These final chapters end the novel approximately halfway through the most familiar versions of Beauty and the Beast, which sets up for further installments in the series. While Finley does not tell her family exactly who Nyfain is, it is clear he is of noble birth, and Finley’s family treats him with deference while simultaneously ignoring what he wants when it goes against what must be done to help him. Nyfain’s brief experience as part of Finley’s family shows him what a truly caring family is like. Nyfain’s decision to drug Finley’s family and leave in the middle of the night is motivated equally by his desire to protect the kingdom and by the attitude his royal upbringing instilled in him. Like Finley, Nyfain bristles when told what to do, but unlike Finley, he is incapable of understanding that he is stronger, not weaker, when he lets others help him. Nyfain’s father made him believe that dominance was the only way to be powerful, and this has led Nyfain to take risks and push people away to his detriment. Altogether, Nyfain’s behavior and choices highlight The Importance of Resilience and show that true resilience comes from shared responsibility.

Chapters 15, 16, and 17 are the calm before the cliffhanger ending of Chapter 18. These chapters make it seem like Nyfain and Finley will work out their differences and become a team by the end of the book, but Nyfain’s betrayal of Finley’s help upends these expectations. Both Finley and Nyfain discuss parts of their pasts in these chapters, highlighting how they are more similar than different. Finley’s frustrations show the ongoing difficulty of Escaping Gender Expectations. As explored earlier in the book, Finley is prized in the village for her looks, despite how much she’s done to heal people and keep them safe. Nyfain is the first person, other than her family, who has recognized her ability to be more than beautiful, and while Finley does not need validation from others to feel comfortable in who she is, Nyfain’s support helps her feel less alone. 

The conversation at the end of Chapter 16 reveals how Finley sees Nyfain differently from the men of the village. At the beginning of the book, Finley wanted nothing to do with romance because she refused to change everything about herself to be what a partner would want her to be. Now, though, Finley hesitates when asked if she’ll return to the castle with Nyfain, clearly considering choosing to be with him. Finley’s interest in romance is renewed by a potential partner who appreciates her for who she is, not who she could be. Ultimately, Finley’s decision comes down to whether she feels equal to Nyfain. Away from the castle and with the demon threat looming over them, the two can plan and discuss what needs to be done. However, Finley knows that returning to the castle would put the pressure of the demons back on both of them—Nyfain in particular. As much as she wants to help him, she does not want to do it as his prisoner. Now that she has freed herself, she is not sure she can imprison herself again without the motivation of saving someone.

The need to save someone is precisely what motivates Finley’s decision to go after Nyfain at the end of Chapter 18. With Nyfain in danger and intentionally trying to keep her from saving him, Finley realizes how much he—and, by extension, the entire kingdom—needs her. In earlier chapters, Finley refused to save Nyfain from his own unprocessed trauma. Here, she finally understands that for Nyfain, the two types of saving (physical and emotional) cannot be separated. In order to save him from the danger of the demons, she is also saving him from his tendency to put his own needs after everyone else’s to punish himself for perceived faults. Since Nyfain is the one with the power to save the kingdom, Finley’s rescue here is a way of supporting his strength. Without her determination to keep those she loves from harm, Nyfain would be running headlong toward his death—weak as he is from the effects of the poison. This choice illustrates The Harm that Comes from Shirking Responsibility: Nyfain’s self-sacrifice is ultimately selfish, granting him relief from the pain of guilt while doing nothing to fulfill his responsibility to the kingdom. His death would leave the kingdom leaderless and even more vulnerable than before. Rather than taking a lead role in protecting, Finley is willing to do what needs to be done for Nyfain. Thus, she is, whether she realizes it or not, being a supportive partner who puts the man’s needs before her own here. However, she uses her strengths and skills to offer that support, showing how Finley’s frustrations with the men of the village are steeped in their wanting her to be someone she isn’t. When she can be who she wants to be, Finley doesn’t mind stepping back into a supporting role because she isn’t giving up herself to help others.