Marked By Masks and Secrets (Everlasting Possession #1)

33

EVIE

T he sunshine cake was a work of art. I shouldn’t have expected anything less. It was a fiery sun surrounded by rays of orange, yellow, and red. The icing was a sweet citrus flavor, complimenting the vanilla and orange sponge cake beneath.

To my surprise, Kylo was actually consuming the dessert with his lying, blood-sucking mouth.

We were gathered in a circle with Mena, Idris, and a few other party guests.

“What are you hoping for as you consume Helia’s fiery rays, Kylo?” Mena asked.

I stared up at him expectantly.

Irritatingly, Kylo only relaxed into an easy grin that seemed to pull the entire group into some kind of trance.

“I hope for a more peaceful city, where all mortals are free to live and love without fear,” he said. “And I hope that Evie continues to create her beautiful magick, to help as many people as she can.”

Mena looked like she was in love.

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes.

“Those are some admirably selfless hopes,” she said. “Do you have any personal ones?”

Kylo spoke without missing a beat. “To be the kind of man Evie deserves.”

The women next to Idris made aww noises.

“I can only hope that she feels safe enough to keep me around,” he finished with a shrug. He took another bite of his cake, as if his words were utterly genuine and not the deceptive vampire tricks I knew them to be.

Even still, my heart yearned. I wanted to believe.

Kylo pointed his fork at the painting behind Mena. “Is that one of Figaro’s pieces? It’s breathtaking.”

Mena grinned. It looked like she was about five minutes away from asking Kylo to be one of her boyfriends.

“Yes! You know him?”

Kylo nodded. “I prefer the later pieces, like the one you have here. When he starts to add magical realism to the natural environment.”

“You know that you’re in the minority opinion on that?” Mena asked, absentmindedly swirling her cocktail. Her eyes glowed.

“That has never bothered me,” he said with a shrug, his lips tipping up. “People don’t like change. I think that’s why those who prefer the newer pieces skew younger. They didn’t start off with the first wave of Figaro’s paintings and become admirers, only to be shocked with the second wave. The younger generation saw both eras at the same time and were able to choose which they preferred without the primacy bias. The comfort of what we know can blind us to the superiority of anything new or different.”

My gaze swept from the drooling women to Idris, who eyed Kylo with growing interest and curiosity. Maybe something even close to respect.

That was the most dangerous reaction to Kylo of all. My fist clenched, and I angrily shoved cake into my mouth.

“You said you tutor in philosophy, right?” Idris asked. When Kylo nodded, he smiled. “It certainly sounds like it. I’d love to talk more with you sometime—I’ve been eyeing some of those classes for next term.”

Kylo looked at me for a moment before nodding at Idris with warmth. “You should absolutely take a few philosophy classes before you graduate. Philosophy teaches us how to live.”

He didn’t promise he’d talk to him, likely because he knew how I’d feel about that, but Idris didn’t seem to notice.

It didn’t matter, though. Kylo merely being here had crossed my most sacred boundary of all.

The conversation continued, and soon more and more people had gathered around our little circle to hear Mena tell one of her many outlandish tales. I’d heard several versions of the story of Mena seducing an entire wolf shifter pack, and this version was the most unbelievable yet.

I found myself giggling at Mena’s antics despite Kylo’s presence, and each time I did, he gazed down at me like I was his whole world.

At the end of the night, Kylo pretended to leave with most of the crowd, saying a polite goodbye to Mena and Idris.

“Come for dinner next week,” Mena said.

An offer she had never once made to Jacob. Idris announced he’d be there too.

My blood was boiling as I smiled and played along. Kylo kissed me, tender and brief, before promising he’d see me soon .

Bastard.

“Are you okay, Evie?” Idris asked after Kylo left. “You’ve been acting a little strange all night.”

“Sorry,” I said quickly. “Just torn up about Celeste’s.”

Idris nodded. “Of course. Don’t apologize. We’re going to figure it out, okay?”

Mena raised her empty glass. “Together.”

I smiled at them.

Mena shook a finger. “I cannot believe that man was your secret admirer. You cheeky little minx!”

Idris shook his head. “Well, I like him. He seems to really understand who you are and care for you, Evie. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“And if you’re not, please tell him to write to me,” Mena said with a wink.

Back in the cottage, I downed a glass of water and mentally prepared for what I was about to do.

I was going to punish Kylo the only way I knew how. He’d already told me how best to make him suffer.

As soon as I set the glass back on the counter, strong hands grabbed my waist. Lips grazed the shell of my ear.

“Still thinking about the most effective way to kill me and dispose of my body without implicating yourself?” he asked.

I laughed dryly. “Don’t you have somewhere more important to be?”

“No,” he said. “I know you’re angry, and I know you’ve been hiding the true depths of that rage for your family’s sake.” He gently spun me to face him. “Let me take care of you tonight and make you breakfast in the morning. We can hash it out whenever you’re ready. I can even take you to a secure location where you can throw the biggest magickal fit of your life.”

Those last words triggered something unpleasant in the recesses of my mind.

I frowned at the sudden influx of fear and shame, quickly focusing back on my present anger. “Fine.”

Kylo lifted a brow. “A suspiciously quick and easy answer…”

I shrugged. “What’s the use? When you’re only going to do whatever you want, no matter what I say?”

He watched me carefully. “Evie, you know that’s not true. I’m sorry I frightened you. My presence at your family’s party was not a threat. I only wanted to show you that what’s between us isn’t a game to me. You’re not a game to me . ” He took a deep breath, and my fluttering stomach warred with my irritated psyche. “This is real. I wanted to show you how real it could be, if you allowed it.”

“You didn’t give me a choice,” I said. “You forced it on me.”

“I’m sorry.”

My mind fed me this accursed recap of the night. Kylo’s apologies, his vows to never abandon me, his soft touches, and his heart-warming praise. Even more dangerous—the shows of kindness and care to both Mena and Idris, the way Idris looked at him with respect, and the way Kylo looked at me with…

Gods, he looked at me like I was everything to him.

Kylo pulled me into his arms. He kissed my forehead and carried me to bed.

In the dark, I let myself be frightened, small, and needy, clinging to Kylo like he was my only certainty in a world that was harsh, confusing, and ever-changing. He fed me the softest touches and words of praise.

But my plans didn’t change. I couldn’t let his actions slide. Not when he’d made them without my permission.

He didn’t get to decide what we were to each other. He didn’t get to force his way into Idris’s and Mena’s lives, to put them directly in the center of vampire clan violence.

Like he’d said when he was scolding me in the tunnel, actions had consequences.

Kylo kissed the top of my head again. “Sleep, baby,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”

My stupid body believed him, growing more relaxed the tighter he held me. The more onyx shadows that crawled across me and claimed my body and soul, the easier it was to fall into a dreamless sleep.

I woke up a few times during the night. In the liminal place between consciousness and unconsciousness, I wasn’t angry at Kylo. I felt something else entirely.

This sickening yearning made me want to let go—made me want to look into those adoring eyes and believe.