Chapter 19

Evangeline wanders a sweet-scented, shifting forest that refuses to lead her back to Chaos’s castle. Discouraged by Tiberius’s refusal to help and the looming night, she sees new words carved into her arm—“I DON’T WANT TO KILL YOU”—a haunting message from Apollo through their shared link.

Rustling behind her reveals Luc, who approaches with charm and lingering fangs. He apologizes for trying to bite her before, tests his allure, and asks if she is over their past. Evangeline resists, reflecting that love is no longer a fixed “house” to live in but an ongoing choice and battle she no longer makes for Luc.

Luc invites her to a costume celebration and presents a gleaming invitation to LaLa’s engagement party titled “Mirth, Merriment, and Marriage,” promising attendance by all the Great Houses. Evangeline’s attention locks on the word “Mirth,” recalling the Valory stones and Tiberius’s claim that the stones call to one another.

Connecting the Great Houses’ likely custodianship of the missing stones with their convergence at the party, Evangeline forms a plan: the mirth stone might surface there. Buoyed by this possibility, she decides she must attend.

Though tempted to accept Luc’s escort, partly to irk Jacks, Evangeline declines, kisses Luc’s cheek in thanks, and hurries off, hoping the forest will at last release her so she can pursue the new lead.