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Stars, her parents, her brothers…she wished she had left them a note or something that indicated what had happened to her.

Looking back at Grim, she noted how he was laughing at something someone had said, and she wondered…

maybe this was for the best? Even if this was a scenario created by the curse…

if Grim would truly remain like this maybe it was a good thing.

She had never seen him so carefree and young in all the time she had known him.

He might never love Thea but maybe Lore was wrong, maybe he would never figure out what had happened and would live a good life in this world.

She clung to that hope, it made the prospect of dying a bit better. Not by a lot, but it was something.

It was almost time. She turned to leave when a hand caught hers. Grim stood there, his dark eyes flashing intensely.

“I have to tell you something,” he said.

She shook her head, and tried to pull away but he held fast.

“Selene, please, It’s important—”

Whatever he had been about to say was lost, because at that moment she felt herself seized by guards, and torn away from him. Her eyes widened in alarm as she tried to reach for Grim but was blocked by more guards .

“What is the meaning of this?” he asked angrily.

“Darling, listen,” Thea said, “that girl is not who you think she is; she’s an assassin who is trying to take your life!”

“That’s absurd. Have you lost your mind, Thea?”

“Fine,” she replied sweetly, “then I suppose you won’t mind if we search her.”

Thank the stars she had left the accursed dagger in the bedroom.

The sea of guards parted and Thea marched through. She saw Grim being held back by his guards, some of whom were wearing uncomfortable expressions.

Thea reached where she was standing and thrust out an arm covered in a voluminous sleeve, as she searched Serena. Before she realized what was happening, Thea stepped closer and whispered in her ear, “I will never let you have him, witch.”

Serena felt a dagger slip out from the sleeve of Thea’s dress, from the arm that was currently searching her. Thea drew back and gave her a catlike smile before her expression changed to one of consternation.

“I found it! This is the weapon she was planning to kill you with. Why would a girl like her have such a thing?”

“Have you gone insane?” said Grim incredulously. “She has a dagger so she must be planning on killing me?”

Serena let out a sharp cry, her body was burning up.

With a panicked look at the sky, she realized the sun was setting.

The guard holding her let out a yelp and let her go.

Looking down, she realized she was disappearing.

No, she was turning into water . Scrambling away from the shrieks around her, she stumbled toward the ocean, the pain in her legs receding, and her breath coming in short pants. She was so close.

A shout sounded from behind her, but she kept running, every footstep of hers leaving a trail of water in her wake. Reaching the shore, she waded into the waves, as her hair began to mist around the edges.

“Selene!” came a hoarse cry, “Selene come back, please.”

He was here, oh stars, he had followed her and he was here.

She slowly turned around as her body continued to dissolve slowly.

“What is happening to you?” he choked out. His hands gripped the dagger that Thea had planted on her.

A whimper escaped her. Her voice! It was coming back.

“It is my curse,” she rasped out, watching his eyes widen as he realized she was speaking. “I had to win your love before sunset, but I failed.”

“You’re wrong!” he roared, and jumped forward reaching out for her, only for his hands to pass through her body.

“Listen to me, I wanted to tell you that I don’t care about the girl in my dreams, whether it’s Thea or anyone else.

Because I realized that without knowing it myself, I had fallen in love with you, Selene.

You with your pale hair and wide green eyes that make a man go mad.

I love your kindness, how you’d make a tonic for an old groom you had met only once— Yes I know of that.

I love the part of you that will race with me on a horse, and dance in the square.

The way you shine when you are happy, and pout when you’re not.

That’s why I wanted you to come to the ball, I wanted to declare my love for you in front of the world. I love you, and I’ll be damned if I let some curse take you away from me!”

She looked up at him in wonder, and then realized that her body was becoming corporal again. Stumbling forward, she ran into Grim’s arms, and he embraced her tightly, fingers intertwining in her hair. Then he gave a cry and gripped his head, alarming her.

A second later, he looked up at her, love shining in his eyes .

“Serena,” he whispered.

“ Grim!” she choked out, and they embraced again, fiercely. Their lips met, and she savored the taste of him. He tasted like salt and sand, and everything Grim. They broke apart a moment later and he pressed his forehead against hers.

“I told you, did I not?” he murmured, “If I had a hundred lives, I’d find you in each one, just to dedicate it to you.

I love you now, I have loved you before, and I will love you every day after.

I loved you without knowing your name, or hearing a single word cross your lips.

I loved you just because you’re you, Serena Rose.

I am sorry I did not say the words sooner. ”

He loved her.

He loved her.

“No! This isn’t supposed to end this way.”

They turned to see Lore standing there, his eyes glowing green.

“What is wrong with you both,” he snarled. “Why won’t you just let me take you out like the vermin you are!”

A glint of steel caught her eye, and Serena looked at the dagger Grim had dropped, the dagger Lore had been carrying around. Ignoring the immortal’s raging, she slowly bent down to pick it up. The red stone in the middle was engraved.

A stag’s antlers surrounding a butterfly.

She had seen that before…but where?

A small ornate handheld mirror, silver in color. Parts of it were rusted with age, and the handle was engraved with vines and flowers that snaked upwards to frame the surface. At the center was a symbol that showed a stag’s antlers surrounding a butterfly.

And then all the pieces fell into place, and she looked up and stared at Lore, her voice coming out in a whisper.

“You’re—you’re Oberon, King of the Fairies.”