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Sophia: Are you awake Addie? Wanna chat? It’s been a while.

I close out the chat quickly. After several minutes of sitting and staring at the stupid thing, no other text comes.

I guess I wasn’t supposed to tell my sisters anything because they already knew. I wonder when they had that conversation with Maman? How long have I been mooning about finding my soulmate, and no one has said a word to me? I feel like an idiot.

And my hair. They don’t know that Maman started that?

They consider me an impostor in their midst.

“Addie? Are you ok?”

I glance up at Damon as he frowns at me.

My face is burning hot, and my eyes are filled with tears I refuse to shed. He looks startled at my expression. I’m sure it’s a real shock. I’m usually upbeat or pissed off with no in between.

Instead of being normal and telling him I’m fine, I stand and blurt out, “I’m taking a walk.”

“Ok?” He says in a worried tone.

I pass by Poe as if he isn’t there and start walking. The fresh air doesn’t do a thing for me. I’m closer to crying than I’ve been in a long time. I’d like to do that in private if it happens.

That insidious itch to grab something sharp and torture myself a little more is starting up. I haven’t felt it in a while. I thought I was over that kind of thing. My mind shies away from those thoughts to pick over the things I’m learning.

I can’t believe that the family I thought I got along with is so squarely against me. I’m suddenly even more grateful that I don’t live closer. Maybe Maman hasn’t lost her mind. Maybe this is her showing me the way they all see me. A drop of the civilized act I didn’t know was an act.

“Addie,” Poe calls from behind me. My feet stop, even though I don’t want them to. I don’t turn to face him. I can hear him walking closer to me, and I can’t look up. I’m studying the sidewalk like it’s talking to me instead.

“Can I join you?”

My life got flipped around again, and I don’t have a sturdy place to land as I fall. If he joins me, I might take him down too.

“Siren,” a finger tucks under my chin and lifts my face until he can see me. The concern blazing in his eyes makes the need to cry get stronger. I blink a few times, stubbornly refusing to let them fall.

His eyes move over my face as his brows furrow. “Talk to me.”

It’s like he has a key to my mouth because I ask him the question that’s been tearing me up the most.

“Do you think being evil is hereditary?” My voice is choked up, but I manage to make the words clear.

This has become my number one fear. The thing that’s slowly been eroding me ever since last night. What if they’re right? I don’t think I’ll be able to live with myself if I turn out like my father.

His head tilts in confusion. “No.”

“Do you think beinggoodis hereditary?”

My second doubt since I got let in on the fact that I’mnot like them.

His fingers stroke over my cheek as he studies me. “No. I think it’s a choice everyone makes. Over and over every day.”

Now for the question of him. Maybe instead of looking for answers in the wrong places, I can ask him directly. Not too directly. I don’t want him thinking I’m as obsessed with him as I am. Something subtle.

“Do you believe in fate?” I push on, my heart starting to pound with nerves.

“I didn’t,” his eyes fall to my lips. “I’ve recently changed my mind.”

My heart does an uncomfortable flutter, and I rise to my tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on his lips. The connection soothes a lot of my scattered emotions. A completion I was missing to balance me out. My lips cling to his.

“I would love to take advantage of this, but I’m not that big of an asshole,” he mutters as his eyes close. He lets me drop to my heels and wraps his arms around me to pull me close.