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He laughed, holding her. “I did. Very good job!”

She leaned forward and rested her head on his shoulder for another minute before climbing down. She grabbed his cheeks and planted a quick kiss on his lips. “Thank you!”

His eyes were wide with surprise.

“Are you going to learn how to fight as well?” I asked, bringing the group back to focus.

“Yes.” Enzo jumped in. “I plan on working with her in the field near the house tomorrow.

“If you need any help, let me know.” I offered as we started walking back towards the house. “Oh, by the way. Gage is back, and he isn’t in a very good mood.”

Snow snapped her head in my direction. “Is he ok?”

“Physically, he seems fine. Just super pissy.”

“Oh.” the boys said in unison.

Calix added. “Yea, he gets like this when he does his little overnight jaunts to wherever he goes.”

“He’ll be fine in a couple of days.” Jace added.

We got back to the house just as Dresden was setting the table. “No rabbits?” He asked when I entered.

“No. But I found these instead.” I said at the same time the others were walking in.

“Perfect timing.” Dresden threw his arms in the air. “Dinner!” He shouted to the rest of the house and then looked at me. “Garrison, you’re fired from rabbit duty.”

“I will get some tomorrow.” Snow offered.

Chapter thirty-six

Gage - History of the Dark One

“Fuck!”Islammedthedoor to my room when I got in and fell to my bed.

No, I needed a shower. I could smell her on me.

It had been a while since I lost my grip and found myself at her front door. I knew it was bound to happen once I realized who Snow was and once she found out where Snow was.

Of all the places Snow could have ended up, it had to be our fucking house.

I let my anger at the dark Queen consume me and in that moment of weakness, I let it take over.

The rage.

And that’s when her little spell worked its way in. It was what I was scared of when it happened. It made me a different person- a servant to her.

I could feel my body going through the motions, see what was happening, but couldn’t stop it.

That version of me was dark- he wanted to cause pain. He liked it.

That version of me was born out of the pain I endured when I was younger- the pain I don’t speak about.

She knows the pain, though. She saw it.

She found me bruised and battered on the forest floor.

I remember looking up at her and thought she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. That was before I knew the truth about the darkness that lived within her, festering and feeding off her.