“No, you don’t.” She reads straight through my lies. “But that’s okay. You have every right to be hurt. Just so you know, our friendship was never a lie. I’ve always thought of you as my real friend.”
“That’s what Hunter said, too.” My deflated tone causes them both to frown. “Sorry, but I can’t help it. You guys lied to me for years, and now I’m wondering if anything about our friendship is true. And it sort of makes sense. No one ever liked me, except you two, and I always wondered why that was.” I gesture at Hunter. “I mean, you were so popular, yet you acted like we were best friends.” His lips part, but I talk over him. “And Opal, you were so normal and sweet and powerful. It never made sense why you hung around me.”
“Eva …” Opal starts, tears pooling in her eyes.
“It’s fine,” I cut her off, backing away as I become emotionally overwhelmed. “I just need a minute, okay?”
Hunter winds around the sofa, following after me. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to wander off by yourself.”
Frustration crawls through me. “So, I’m never supposed to be alone now?”
Opal’s gaze flits to me then to Hunter. “Give her a minute, okay? The house has more charms and protection spells on it than the fey realm. Nothing’s getting in.”
“I’m not worried about something getting in.” Hunter stuffs his hands into his pockets, seeming fidgety. “I’m worried about her getting out.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I promise. “I just need a breather. And I want to see Ryleigh … Is she in the basement?”
Hunter nods uneasily. “She is.”
“Okay, I’ll just go down there then.” I move to leave.
“Eva, wait,” Hunter calls out.
I pause in the doorway, glancing over my shoulder at him. “Yeah?”
He walks toward me, taking slow, measured steps, as if approaching a skittish cat. “Did the demon say why he took you? Or anything to you at all?”
I hesitate, not because I don’t plan on telling him, but because I’m afraid of what he think of me—and maybe do to me—when he finds out what I am. “He may have said a few things.”
“About what?”
“About what I am.”
“Can I ask?” He inches closer to me with uncertainty. “Will you tell me what he said?”
I swallow the lump crammed in my throat. I don’t want to tell him. I don’t want to tell anyone. I want to keep the truth locked inside me where it can never escape. That way, I don’t have to see the disgust in their eyes when they realize just how foul of a creature I am. Fake friends or not, I don’t think I can handle that right now.
“I’ll tell you later, after I make sure Ryleigh is still lingering around,” I say. Then I hurry out of the room before either of them can try to wriggle the truth out of me.
By the time I make it to the basement door, I’m on the verge of tears. Nothing makes sense anymore. Not myself. Not my family. Not Opal. Not Hunter.
What was with all the kisses he gave me? He’s never kissed me like that before, except for right before I was kidnapped. But that was more because we shared magic. Perhaps that’s why he’s kissed me twice since he rescued me. Perhaps the connection spell is still in place.
I continue to obsess over it, more than I probably should, as I trot down the stairway. Then, all thoughts leave my mind when I see Ryleigh’s body lying on the metal table, lifeless, her eyes open, her skin deathly pale.
Worry blasts through me as I rush up to the table. “Ryleigh, can you hear me?” I touch her cheek to find her skin is blistering cold. “Ryleigh, wake up and talk to me.”
Silence is my only answer.
“Ryleigh, please, you can’t go yet,” I beg. “I know I was angry at you, but I’m not ready to lose you.” Tears fall from my eyes and cascade down my cheeks as she remains motionless. “Please,” I whisper. “Please wake up.”
Again, I get nothing but silence. And the longer it goes on, the more I realize I may have to accept the truth.
I’m too late.
Ryleigh has completely died forever.
Chapter 9
I don’t know how long I stand there, sobbing my eyes out, before Hunter eventually comes down to check on me. He takes one look at my hot mess of a face and wraps his arms around me.
“I’m so sorry, baby.” He hugs me, smoothing his hand up and down my back.
Tears stream from my eyes as I press my cheek against his chest. Everything hurts. My brain. My body. My soul. Ryleigh may have been my fake sister, but I still cared about her—still do. I don’t want to deal with the pain right now. Can’t. I’ve felt too much pain in the last few days, and I feel like I will fall apart at any moment.
“Baby?” I ask in an attempt to distract myself from the pain. “Since when do you call me baby?”
“Did I?” His tone is a mixture of perplexity and intrigue.
I bob my head up and down, clutching the bottom of his shirt, and he runs his fingers up and down my spine.
“I didn’t realize I did.”
“It’s weird you did.” I suck an uneven breath, fighting back the tears that want to pour out. “That’s what Ryleigh’s boyfriend used to call her all the time.”
Ryleigh. I choke on the name.
My heart is breaking in half.
“Hmmm …” is all Hunter says, pressing me closer to him.
“You’re acting weird,” I whisper. “Is it …? Is it because we shared magic?”
“Maybe.” He sounds completely doubtful.
“What else could it be?”
Instead of answering, he hugs me closer until our chest are pressed so tightly together I can feel his heart hammering. I wonder why. I wonder a lot of things. Instead of asking questions, though, I end up sobbing my heart out, and Hunter holds me tightly against his chest the entire time, rocking me back and forth while he traces a path up and down my spine with his fingers. It almost makes me forget he isn’t my real friend.
