Chapter 26 Summary and Key Takeaways

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

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Summary

The chapter opens at Vivienne's apartment, where she's dressed for the Fall Fair in a black witch costume—a dress that hugs her curves, striped tights, and a witch's hat. Rhys, watching her from the couch, is immediately struck by how beautiful and adorable she looks, and he's tempted to skip the fair altogether. Their playful banter quickly turns intimate, and they delay their departure by nearly an hour. Vivienne warns that Gwyn will be furious, but neither of them cares in the moment.

When they finally arrive at the fairgrounds, Gwyn is waiting in the parking lot, arms crossed. She teases them about their lateness, noting that Vivienne is “glowing brighter than a jack-o'-lantern,” and playfully calls them gross. The three of them head into the festival, which is held in a field ringed with fairy lights and paper lanterns, smelling of fried food and cinnamon. Vivienne helps at Gwyn's booth, selling witchy items and tarot decks, while Rhys fetches caramel-apple hand pies from Mrs. Michaelson's stall. The pies are a hit, and Rhys jokingly says he might leave Vivienne for the ninety-year-old baker.

As they eat, Gwyn offers to do a tarot reading for Rhys, hoping it might help with their ongoing research into lifting the curse. Rhys and Vivienne have been spending their time together both intimately and in research mode, but they've made no breakthroughs. Gwyn lays out a simple past-present-future spread. The past card is The Lovers, which doesn't surprise anyone. The present card is The Star, which Rhys holds up with a smile, calling it a good sign. But when Gwyn turns over the future card, it's The Emperor—a stern, authoritative figure seated on a wooden throne, with a heavy cane. Rhys immediately identifies the card as representing his father.

As he says this, he turns to look out into the crowd. A dark-haired man in black is making his way across the fairground toward them, with Aunt Elaine following a few steps behind. Rhys's expression turns grim, and he tells Vivienne, “It's my father. He's here.”

Key Events

Vivienne and Rhys get ready for the Fall Fair, but their departure is delayed by a passionate encounter.
They arrive nearly an hour late, and Gwyn teases them about their lateness.
At the fair, they help at Gwyn's booth and enjoy Mrs. Michaelson's caramel-apple hand pies.
Gwyn performs a tarot reading for Rhys to assist with curse research.
The reading reveals The Lovers in the past, The Star in the present, and The Emperor in the future.
Rhys interprets The Emperor as his father, and then spots his father approaching across the fairground.

Character Development

Rhys is caught between his desire for Vivienne and his belief that they have no future together. He reflects that even after three months with her, he hasn't gotten enough of her, and he knows leaving this time will be just as hard. He reminds himself that they've agreed to enjoy the present, but every touch makes that harder to remember. His reaction to The Emperor card—immediately recognizing his father—shows how deeply his family's expectations and authority still weigh on him. The arrival of his father at the fair signals a direct confrontation with that past.

Vivienne is happy and content, but she also worries that her heart is getting involved more than she intended. She notices the way Rhys smiles at her and feels butterflies, and she admits to herself that she might be falling for him again. Her playful interactions with Gwyn and her enjoyment of the fair show her rootedness in Graves Glen, contrasting with Rhys's sense of being an outsider.

Gwyn serves as both comic relief and a supportive friend. She teases Vivienne about her glow, but she also encourages her cousin's happiness. Her tarot reading is a genuine attempt to help with the curse, and her reaction to The Emperor—calling it “authority, rules, structure”—shows her intuitive understanding of the situation.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The present vs. the future: The tarot spread directly highlights this theme. The Lovers in the past represents Rhys and Vivienne's history, The Star in the present symbolizes hope and connection, and The Emperor in the future foreshadows the arrival of Rhys's father and the external pressures that threaten their relationship. Rhys's internal monologue about having “no future” reinforces this tension.

Different worlds: Rhys repeatedly notes how different he and Vivienne are—she has a home and a life in Graves Glen, while his own hometown suffocated him. The fair, with its pagan undertones and small-town warmth, is Vivienne's world, and Rhys is an outsider looking in. His father's arrival further emphasizes the clash between his aristocratic, rule-bound upbringing and the free-spirited magic of Graves Glen.

The curse as a looming threat: Though the chapter is lighthearted for much of its length, the curse research and the tarot reading remind readers that the central conflict is unresolved. The Emperor card, tied to Rhys's father, suggests that the curse may be connected to family legacy and authority.

Witchcraft and everyday life: The fair blends the magical with the mundane—tarot cards, hand pies, and hayrides. This juxtaposition underscores the novel's world where witchcraft is ordinary and integrated into community life.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the novel. It moves the relationship between Rhys and Vivienne from a purely physical reconnection to a deeper emotional entanglement, as both characters acknowledge their growing feelings. It also advances the curse plot by introducing a new element—the tarot reading—that points toward Rhys's father as a key figure. The arrival of Rhys's father at the fair creates immediate conflict and raises the stakes, promising a confrontation that will likely force Rhys to confront his past and his family's expectations. The chapter also deepens the sense of place, showing the Fall Fair as a vibrant, magical community event that contrasts with the cold, authoritative world Rhys comes from.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What does the tarot reading reveal about Rhys's situation, and how does he interpret it?

The reading places The Lovers in the past, The Star in the present, and The Emperor in the future. Rhys sees The Lovers as representing his relationship with Vivienne, The Star as a hopeful sign for their current connection, and The Emperor as his father. The Emperor card, with its imagery of authority and structure, foreshadows the arrival of his father and the external pressure that will challenge their relationship.

2. How does Rhys's internal conflict about his future with Vivienne manifest in this chapter?

Rhys repeatedly thinks about how he and Vivienne have agreed there is no future for them, yet he finds it increasingly hard to remember that when he's with her. He reflects that even after three months, he hasn't gotten enough of her, and he knows leaving will be just as painful. His observation that they are from different worlds—she has a home in Graves Glen, while he feels suffocated by his own—reinforces his belief that a lasting relationship is impossible.

3. What role does Gwyn play in this chapter, and how does her tarot reading advance the plot?

Gwyn serves as a supportive friend and comic foil, teasing Vivienne about her lateness and her glow. Her tarot reading is a practical attempt to help with the curse research, and it introduces the symbol of The Emperor, which Rhys immediately connects to his father. This reading sets up the chapter's climax—the arrival of Rhys's father—and suggests that the curse may be tied to family authority and legacy.

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