Part III. A Murder of Monsters — Chapter 45

Evangeline and Chaos return to the arch room guarded by stone angels. With the first three stones in Chaos’s trunk and the mirth stone in her hand, Evangeline is tempted to use them to rewind time and undo tragedies, but she chooses not to. She places the four stones into the arch and seals the magic with a drop of her blood, awakening the structure and revealing a heavy door.

Chaos thanks Evangeline, snips a lock of her hair to break lingering curses on her and Apollo, and slips inside, telling her to wait. Curious, Evangeline follows through the cracked door into a torchlit, temple-like vault. She tracks Chaos to a bright chamber where people in ancient garb lie hand-in-hand, including Aurora Valor, Queen Honora, and King Wolfric—the Valors themselves, imprisoned within the Valory.

Honora stirs and recognizes Chaos as “Castor,” her son. The revelation reframes Chaos as Castor Valor, cursed into monstrosity and desperate to free and reunite with his family. As Honora acts, the cursed helm on Castor shatters; he tears it off, revealing the handsome stranger from Evangeline’s dreams. Evangeline resolves to confess her love to Jacks, believing love can still save him.

Castor introduces Evangeline to Honora, thanking Evangeline for opening the arch. Mesmerized by his unveiled charm and eyes, Evangeline looks too long; Castor’s allure turns predatory as fangs emerge. In a sudden, violent turn, he seizes her and bites her neck, leaving her at his mercy as the chapter ends.