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“Eli is back,” he says, and I nod, about to walk out when Cyrus stops me, pulling me back to him.

He kisses me, his lips molding around my own as he pulls me closer. I kiss him back, wrapping my arms around his neck and standing on my tippy toes. He pulls back before kissing my forehead.

“Just trust us. Trust that we will look after you, Addie, and things will get better, I promise,” he whispers just as Eli walks into the room.

“Are you in a better mood?” Eli asks, stepping behind me, his hands going to my hips.

“I’m sorry I hit you,” I tell him.

“Your sister is downstairs,” he says, and I let go of Cyrus before turning around.

Eli lets me pass, and I walk downstairs. My sister is sitting at the table. She looks horrible, and tears streak her face. Her eyes are all puffy and red from crying, and her clothes are all wrinkled.

“Taylor?” I ask, wondering why she is crying.

“Addie, Ethan is dead,” she says, and I swallow the words I am about to say.

It is clear she is sober, having been in jail for the last two days, but she looks so withdrawn and terrible. Now seeing her like this, though, breaks my heart. She must truly think she loves Ethan.

“Eli took me past his house. It’s gone, Ada. They are all dead,” she says before breaking down again.

“I know. I did tell you. You must have forgotten,” I tell her, walking over and sitting next to her.

“I thought you were lying, so I wouldn’t go back, but he is really gone,” she says, sobbing into my shoulder.

“Where is Maya?” Taylor asks, sniffling.

“Before-school care,” I tell her.

Eli walks into the kitchen to make coffee. When Taylor looks at him, watching him closely, I don’t understand the fear I see on her face.

“They aren’t human, Addie,” she whispers to me.

I know they’ve heard her, but they haven’t acknowledged what she’s said. Instead, Cyrus sits at the table, and Eli hands him a coffee.

“I know that, Taylor,” I tell her, and she looks at me, shocked.

I am more shocked as to how she knows they aren’t human. I look at Cyrus, and he shrugs, uncaring of her knowing.

“How do you know?” I ask her, and she shakes her head.

“They haven’t changed. They are still the same as when dad was alive. I thought I recognized them, I wasn’t sure before, but I am now,” she says, and Cyrus looks at her.

He has an indecipherable expression on his face. Eli places a cup in front of both of us, and I see him glare at my sister. I pick up mine when Taylor snatches it from me and sniffs the cup. I take it from her.

“What are you doing?” I ask her, and she looks at Eli. He growls, and she flinches before shaking her head.

“Can I speak to you privately?” she whispers before her eyes dart to my neck.

She flicks my hair from my shoulder, staring at my mark, her hands going to her mouth. I am suddenly hit by Eli’s anger, making me look at him.

“We haven’t got time for this. We need to go to work. Cyrus, do whatever it is you’re going to do,” Eli says, waving his hand.

Taylor gets up from her seat, a panicked expression on her face as she looks at Cyrus. He pulls his chair out, about to walk around the table toward her.

“Wait!” I tell them, wanting to know what my sister wants to talk to me about.

Eli walks to the other side of the table, blocking my sister from running. I jump to my feet in panic when I feel his anger rushing over me.