. . .
But all Sophie could feel were the arms of a boy whoâd stayed loyal to her from the beginning, a Forever that finally sounded like the truth.
She spun and kissed Rafal, his mouth cold against hers, holding it long and slow, waiting for something in her heart to stop her. Nothing did. As their lips parted, she saw the Storian conjure a new page, capturing their kiss in brilliant colors, before adding a closing line:
âBut friendship wasnât enough for Sophie anymore. She needed love.â
Sophie looked up at Rafal, her forehead beaded with sweat. He put his hand to it.
âLook at that. Feverâs broken.â
Together, they watched the sun slide out from behind a cloud, Sophie expecting its return to brilliant life . . . only to see the sun still yolky and anemic against a cold blue morning, even weaker than before. Only it wasnât just weaker, it was leaking small gobs of yellow light into the sky, drip , drip , drip , like an icicle in summer. Sophie stepped closer to the window ledge, eyes wide. There was no question about it.
The sun was melting.
She whirled to the School Master. âBut you said if the Storian wroteââ
âA new story. And ours still needs an end,â said Rafal soberly. âOur storybook canât close now that your friends have come back. Not as long as they have a new ending in mind. An ending where Good wins and Evil dies . . .â
He paused, locking into her emerald eyes.
âTheyâre coming to kill me, Sophie.â
Sophie held his stare, stunned, and looked down at Agatha and Tedros, on their way through the Woods to rescue her. In their version of the story, they would save her from an Evil School Master. But to Sophie, her Good friends were about to slay the only boy whoâd ever loved her, so she could be a sidekick to someone elseâs Ever After.
Sidekick. Thatâs the ending they thought she deserved.
Sophie burned, glaring at her gold ring. She was a queen .
âI wonât let them hurt you,â she seethed.
âYouâd do that for me?â The School Masterâs boyish face contorted with emotion. âYouâd fight your own friends?â
Sophie tensed. âF-f-fight Agatha and Tedâ? But I thoughtââ
âThat theyâll leave us in peace and go on their way if you tell them to?â Rafal asked sweetly.
âBut I canât fight her . Surely thereâs another wayââ Sophie pressed.
His eyes hardened. â War is the only way.â
Sophie bristled at the change in his tone. But she knew he was right. After the young School Master nearly killed Tedroswith Tedrosâ own sword, the prince was coming for his blood, and Agatha would be behind him. War was on the horizon and Sophie had to take a side.
Sophie thought of all the times Agatha had allied with Tedros against her: during the Circus of Talents and Evil Ball, then in her secret plan to kiss Tedros and banish her home during the Boy-Girl War. Sophieâs blood simmered to a boil. Agatha had even believed she was turning into a witch in the Blue Forest, believing Tedros over her, when it was Dean Saderâs magic all along. âIâm not this!â sheâd cried, begging her friend to see the truth. But Agatha had stayed firmly by her princeâs side.
Sophie too had a side to takeâeven if it meant fighting her best friend. Just like Agatha would protect her prince, she would protect her one true love.
âThis is it, isnât it?â she whispered, watching the melting sun. âEither they die . . . or we do. Good versus Evil. Thatâs the way all fairy tales end.â
She saw Rafalâs chest rise on a breath, as if at last they were on the same page. âYour friends think they can stop our book from closing, my love,â he said, sweet once again. âThey think they can stop the future. But theyâre too late.â
He
Kate Corcino, Linsey Hall, Katie Salidas, Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley, Rainy Kaye, Debbie Herbert, Aimee Easterling, Kyoko M., Caethes Faron, Susan Stec, Noree Cosper, Samantha LaFantasie, J.E. Taylor, L.G. Castillo, Lisa Swallow, Rachel McClellan, A.J. Colby, Catherine Stine, Angel Lawson, Lucy Leroux