I rose out of my seat, but Ever motioned for me to sit down. But what she said next was what caused me to sink back onto the chair.

“It won’t work because James doesn’t want you here.”

“And I’m just supposed to believe you?” I asked sarcastically. “And why, pray tell, doesn’t he? What—he loves someone else now? Maybe you?”

This time, it was Ever who rose as a murderous rage overtook her. She flew at me, nearly knocking my chair over with the force of her fist, which, at the last possible second, sailed past my face and struck the chair back.

She pointed her index finger in my face as she spoke. “I am for Cole. Always. Only for Cole. Do you understand?”

For once, I found I was able to relate to Ever. Cole had been her entire life. His death hadn’t ended the love she felt for him. Just as James’s fading from my life hadn’t ended my love for him.

“I’m sorry he’s gone,” I whispered.

Ever stood and turned her back on me, casting her eyes to the mantle again. “James will never be interested in me or any other woman in Judaculla. They all see us as property belonging to another man. There’s no other reason a woman would be here, other than to be married to her mate, so any other woman is off-limits. James would be suspicious of any female who approached him, even spoke to him. This includes you. But none of that matters. All you need to know is James didn’t want you to come to Judaculla. I know it’s hard for you to hear that, but the sooner you accept it, the easier it will be.”

“Easier for what?” I asked.

“For you to let him go,” Ever said.

“That’s never going to happen,” I said. “Do you have any idea what I’ve given up to be here? I walked away from my mother, my friends. From my entire life in Woodvine.”

Victor. I’d walked away from Victor. 

What must he think of me now? Did he even know me anymore? Had something or someone else filled the gap left behind by my disappearance? I chased these thoughts from my mind.

“So, how does that make you any different than the rest of us?” Ever asked. “Every single girl here did exactly the same thing.”

“The rest of you came here under the influence of your mate’s essence. You were tricked into coming.”

Ever’s eyes narrowed.

“Yeah. James tells me everything,” I said, throwing her words back at her. “I’m different because I came here under my own free will.”

“Wait. You remember everything you left behind…” Ever said.

It was more of a statement than a question, but I still answered. “Of course I do. Don’t you remember who you left behind?” I asked.