A Curse for True Love

Evangeline rushes to the Phoenix Tree, and Jacks arrives soon after, carrying a jar with a glowing golden force Evangeline recognizes as his heart. He orders her to leave, but she refuses because she loves him. Jacks tells her about how she died and he turned back time to save her. He won’t let her die again, especially at his hand. Evangeline knows Jacks is wrong and to prove it, she kisses him. Jacks drops the jar with his heart, shattering it and returning his heart to him. He kisses her back until she feels like she’s died in his arms. When the kiss ends, Evangeline returns to herself. Rather than dying, she just forgot to breathe while kissing him.

Chapter 42 is untitled and reads like the beginning of a fairy tale about the perfect kiss.

When the kiss finally ends, Evangeline feels weightless with her love for Jacks and knows he loves her back. She believes she’s finally found her happily ever after, but Apollo arrives. He plucks a leaf off the tree, making it burst into flames. Jacks pushes Evangeline away, telling her to run.