Chapter 2

I called him over and over.

No answer.

Until finally, the screen lit up with a message:

[If you're still not ready to see me, or give me a real place in your life, then don't bother coming to find me.]

Just one short sentence, but it felt like a dull blade sawing into my heart, bit by bit.

I stared at it for a long time.

My tears hit the screen, blurring his profile picture.

"No... it's not that I don't want to see you."

The little snake in the box suddenly poked its head out.

It slithered toward my hand and gently pressed its cool snout against my fingertip.

I froze, just about to call his name, when comments suddenly flooded out like crazy.

[Elowen is so delusional. Does she really think he's comforting her?]

[He has clearly had enough. Every time he gets worked up and wants to meet or make things official, she bails.]

[The snake clan naturally has stronger desires than normal people. She's been stringing him along for three years—who could stand that?]

[She's an ugly liar. Silas would be repulsed if they actually met. Breaking up now is the only way to keep some dignity.]

[He sent the snake this time specifically to find out why she won't meet him, and to see if she can handle his true form.]

[Just let it go. The female lead is cute, sweet, and a perfect match. She's his fated mate.]

My breath hitched, and I instinctively looked at the snake.

It pinned me with its gaze.

Its golden vertical pupils were like a mirror, reflecting all my pathetic lies and making me feel completely exposed.

Shared senses.

If he could feel through it, could he see through it too?

Does he already know that the ID photo was me?

Does he know I've been lying to him?

My heart plummeted.

I reached out in a panic, trying to pick it up, but the snake recoiled, dodging my touch.

My hand hung there in mid-air—the rejection felt like a punch to the gut.

The comments went wild.

[LMAO, he dodged!]

[Silas is repulsed. He doesn't even want her touching him.]

[That's what you get, you ugly liar.]

My eyes burned, but I didn't dare make a sound.

No! I couldn't hide anymore. I had to find him.

I had to tell him to his face.

The girl in the photo is me.

The coward is me.

The insecure one is me.

But my love for him?

That was real.

I grabbed my phone, pulled up the old address where I used to send his gifts, and rushed toward the door.

I threw it open, only to find my mother standing there, her expression chillingly cold.

"Where to?"

I gripped my phone tight and whispered,

"I have an emergency. I need to go out for a bit."

She looked at me like I'd just told a joke, her brow furrowing instantly.

"It's your grandmother's birthday today.

The whole family is coming over, and you're leaving now?"

"Mom, I really—"

She barked, cutting me off.

Her eyes swept over my bowed head with pure loathing.

"Elowen! Can you stop acting so pathetic and cowering all the time?

It's exhausting just looking at you.

You're a pathetic loser, just like your dead father!"

I dug my fingernails deep into my palms.

The explanation died in my throat, leaving only a faint, "I'm sorry."

She grew even more impatient, grabbing my wrist and dragging me back into my room.

"Your stepsister is coming back.

And even Silas will be there.

You must be present today.

Don't you dare humiliate me."

She tossed a light-colored dress onto the bed.

"Put it on."

I said softly,

"This... it doesn't really suit me."

She let out a cold laugh.

"You think you're in a position to be picky?

Your birthmark is ugly enough as it is.

Then you go and dress so drab every day—what, worried people won't notice how low-rent you are?"

I stood there, paralyzed, not daring to utter a word of protest.

I knew that if I said one more thing, she'd only say something meaner.

Besides, the snake was still there.

He might be watching.

I didn't want him to see me looking any more pathetic than this.

I changed into the dress in silence.

The girl in the mirror was a stranger, looking stiff and ill at ease.

The light fabric only made the birthmark on my right cheek stand out more, like a stain I could never scrub off.

My mom, Madeline Wilson, stared at me for a few seconds before finally looking somewhat satisfied. "Get downstairs. Don't make everyone wait for you."

The door shut.

I finally let out a long breath.

Turning around, I met the snake's golden eyes again.

I knelt down, forcing my voice to sound steady.

"I have to go downstairs for dinner with my grandmother.

Be a good boy and stay here.

Don't leave, okay?"

The snake didn't respond, and I didn't dare touch it.

I fought back the sob rising in my throat and gently closed the door.

The moment the door clicked shut, the snake lifted its fever-hot head and slithered out through the window.