Chapter 23

At first light, Trystan pounds on Tatianna’s door, insisting on help. Tatianna, half-asleep and annoyed, demands to know if anyone is bleeding or dead. When Trystan denies it, she tries to dismiss him until he blurts that he and Evie kissed, which finally gets her attention.

Inside, Trystan redirects to his true worry: Kingsley, still a frog, has been oddly absent-minded—misspelling signs, disappearing, and being found dangling from a chandelier. Tatianna asserts the curse is the fault of Trystan’s mother and reminds him he spent years seeking a cure, urging him to stop claiming blame he doesn’t own.

Despite Tatianna’s skepticism, Trystan asks for an examination. She agrees, activates her healing glow, and begins scanning Kingsley. The morning air drifts in from a cracked window as they banter about Evie and Trystan’s feelings, revealing Trystan fears running into Evie again after the kiss.

As Tatianna’s magic sweeps over Kingsley, the frog locks onto the glow and suddenly leaps—straight out the open window. Trystan and Tatianna lunge too late. Below, Evie calls up, and Kingsley collides with her, knocking her down but landing in her hands. The near-escape confirms to Trystan that something truly is wrong with Kingsley.