Marked By Masks and Secrets (Everlasting Possession #1)

7

EVIE

W hen I’d stumbled and grabbed Kylo’s arm, his skin had burned me. I’d let go immediately, as if I’d picked up a hot pan.

After he’d left, I examined my fingers, but they were unblemished. It was like I’d imagined the entire thing.

I couldn’t make sense of it, other than that whatever I’d felt reminded me of the warmth that gathered in my stomach whenever our eyes locked. Or when he called me those pet names that I absolutely needed to put a stop to.

But the heat on his skin had been too much, too concentrated.

He wasn’t a witch or a shifter—I would’ve been able to read that. The only explanation I could come up with was that it had been some kind of premonition or intuition about his future or his past, and I’d let go too quickly to fully understand the psychic message.

I needed to touch him again.

For scientific purposes.

“Please hurry up,” Jacob groaned from my bed. He was staring up at the ceiling, his features twisted with irritation as if he’d rather be anywhere else but here.

I thought it would be nice to spend some alone time together before the party. I imagined we could talk while I got ready, catching each other up on our inner worlds and lives since before his travels. But so far, he’d only been frustrated with my getting ready process, asking multiple times why he was even here.

I thumbed the moonstone pendant on a delicate golden chain around my neck. It resonated with feminine, sensitive energy—the domain of the goddess of witches, shifters, and the moon—Selena. It reminded me of myself. It was a declaration that softness and intuitiveness were just as powerful as masculine displays of strength.

But how had Kylo known I’d been drawn to this necklace? And why would he gift it to me, a stranger? It was too much. Yet, I couldn’t take it off, and I wasn’t ready to examine what that meant about me.

“You can go,” I said to Jacob for a third time as I quickly applied the last of my makeup. I was careful to keep my tone cheerful and sweet. “I’ll meet you there.”

He sighed. “No. I just want you to consider my feelings, Evie, instead of making everything about you. I’m sacrificing time with my friends and family to be here. If I leave, you’re just going to make me out to be the bad guy. It would be nice if how I feel gets considered for once.”

The lump in my throat grew heavier. “How do you feel? What could I have done differently?”

Another huff. “I feel impatient. Why do I have to cater to your constant sad emotions, but you can’t understand my frustration when you’re taking forever to get ready?”

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” I said calmly, trying to keep any amount of emotion from my voice. I couldn’t let this escalate. I couldn’t make it worse and ruin the entire night. “I wasn’t sad until you said you didn’t want to be here with me. I thought we could talk and catch up.”

“I can’t keep giving in to your every desire and whim, Evie. It’s unreasonable. I have needs too. It can’t be your way or no way.”

Was that what I’d been doing? Maybe I was being unreasonable. Of course, he’d want to be with his friends and family after so much time away. I’d just hoped that… Honestly, the more I considered, I wasn’t sure what I was even hoping for anymore.

I caught a glimpse of him massaging the bridge of his nose, eyes shut, in my vanity mirror. Embarrassment sunk low in my gut. I felt like a child begging for attention, irritating and stupid.

When I stood, I examined myself quickly in the full-length mirror. My blonde hair fell in full curls, partially pulled back with a jeweled pin, and my dress hugged my body in blush-colored satin and tulle.

“Finally,” Jacob said.

He rose from the bed, and I watched him walk toward me in the mirror. He barely looked at me. He didn’t move to touch me.

He didn’t say anything at all before nodding toward the door.

My soft smile fell, and I followed him out.

The Whitfield estate was only a street over from Mena’s, and it made our home look modest. Cindy and Roger Whitfield were some of the wealthiest mortals in the entire region.

When we entered the sprawling mansion, Jacob transformed into an entirely different person than the man who’d been glaring angrily at my ceiling.

He grabbed my hand and placed it on his arm. He smiled widely as dozens of people cheered in the wide foyer.

