Candace

I shrink lower in my seat. My mark brands my skin like a hot iron, and I just swallow the pain. Eva found me hiding out at the edge of the party, trying to convince myself to join in and risk seeing either of them. I tried to warn her that I wasn’t very good company, but she’s too good of a friend to take no for an answer.

That only makes me feel worse.

“He’s right,” I say numbly. “It wasn’t very funny.”

“See?” Hollis grins at Eva. “Even she admits it. Nobody likes bird stories.”

I nod. I’ve heard that enough, though usually without the edge of...