at her throat.

The absolute Rizz

“Did you make all of this?” Jacks raised a concerned brow. “You think I cook?”

Hahahahahahahaha i think about this a lot

“Don’t, please—” Her entire body tensed, and then another truth she didn’t mean to say slipped out. “I just want to understand you, Jacks.”

“Jacks!” She scrambled to chase him as he left the tavern, but he was too fast and she was still slow from her injuries.

Ugh Jacks wtf

She looked up at his unreadable eyes as he lowered her into the bed. “Do you still think of me as just a tool?” Jacks frowned. “I try not to think of you at all.”

“I can see why Jacks likes you. You’re a bit like her, you know?” “Like who?” Evangeline asked.

“He wouldn’t be happy if he knew I said this, but if you’re not careful, you’ll end up like her as well.” “Like who?” Evangeline repeated. “His first fox.”

Holy fUk

If she believed the Handsome Stranger from her dream, then Jacks was really the Archer.

Okay theory time: Jacks is the archer, he eats the apples to make sure the archer curse doesnt affect him but they also cause a curse of their own which is the prince of hearts curse

On the fourth floor, Evangeline finally uncovered a wardrobe full of dresses that made her think of butterflies in gardens and the feel of holding someone’s hand.

Honestly probably the first fox's dreesses and jacks is gonna flip tf out

Evangeline searched for a key, until she remembered that she could simply use her blood.

Damn thats useful asf

revealing a great stain of sparkling gold and red blood.

Red blood!!

“It’s fine.” Jacks grabbed her wrist, stopping her hand from exploring. “I just need a blanket … and some sleep.” He tugged her toward him as if intending her for the blanket. “Oh no—I’m not a quilt.”

I’ll be ur quilt Jacks

“After you tended to them.” His mouth twitched up at the corner. “Only because I wanted to take off your clothes.”

Hehehe

She ran her fingers through his soft hair, just once. He leaned into her hand. “That feels good,” he mumbled. “You feel good, too.” He hooked an arm around her waist and drew her onto the bed.

Gods I'm living for these sexy moments

“This makes me feel better.” He spoke against her throat and finished with a lick that made her head begin to spin.

Sighhh

“I’m just asking you to stay the night.” His lips left her neck as he murmured, “You won’t even remember.”

OHHHHH SO THATS WHY HE SAID THAT I CANT BELIEVE IT

“I mean … it’s just one night,” he said softly. “In the morning, you can forget it. You can go back to pretending you don’t like me, and I can pretend that I don’t care. But for tonight, let me pretend you’re mine.”

OUCHIE I want to cry right now :'(

“If it’s easier, you can pretend, too,” he whispered. “You can pretend that I’m still Jacks of the Hollow and that you want to be mine.” His mouth pressed against her throat once more and slowly traced a blissful line up her neck, to her ear. Then his teeth nipped her earlobe.

Jfc im feeling a lot of things

too dangerous a person to truly fall for. But she could no longer deny that it was happening. She couldn’t deny that she wanted him. Just enough to keep her from pulling away every time he touched her. Enough to keep his name near the tip of her tongue even when he wasn’t in the room.

but her pull toward him had been increasing ever since the night they’d jumped off that cliff together.

Everything between them felt as fragile as a raindrop that would cease to exist when it touched the ground. But the Hollow also felt like the sort of place where raindrops never touched the ground.

“Have you decided to stay?” “I thought you already heard what I was thinking,” she whispered. “I want you to say it out loud.”

She meant to say, For tonight, I’m yours, but all that came out was “I’m yours.”

<3333

know,” he said. “It’s hard to believe I’m so handsome and so talented.” Swish. He hit another bullseye,

Chaos PLEASE lmaaoo

But you are forgetting, she thought. Something else was there. She could feel it, right beneath the surface of her bliss. Ignore it, she thought.

I hate whats about to happen i dont even want to read it especially since the lack of relief i get from acftl follows

She could have easily traced her fingers up and down his spine or his back or the ridges of his stomach. But she let them drift toward his pants. She bit her lip as her fingers slid lower and— Jacks made a soft sound.

I know shes being sneaky but thinking of him making that sound got me hot and bothered

She wanted to go back to him—to wrap herself up in him. The pull was stronger than ever.

Ever since coming here, Jacks no longer felt like her enemy, he felt like her home.

“Hello,” he said, almost shyly, as he approached the table. He was barefoot and shirtless, and adorably tousled, with golden hair falling over sparkly eyes that looked as if they were still waking up.

Hes so fokkin cute

That he wouldn’t be looking at her as if he wanted to devour her instead of the breakfast.

Dear gods

“Tomorrow, I won’t let you leave so easily.” His eyes flashed with mischief, and he stole a bite of her toast.

Gods hes so cute

“I thought you said it was just one night.” “I thought you never believed what I said.” He shook his head reproachfully and tugged her onto his lap.

My heart literally feels like its gonna explode out of my chest

“This isn’t real, Jacks. You and I, we’re under the influence of the mirth stone.” “You think you would only feel this way about me because of a rock?” Jacks’s mouth clamped shut. For a second, he looked angry, but when she looked in his eyes, all she could see was hurt.

EVIE PLEASE STOP reread: someone plunge a dagger into my chest because it would feel better than this

“Wait—” Jacks grabbed her hand and spun her away from the clock. His face was pale, and his eyes were glassy with red.

“Whatever it is, Jacks, you won’t feel the same in a minute.” He swallowed hard and clenched his jaw. “You have no idea what I’m feeling now.”

MY INFANT SIZED BABY HEART

That was the energy pouring off him now, as if he wanted to destroy her and make her his queen all at once.

“You can turn around, Little Fox.” His tone was brisk, and at the sound of it, her spark of hope burned out. “You don’t have to worry about any more unwanted declarations from me.”

MY FUCKING FEELINGS ARE HURT

“It’s a little late to worry about that,” he said sharply. His tone was no colder than it had been a hundred times before, and yet she felt the sting of it as he turned from the door.

She wondered if Jacks truly felt nothing or if he was just trying to hide what he felt.

Bingo

Evangeline seethed. She still suspected maybe Jacks was trying to annoy her to hide any feelings he still had, and if that was the case, then he was succeeding.

A second later, she felt feather-soft fingers brushing her hair away from her cheek.

He kissed her then.

NO STOP IT NOW

“No—it’s good.” It reminded her of Jacks. But she pushed that thought away. She nipped Apollo back. He grinned again and kissed her harder as his hands worked off her golden cloak.

First of all WORST IDEA YET second of all stop it you love jacks and he loves you

“I’m fine—I just—” I just need you to hold me. She wasn’t able to say it. She wasn’t even sure she projected the thought. But then Jacks picked her up. She clung to him and buried her head in his shoulder.

I want to CRY

she wasn’t the only one upset after they’d returned from the Hollow. He kicked the door shut and brought her to the bed. “Little Fox, when I saw you, I thought—

My heart is sinking into my ass

His face had all the agony of a fallen star, broken and beautiful, with eyes so blue, the color of everything else looked dull.