The prince smiles at the goose he chose and reaches out to stroke her neck. “So soft.”
She bites his hand. Hard. He yelps as blood blooms on his fingers.
The goose drops the crown at her feet and bows.
The mouse sighs with relief. “Close enough. We’ll file it under ‘unconventional but binding.’”
The banner rearranges again.
HAPPILY EVER AFTER — RESULTS MAY VARY, BUT ALL ENTANGLEMENTS ARE FINAL
The procession lurches forward, less chaotic than before. The frog in my hand turns back into a rose petal and drifts away.
Malachi leans down. “That was unbelievable. You broke the narrative.”
“No,” I whisper. “Just nudged it.”
“Is that what you’ll do with us?”
I glance back at him. “No. With you, I’d break the entire realm if I had to.”
“I’m good with that, so long as we’re together.”
Behind us, Nash clears his throat. “For the record, we’re also on Team Break the Realm.”
“Unanimous decision,” Hart adds.
“No regrets should be our new motto,” I decide. “Even the weird bed situation.”
Malachi snorts. “I have no regrets about us sharing a bed, and I hope you don’t.”
“I meant the snoring,” I say, glancing at him over my shoulder. “I regret nothing since the diurnal I met you.”
He sucks in a breath. “Daphne.”
“I mean it. Don’t just hear my words. Feel them.” I lean my head against his chest to hear his heart thumping. Strong, steady, sure. “Feel them, Malachi. No regrets. Not one.”
The look he gives me is equal parts devastation and devotion, like I’ve handed him something fragile and holy at the same time.
Given the choice again, I would save him.
Every time.
Every realm.
Every damn story.
Chapter Thirteen
Daphne
My back hurts again. I’m turning into such a pampered princess.
“How long until we get to his cave?” I ask. We’ve been trekking for too many turns. We should already be there. It didn’t take this long when we traveled from his cave back to the Hallows.
“We aren’t going to his cave,” Nash says. His gaze tightens as he notices me wriggling against Malachi, who groans in response.
I said I wouldn’t go easy on him, but it isn’t fun when it’s not premeditated. Wait. “Where are we going then?”
