Forever (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale 5)

“Mina, just you knowing who I really am is enough for me. I can die happy.”

“Now wait a minute. Who said anything about anyone dying here?”

“I can’t leave here,” he said simply. “I wasn’t joking when I said that I’m imprisoned here. I always have been and always will be the prince.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Last time I was dangerous enough to be split in two.” He came and took her hand. “I know how you feel about me, how I feel about you. But when I became whole again, I took those memories of Jared and locked them up, deep inside, banished them to the in-between. That is all that’s left of me. The Jared you knew is just a memory.”

“No, you’re more than just a memory to me.”

He shook his head. “No, Mina. If you can’t let go of the memory of Jared, then there’s no hope of ever saving me. The real me. I’m still poisoned and filled with hate. And I don’t understand what happened between us.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“It doesn’t matter if you believe me or not. Look at me,” he demanded. She closed her eyes and turned away.

He came forward and grabbed her shoulders. “Mina. Look at me.”

She could feel the sobs coming on, and she clenched her jaw to try and hold back the overpowering feelings. But she looked into his deep gray eyes, at his strong defined jaw. She had a feeling she wouldn’t like what was coming next.

“I told you, Royals can shift. Because we’re the strongest Fae.”

“No, stop.” She squeezed her eyes shut again.

He touched her cheek softly, and her breath caught. She refused to open her eyes. But then his grip on her changed, and his lips once again pressed on hers. This time, she couldn’t help opening her eyes.

She gasped and pulled away.

“I’ve tried to deny it, even held onto this form in memory. But you have to see the truth.” His eyes were still gray, but Jared’s appearance had changed. His hair was darker, his face a bit more angular. He was Teague.

She tried to comprehend the person in front of her. Even his voice had changed. “What about your eyes?” Mina asked. “Why are your eyes still gray then?”

“Well, because a copy of a copy is never as clear as the original. Blue eyes have always been and always will be the true Teague’s one tell.”

“Can you see me?” Jared asked “Through this?” He gestured to his face. Even though the face was different, his expression was the same.

Could she?

“Look!” He pointed to the darkness surrounding them. As she watched, hairline cracks splintered her world. “Someone is breaking the mirror. If you don’t leave, you’ll die.”

The cracks fanned out, becoming bigger. Mina held onto him. If they were going to die, she wanted to die with him—together.

He pressed his forehead to hers. “I love you, Mina,” he said breathlessly.

“I love you too.” Mina cried. Her heart was breaking at the thought of gaining him and losing him so quickly.

>She couldn’t hold her head up anymore. Mina let herself slide to the ground, and she heard the sound of chattering. Was that her teeth? It didn’t matter, because staying awake was a fight she didn’t mind losing.

Sometime during her sleep, she dreamed someone grumbled and cursed about her freezing to death. Something heavy and warm draped over her, and she wrapped herself up in the safety of it.

After all, what harm could come from sleep?

Chapter 17

Mina opened her eyes and blinked in confusion at her surroundings. Where was she?

It took a few seconds before she comprehended.