Almost.
“How about we get you upstairs to bed?” Hunter says after I’ve cried for what feels like forever, yet somehow not long enough. “I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
“Yeah, I am.” I dry my eyes with the back of my hand then step out of his arms. “Just give me a second, okay?”
I turn toward Ryleigh’s body. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you. I wanted to so badly, but I … I failed you.” Tears fall from my eyes and land on her cheeks as I whisper, “I’ll miss you.” I give myself one last moment before I take a deep breath and turn away.
I meant what I said, too. Ryleigh may not have been my real sister, and I may have been angry at her for lying to me, but I’ll miss her with all my heart and will always feel guilty for not saving her.
Chapter 10
“You know it’s not your fault, right?” Hunter says to me as we enter my bedroom. “Ryleigh’s death, I mean.”
I don’t say anything as I cross my room and open the top drawer of my dresser to get some pajamas out. It feels so strange, looking for pajamas. So ordinary. So normal.
“Eva, talk to me.”
When I remain quiet, Hunter sighs.
The floorboards creak beneath his weight as he makes his way toward me. I don’t turn around, busying myself with finding clothes. Finding clothes is easy, and easy is what I need right now. However, I can’t find any damn pajamas! Anywhere! So, I just start tossing clothes on the floor.
“Take a deep breath.” Hunter sets his hands on my shoulders.
“I can’t.” I’m afraid if I do, I’ll start gasping for air. And if I start gasping for air, I may never breathe again.
After giving my shoulders a brief massage, he steers me away from the dresser. When we reach the foot of my unmade bed, he twists me around to face him then gently pushes me down on the bed. Then, without saying a word, he returns to my dresser, opens the middle drawer, and digs out a pair of plaid pajama shorts and a tank top.
“You made that look so e
asy,” I tell him as he hands me my pajamas.
“You’re upset.” He crouches down in front of me. “And that’s okay. You’ve been through a lot.” He sweeps my hair off my shoulder. “But you need to know that what happened to Ryleigh isn’t your fault.”
“I know.” And I kind of do. Still, I feel like I failed her. “I think I might know whose fault it is.”
His brows scrunch. “You mean, you know who hit her with the petrifying curse?”
“I’m not positive, but I think it could’ve been Max.”
“The demon who kidnapped you?”
I nod. “Petrifying curses are used so rarely, yet he used it once on me and tried to use it on you. Apparently, it’s his go-to curse.”
He’s quiet for a lengthy amount of time. “I don’t want to upset you more, but I think that assumption might be a long shot.”
“I know that. But I want to look into it. And if he did, he needs to pay.”
He places his hands on my thighs. “I don’t want you going near that demon, or any demon, for that matter. Not when almost every demon out there is hunting you.”
“They’ve always been hunting me, haven’t they?” I ask. “What’s so different now?”
“They were never hunting you before. They were just trying to find a way to get close to you and feed off your powers without killing themselves. Now they’re literally coming after you. They’ve been looming around the house since that demon tried to feed off you. The only reason they haven’t come inside is because we had the most powerful faeries and witches basically drown the house in charms and protection spells.”
A cold chill runs down my spine. “What’s changed?”
“I’m not sure. My bet is that they’ve figured out a way to feed off you without dying.” He cups my cheek, looking me dead in the eye. “You can’t leave this house, okay? Promise me you won’t.”
My expression plummets. “You want me to stay in here forever?”
He swiftly shakes his head, sending wisps of his blond hair into his eyes. “Just until we can find another place for you to stay—a safe place.”
“You mean, I have to leave Mystic Willow Bay?” I want to add, leave my family, but I guess I don’t really have one.
I wonder if my fake parents know I know. I wonder if they care that I’m hurting. I wonder if they were upset when—and if—they heard I’d been taken by a demon.
“Don’t worry; I’ll go with you,” he promises, skimming my cheekbone with his finger.
As lovely as the gesture is, I have to wonder … “Why? We’re not friends. Is it because of your job?”
“We are friends,” he insists, avoiding the question about the job. “I already told you that was real.”
“Are we, though?” I wonder. “I don’t really know you, and I think friends are supposed to know each other a little bit.”
“I already told you that you know me better than anyone.”
“But after you said that no one really knows the real you.”
“Eva …”
“Hunter …” I mimic his tone.
He sighs, and so do I, mostly to annoy him.
He shakes his head, but he’s on the verge of smiling. “You drive me so crazy sometimes.”
“Right back at you.”
He grins. “No matter what you say, we are friends, Evalee. We click way too well.”
I snort a laugh. “Click? Ha! Yeah, right. We’re complete opposites.”
“And that’s why we’re so perfect for each other.” A lopsided smile lifts his lips. “No one can keep up with my banter like you can.”
I wish I could agree with him, and maybe a few days ago, I would have. Now I’m not even sure I know him at all. Besides, would he still say that if he knew what I was?
“What can I do?” he asks, searching my eyes for something.
“What do you mean?” I wonder, feeling so lost.
He gently sweeps a strand of hair behind my ear. “To help you feel better.”
I sigh heavily. “I’m not sure there’s anything you can do.”