Cindy and Roger were quick to break apart from their huddle and greet us. Cindy’s shimmering golden drink nearly sloshed over in the skinny glass flute. I wondered how many doses of elixir she’d already consumed. Elixir was a stronger drug than alcohol, forged by magick and designed to induce a relaxed, pleasurable, incapacitated state—tempered by a brutal comedown worse than any hangover. Though Cindy thoroughly enjoyed both vices.

“Well, don’t you both look dashing, ” she said, raising her free arm wide. Her pink lipstick was a touch smudged, though her blond hair was meticulously straightened and immovable. “Evie, dear, so nice to see you again.”

I smiled at her, moving quickly through the standard greetings and compliments. “And the witch lights display—how magickal.”

“Just wait till you see the terrace and the gardens in the back!” Cindy exclaimed. “There are quite a few witches here, Evie. As you know, we enjoy diverse company.”

She nodded enthusiastically, staring at me as if waiting for me to affirm her good natured-ness.

“That’s wonderful. No one throws a party like you do,” I said. More witch lights hovered above in shades of gold and silver, illuminating the opulent white and golden walls, the large crystal chandelier, the ornate furnishings, and double staircase. Chatter and laughter were uproarious all around us as people moved about.

Cindy beamed. Her soft blue eyes were glassy.

Roger clamped his hand down on Jacob’s shoulder. “Your rascal friends are already up to no good.”

Jacob grinned. “I expected nothing less.”

Roger’s eyes moved to mine then scanned the length of my body. His cocky smile didn’t move an inch. “Evie,” he greeted. “Darling as ever.”

Jacob’s arm flexed beneath my hold.

“You better be treating this one right,” Roger said, speaking to Jacob but still looking at me. “Or I’m certain someone else will.”

I tried not to squirm under this growing discomfort.

Jacob let out an irritated breath, though he maintained his air of joviality and pleasantness. He knew how to play the game. He’d had years of practice. “Of course.”

Small talk exhausted me, especially the pleasantries of high society. It felt like wearing a heavy, ill-fitting glamour over my true self.

“You know women,” Jacob continued. “If their expectations aren’t met, they’ll be sure to let you know.”

Roger laughed, and Cindy joined, though her features twisted slightly as if she was still piecing together the joke.

Did I complain too much? I held fast to the smile I’d plastered on my lips. If I responded any other way, Jacob would be sure to tell me it had just been a joke.

Then I’d be playing into the very thing he was accusing me of: being… too much.

I could fix this. Tonight, I’d be the most carefree girlfriend in the world. I’d stop being so sensitive. I’d be absolutely perfect, like I belonged in this place and on the arm of a Whitfield.

Like I belonged in this world .

For a moment, I saw Kylo’s face. I had the fleeting curiosity of where he was and what he was doing. What would he think of these high society party-goers?

Jacob dragged me forward. He greeted more of the older crowd—his parents’ friends—and I increasingly felt like more of a showpiece than a person. At least that meant I was fulfilling my role. So long as I smiled and laughed at the same jokes or compliments on my appearance.

Mena had been invited, but I wouldn’t find her here. We called it a Valentin goodbye when someone left a function without telling anyone, disappearing into the night without a trace. Mena had expanded on the term. She called it a Valentin hello when you simply never showed up at all.

I could see her now, smoking a secret cigarette in a lavish burgundy robe as she read a mystery novel over a glass of wine. Or maybe she had a suitor over.

Or two.

When we meandered into one of the dining rooms, Jacob was glowing, all evidence of his previous impatience gone without a trace.

The space was filled to the brim with platters and displays of food and cocktails. Guests filled tiny plates with a respectable amount of refreshments to nibble on as they mingled.

Jacob placed his hands on my waist, and I relished the rare soft touch. He used to touch me a lot more at the beginning of our relationship. We’d been dating for about four months now, and I supposed our honeymoon period was already over.

I looked up into his eyes, searching for that spark of chemistry that used to slam into my chest and warm my belly.

He let go of me.

“I’m going to go find some people,” he said vaguely. “I’ll be back soon. Help yourself.” He gestured to the food and drink.

