Chapter 26

At midnight, Evie is unable to sleep because she is anxious about the missing stardust vial and hungry after sleeping through dinner. Evie leaves Lyssa asleep in their room and walks into the cold corridor to find food, only to hear crashes and curses farther down the hall.

The missing vial of stardust rolls to Evie’s feet, glowing and moving as if it has a will of its own. Trystan appears from a doorway, disheveled and irritated, explaining that the vial rolled into his room, glowed blindingly, and then escaped, forcing Trystan to chase it through the manor.

Evie is relieved to have found the stardust, and Evie’s amusement at Trystan’s frustration mixes with her physical awareness of him. When Evie says she missed dinner, Trystan leaves and quickly returns with a covered plate for Evie, while the vial continues resisting containment.

Because the stardust seems determined to be used, Evie suggests using it on her mother’s letters immediately rather than waiting until morning. Trystan reveals that Becky gave the letters to Trystan earlier and that they are in Trystan’s bedchamber.

Evie awkwardly says they should go to Trystan’s bed, then tries to correct herself, making the moment more uncomfortable. Trystan’s pointed reference to Terrence McChalice prompts Evie to admit that intimacy with Rick left Evie lonely and unsatisfied, and that Evie does not want another partner unless that person can give Evie everything she wants.

Trystan reacts tensely and orders Evie to follow him. Evie, carrying the food, follows Trystan to a black door at the end of the brightly lit corridor and steps into Trystan’s bedchambers, where the next stage of the stardust plan is about to begin.