Chapter 25 Unmasked

• I walk up to Elijah, feeling my long sleeves brushing against my wrists as I grip the hidden silver fork tightly underneath. My black dress flows lightly around my ankles, its sheer overlay catching the faint light from the hotel entrance. The deep, earthy green embroidery along the bodice makes me feel a little too dressed up, but the sleeves? They’re non-negotiable. My hair is loosely pinned up, a few tendrils framing my face. I might look confident, but inside, my nerves are a jumbled mess.
• Elijah, standing by the entrance, is an entirely different picture. He’s wearing a leather jacket, perfectly fitted over a white T-shirt that highlights the strength of his broad shoulders. His dark jeans sit snugly, casual but maddeningly attractive. His blue eyes glow faintly under the dim hotel lights, and for a moment, I’m struck speechless. He looks like he walked straight out of a dream—or a nightmare, depending on whether or not he’s what I fear he is.
• “Wow… you look like a witch,” Elijah says, his voice tinged with surprise as his gaze lingers on me.