“Of course there is.” Determination burns in his eyes. “I always used to be able to cheer you up whenever you were sad.”
“I know.” And I’m being truthful. Hunter was always good at cheering me up. “But I’m not sure I can be cheered up right now. After everything …” I suck in a tremulous breath, fighting back the tears. “Between Ryleigh being … gone, and the whole thing with the demon kidnapping me and telling me what he thinks I am …” I give a dreary half-shrug. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to cheer up soon. Sorry.”
“You don’t need to be sorry.” He rubs his lips together as he seems to decide on something. “He told you what you are?”
I nod, looking away from him. “He did.”
Silence drags between us.
“Can you …?” He struggles for words. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I shake my head, tears bubbling in my eyes.
He hesitates. “I don’t want to force you to do anything, especially right now, but if we knew what you are, it could help us figure out why the demons are after you.”
“By us and we, you mean the society, right?” A single tear falls to my cheek as shame burns in my chest.
I’m a monster.
“Yes.” He swipes the tear away with his thumb then rests his hand on my cheek. “I know you’re probably a little unsure of this society thing, but I promise that everything in it is working hard to protect you.”
“Even my fake parents?” Another tear escapes my eye and another. Freakin’ bawling baby witches, when did I become such a cry baby? I need to woman up!
He nods with remorse in his eyes. “I know you think everything was fake, but the people who are looking out for you care for you.”
“Then why aren’t my fake parents here?” I question, fearing the answer. “If they really care about me, why aren’t they here?”
His lips part, but no words come out. Sealing his lips together, he studies me intently, and then says, “I’m here.”
“I know.” I have to wonder why. Is it solely because of his job? Or is he here as my friend, too? I could ask him. Then again, I fear the truth. Instead, I ask, “Am I ever going to meet other people in the society?” Another thought clicks. “Is Peyton a part of it, too? I doubt it, because she’s a vampire, but she’s also my roommate, and so far, those are two for two.”
“Peyton’s not a part of it.” He gives a reluctant pause. “Eventually, you’ll meet the rest of the society. Some of the members you’ve already met, but there are some you haven’t.”
I eye him over carefully. “Why do you sound unhappy about me meeting them?”
He gives a dismissive shrug, his jaw set tight. “I don’t.”
“You do, too.” I wait for him to tell me what in the wiggling monkeys has got him so squirmy, but all he does is push to his feet.
“I’m going to let you shower and get changed into your pajamas. I need to go talk to Opal for a minute.”
I watch him cross my room, my heart aching in my chest. I may not know the real Hunter, but I can tell he’s keeping something from me.
Before he steps out of my room, he casts a glance over his shoulder. “I know you don’t want to talk about what the demon told you, but you really need to tell me soon, okay? If you don’t …” He wavers, worry flickering in his eyes. “Well, someone else from the society is going to get the truth out of you.” He quickly exits the room without so much as a backward glance.
Puzzlement swirls in my mind, thick and potent and laced with fear. Fear over telling the truth and fear because … Well, because when Hunter said someone else from the society would get the truth out of me, it sounded like a warning.
Chapter 11
After I’ve showered and changed into a pair of pajamas, I head back to my room. I don’t know why, but I expect Hunter to be there waiting for me. He’s not.
I consider hopping into bed, because h
oly sleepy spells I’m exhausted. However, curiosity gets the best of me, and I decide to try to do a little bit of eavesdropping.
Tiptoeing out of my room, I pad down the hallway and toward the top of the stairs. As I pass by Opal’s room, I hear murmuring coming from the other side, so I stop and press my ear to the door.
“Hunter, I seriously have no idea what the hell is going on in your head,” Opal hisses with frustration. “Kissing her like that—that’s completely against the rules.”
“I know what the rules are,” Hunter bites back. “I don’t need you to remind me.”
“Obviously, you do,” Opal says. “Since you kissed her twice that I know of. God knows how many other times you’ve done it.” When Hunter says nothing, she lets out a sequence of curses, sounding very un-Opal-like. “You’re going to get in so much trouble.”
“No, I’m not,” he states. “Because you’re not going to tell anyone.”
“Please don’t put me in that position.”
“If you care for Eva and me at all, you won’t say anything.”
Silence lingers in the air.
“Why is this so important to you?” Opal finally asks. “Do you really care about her? Or is this just another one of your flings where you’ll use her then dump her? It’s not worth getting into trouble over if it is. And I don’t want you messing with Eva’s heart like that. She’s too sweet.”
More silence.
“Look, I’m not—”
I let out a banshee scream as Peyton’s pet bat swoops down the hallway and dives at my head.
I realize my mistake a squeal of a second later and make a mad dash for my bedroom. Then I dive into bed and pull the covers over my head, feeling a little silly. At the same time, I don’t want them to know I was listening. If they do find out, they might be more careful about what they say, and I need to find out as much as I can.
What I really want to know is why Hunter isn’t allowed to kiss me. Because of the society?
I really need to find out more about this society. I mean, I know nothing about them or what they do. Why work so hard to protect me when they supposedly have no clue what I am?
Mystic Willow Bay, Witches Series: The Secret Life of a Witch Page 18
