Until the Last Page by Chantal Gadoury

Author:Chantal Gadoury
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inimitable Books
Published: 2024-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

I jolted upright in bed, peering around the sunlit room. Unlike Alice and Dorothy, who found themselves awakening from their adventures surrounded by loved ones, I remained trapped in between the pages of a fairytale book. And I was still stuck with a frog who believed himself to be a prince. A prince who needed help in breaking his spell.

I peer over my shoulder.

Aneurin sat quietly, awake and watching me from the pillow.

“Good morning,” I murmured groggily, breaking the silence. “How’d you sleep?”

“You talk in your sleep, you know,” he replied, resting his chin on a webbed hand.

My cheeks warmed with embarrassment. “What do you mean? N-no I don’t…” I said, a little horrified.

“You do,” he insisted.

“What did I say?” I asked, raising a brow.

He smiled. “Lots of odd, random words. It would be quite amusing if one was not trying to sleep.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, biting my lip.

Nico had brought it up a few times, but it was usually only on nights when I was utterly drained. After everything we had been through, it was safe to say that exhaustion had taken its toll and qualified last night for one of sleep-talking.

“ ‘Tis no matter,” Aneurin said with a sigh. “But I would like to break the fast this morning soon.”

“Breakfast?” I asked. “Is that what you mean?”

Aneurin mumbled under his breath something about me being a peasant again, but I just pretended to not hear him.

Just to avoid another argument. It was too early.

When he didn’t give me a clear response, I sighed and pushed myself to the edge of the bed. “I suppose we can see if Snow-White and the rest of the men are awake,” I began. “I’m sure they’ll have food ready.”

After I pushed myself up from the mattress, my fingers instinctively traced over the fabric of my green dress, attempting to smooth out the creases. The rumpled appearance of the garment gave away I had slept in it. I slid my hand into my pocket, happy to discover the jewels from Hansel and Gretel remained. Maybe Arch would have some insight into their significance.

I slipped my shoes back on, feeling the lingering chill from yesterday’s pond plunge. They were still damp, but I didn’t have much choice. It was this, or going barefoot again. But while the house was clean, I still felt more comfortable with something on my feet.

“Are you ready?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder back at Aneurin, who remained sitting on the pillow. He shrugged and crossed his arms against his chest silently.

Rolling my eyes, I moved to his side of the bed and picked him up carefully into my hands. No matter how many times I held him, I still couldn’t get over how small he was. How delicate he felt between my fingers. I could always feel the pounding of his heart, and the way his body jolted in an unexpected fear.

“I’m not going to drop you,” I reassured him as I placed him on my shoulder.

“All you’d have to do is squeeze me,” he replied.

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