Grimm Consequences by Kate Serine Page A

loved her so. I was so angry at her response, so hurt, I lost control. I”—here he paused, his voice catching—“I let her go. And not nearly as gently as I should have.”
    I wasn’t sure what to say. All I could do was gape at the man I’d known for centuries but was just discovering I really didn’t know at all.
    â€œThat’s when I decided to become Humpty Dumpty,” he admitted. “She had a daughter, a beautiful girl. I decided the least I could do was watch over her and make sure she grew up well and lived a happy life. It was easy to be a benevolent benefactor to the woman who might’ve been my own child, had things gone differently.” He grinned. “In fact, I found I quite enjoyed it. I became rather fond of her and she of me. And my little tale of woe—my great fall and all that—made me a rather sympathetic character all these years, don’t you think? Easy to trust.”
    â€œYou made up that story,” I reminded him.
    He grunted. “Did I? Losing my love shattered me, m’boy. I can tell you, that silly little rhyme isn’t really so far from the truth.”
    â€œThen you understand why I have to find Tess,” I insisted. “You gave me a chance to succeed where you had failed when you let me take your place as Reaper to the Tales, Benedict. But that was your plan all along, wasn’t it? You wanted me to continue pursuing Tess, to finally have the chance to be with her as a man and not a monster.”
    Benedict nodded. “You have sacrificed so much for this woman, m’boy. You have endured so much pain.... Is it worth it? Is she worth it?”
    â€œA million times over,” I said without hesitation. “And I’ll continue to protect her, no matter the cost.”
    â€œAnd does she love you in return?”
    â€œI’m sure she does.”
    Benedict’s brows shot up. “But she has not told you so.”
    â€œShe doesn’t need to. I know.”
    Benedict picked up on the note of uncertainty in my voice. He came forward slowly, still wary of the gun I held, and placed a hand on my shoulder. “I hope you are right. For your sake and hers. Because you will need that love if you are to get her back from Demetrius. He is lost to me, m’boy. He did not seek my permission to make Ms. Little a Reaper. I’m afraid I’ve turned a blind eye to his brand of justice for far too long. He is now beyond even my control—his jealousy, his madness.... He is far more dangerous than you can imagine. I fear for you should you confront him and his Judges.”
    I squared my shoulders. “Demetrius is the one you should worry about.”
    He gave me a smile that was edged with pride. “I have no doubt of that, my friend,” he said. “But I know you of old, Maximus. I know how long it took you to rediscover the kernel of humanity that kept you from becoming like Demetrius. You came to me so many centuries ago because you were perfectly suited to be a Reaper. But I saw more in you. And this woman—this Tale—has brought you out of the darkness that can become part of us, that can overtake us. I’d hate to see you go back to that cold place.”
    I understood what he wasn’t saying. I had been in danger of losing my soul forever before I’d met Tess. I’d been Demetrius. “I can’t let him win, Benedict. I’ll do whatever I have to do to get Tess back.”
    He sighed, a little sadly. “I’m afraid that’s true. Just be sure you don’t lose yourself in the process. Hold on to your humanity, Maximus. Hold on to your love. It’s all that will save you in the end.”
    â€œI want my tether to Tess restored,” I told him. “I want it to be permanent. I’ll always protect her, Benedict. The Judges will come again. And if it’s not Demetrius, it’ll be someone else just as vindictive. I’ll not