I nodded and murmured something warm and polite on autopilot.

I was slow to turn to the table of food. The atmosphere was suddenly twice as loud as it had been before. I busied myself with picking out a tiny sandwich and delicate pastry to place on the small white plate.

Next, I scanned the crowd, looking for any familiar, comforting faces. Everyone was paired or grouped up. I felt awkward and alone.

I pretended to walk with a purpose as I meandered through the space. A sudden bark of laughter to my right made me jump, and my cheeks instantly heated. I hoped no one had noticed.

When I finally reached the open backdoors and stepped out onto the terrace, the fresh air instantly calmed me. Cindy hadn’t been underselling the setup. Out on the back lawn was the most beautiful display of swirling lights, creating spiraling pathways for guests to follow. The trees were decorated with multicolored, glowing splendor, and tables and seating were interspersed throughout the property. In the distance were the looming Etherdale mountains.

They always brought me comfort, reminding me that Etherdale was in a valley, secure and protected by the natural landscape.

In the sea of people, I finally spotted a small group of familiar faces. They were a few of Jacob’s friends, a man and two women he’d grown up with.

They were exiting the shimmering maze of light. As I approached, they moved behind one of the giant sculpted shrubs in the shape of a minor war deity with a drawn crossbow.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up. A glaring shot of witchy intuition halted me in place.

The three friends were turned away from me, mostly obscured by the shrub. They watched a group of performing witches—women dressed in skin-tight outfits that barely covered their lithe forms. The thin fabric was adorned with hundreds of delicate jewels that glittered under the witch lights. More glowing orbs danced through the air in an orchestrated display as the performers twisted and contorted themselves.

“She’s lasted longer than the others,” Georgia said.

I stilled.

“Probably because she hasn’t put out yet,” the male friend, Farleigh, said.

The other woman, Mikki, gasped. “ What ? Are you serious? Wow.”

Georgia laughed, and my heart sunk.

“I can’t believe he invited Kailey too.”

Kailey… she was one of Jacob’s exes. It didn’t exactly make me feel great that she was here, given Jacob had described her as literally crazy. But it was a huge party. I was sure it was impossible to avoid.

But how did I explain away the nausea now stuck in my gut like glue? How did I excuse the fact that Jacob had divulged the details of our sex life to his friends? Or, rather, our lack of one.

We’d done other things. I tried my best to make him happy. I’d just never had sex before. It wasn’t like I thought sex was wrong or bad or terribly special; I wasn’t so naive.

It was… complicated.

If you’re impure, you’re worthless, that cruel ghost whispered, her voice cutting and final.

Anger heated my neck, and I shoved those reaching, creeping memories back into the abyss.

The truth was, I wanted to lose my virginity as quickly as humanly possible. It was Jacob who was being so strange about it, as if it didn’t really interest him. I was so inexperienced that I wasn’t sure exactly what was normal. All I knew was that occasionally, he would kiss me and trace my body with his big hands and make me feel so special and loved. Then he would ask me to pleasure him with my mouth. He’d finish, kiss my forehead, and hold me. I liked being held.

The characters in my novels did things very differently. But Jacob always told me that fictional sex and romance were irresponsibly unrealistic. I’d asked him a couple times if we could do something more, if he could touch me and bring me pleasure. But he’d always made me feel embarrassed about it, like it was too exhausting or strange for me to ask.

You’re so innocent. We should just take things slow, okay?

The only relief I found was when I took care of things myself.

His friends’ voices rattled around in my skull, my eyes burning and throat constricting. She’s lasted longer than the others.

As if I was merely a temporary, pretty object. If his friends thought that, what must he have said to them about me?

I backed up, trying to slow my breathing. I forced myself to remember all the good parts about us. Jacob had made me feel so pursued when we first met, like I was worth being courted and won. He’d taken an interest in me and brought me into his world. He made me believe I could have the romance and normal life I’d always fantasized about.

I took another step back, and a hand clasped around my arm as I bumped into someone’s chest.