Chapter 31 - Mercy of the World

--Ines POV--"What are you doing?" Malachi asked, watching as his brother approached him in the water, the thrashing waves slowing him down, but eventually, he caught up, a smile on his face."You saved me... It may be too late for me to save you, but I'm not the kind of person that would leave his big brother alone. I'll go with you, wherever you're going.""I'm not lonely, go back. I don't want you here." Malachi lied."You're a good liar to everyone but me. I can see right through you." Maxwell laughed, nudging him on the side as if this were an everyday occasion."Why are you doing this? To prove a point?" Malachi sighed, running his fingers through his hair, damp with the salty Ocean water."I've lived every moment of my life with you by my side. You're my big brother, and truth is, I'll be lonely if you go. So, I'm going with you.""I'm not going on holiday. I'm probably going to Hell.""And I'm coming with you."The two shared a look with one another, until eventually, tears pr

Last Updated : 2025-07-24

Chapter 32 - Home To You

**3 YEARS LATER**--Alaric POV--"Today marks three years since the disappearance of famed singer, Ines Agua. After finding her freedom from the Kingston brothers, she graced the world with a musical single called 'Breathe'. A song that told us about her feelings on the situation, and the song hit number 1 in charts across the globe, but with no company to represent her in her absence, the singer was unable to accept any awards that she won. It is assumed that she returned to her home country in Portugal where she's reunited with her family, but nothing is confirmed. However, the question remains the same; Where is Ines Agua, and will she ever return to the stage?"The screen went blank as I turned the small television on the back of the seat off, leaning back on my car seat before looking out the window at the passing scenery.Three years have never felt so long with her absence.But I was intent on my resolve to wait for her, and that intent wouldn't be fading anytime soon."We're a

Last Updated : 2025-07-24

Chapter 33 - Mermaids & Humans

--Ines POV--I spent three years in the comfort of the water, enjoying the silence away from the Human world, and spending time with my family whom I'd been reunited with, but despite the joy I felt when with my family, the emptiness wasn't easy to ignore.Not when he was up there, and I was down here.It took three years for me to overcome the trauma that was Malachi and Maxwell, and three years for me to gain the bravery to return. But now that I'm back, all that fear felt like it was for naught. Because I'm not scared right now.And it took time to realise, but I see now, that with him, I never needed to be fearful.He's my home, my soulmate, the one with whom I will spend the rest of eternity. If any good has come from being away from him for three years, it's that my love for him has only grown.Entangled in his arms, we'd somehow made our way up the stone stairs, through the garden and into our home, and I gasped, my voice catching in my throat when he tightened his hold on my t

Last Updated : 2025-07-24

Chapter 34 - Laws of the New World

--Ines POV--"What is marriage, Sandra?" I curiously asked."Marriage? You don't know? Don't mermaids get married?" She paused in taking a sip of her tea to ask with widened, surprise-filled eyes."We mate. And once you mate, a bond is created that cannot be severed; I'm guessing that's similar to marriage for Humans, isn't it?" She hummed thinking about it for a moment."I guess so. Marriage is holy matrimony, it's a bond recognised under God's eyes between a man and a woman, but with modern day it's changed. To put it simply, it's a celebration of a new couple by law." She tried to explain, fumbling along the way, but I got the gist of it."I see... So, Rick told everyone that he loved me yesterday, does that mean we're married now?" She laughed at my ignorance, shaking her head.Showing me her hand, she wiggled her empty ring finger."A couple exchanges vows and rings, and then they register their marriage certificate. Married people have rings on this finger, and unlike mating, th

Last Updated : 2025-07-24

Chapter 35 - A Dream & A Nightmare

--Alaric POV--"Cuánto te debo?""13 euros, señor." Handing him the required amount with a large tip, I nodded gratefully before exiting the taxi, holding the door open for Ines as she slipped out, an excited look on her face that hasn't faded from the moment we got onboard the plane.Seeing this excitement of hers is the only thing pushing me to continue with the trip, but either way, it's too late to back out now since we've just arrived at our destination.My eyes took in the familiar sight of my childhood home, and both the good and bad memories came flooding in. When was the last time I visited this place? I can't even remember."Is this the childhood home you told me about?" She asked, standing beside me as my eyes turned to look at her, but she was so entranced by the sight that beheld her that she didn't notice my gaze. Holding her hand in mine, my own eyes went back to looking at the house.It was a large house, being more like a mansion than an actual house. Expensive red br

Last Updated : 2025-07-24

All Chapters of The Grace of a Thousand Stars: Chapter 31 - Chapter 35

Chapter 31 - Mercy of the World

Chapter 32 - Home To You

Chapter 33 - Mermaids & Humans

Chapter 34 - Laws of the New World

Chapter 35 - A Dream & A Nightmare