The Dolls(94)

It’s not until nine o’clock that it occurs to me for the first time that the traitor might not even be here, rendering the whole issue of the charmed gloss moot.

“I love that you’re finally loosening up tonight and kissing everyone. It’s very sexy.” Pascal interrupts my thought process by sidling up behind me and putting a hand on my waist. I turn to find him leering at me. “If you’re looking for someone to make out with, look no further.” He puckers up as I roll my eyes.

“I’m here with Caleb,” I say.

“Who, might I point out, is nowhere to be found,” he replies.

“He went to the bathroom ten seconds ago. He’ll be right back.”

“And in the meantime, if you want to make out with me . . . ,” Pascal says.

I grit my teeth and dive in to kiss him on the cheek, which seems to shock him. I’m relieved when I don’t see any red mark develop.

“Seriously, Eveny, if you’re into it, we could slip outside for a few minutes,” Pascal says, his eyes darting around like pinballs.

“Pascal,” I say calmly, “I wouldn’t slip outside with you if you were the last guy on earth.”

“That’s just because you haven’t had any of this body yet,” he says, gesturing proudly to himself.

“That must be it.” I turn to walk away before he has a chance to say anything else. My shoulders sag in relief as I see Caleb coming toward me from across the dance floor.

“How you doing?” he asks, his forehead creased with concern. He puts his right hand gently on the small of my back, and for a moment, it feels like everything is okay. Then, he quickly pulls away like he’s done something wrong.

“I’m fine,” I say, looking at the floor. “Just confused.”

Caleb clears his throat. “About me?”

“About everything.”

“I’m right here,” he says after a minute.

“I know.”


Caleb stays protectively by my side all evening. To anyone who doesn’t know us, who doesn’t understand what’s happening, I’m sure we look like the perfect couple. He keeps a hand gently on my waist or my back all night; he dances with me to the slow songs; he even pushes my hair out of my face when it tumbles over my shoulders.

He’s so close, so mine. But none of it’s real.

This year’s Carrefour Mardi Gras king and queen are supposed to be crowned at ten, and just a few minutes before that, I ask Caleb if he’ll step outside with me for a minute.

He hesitates. “Sure.”

We duck out a side door, and as we do, I catch Liv’s eye. She’s slow dancing with Drew, her head resting on his shoulder. She waves, and I force a smile back. Drew turns to look at me too. Liv says something to him, and he gives me a thumbs-up. I’m sure they both think we’re heading into the alley to make out.

“Before you say anything, I need to tell you how sorry I am,” Caleb says once the door has shut behind us and we’re alone. “I know I should have told you everything sooner. But I was afraid you wouldn’t understand. I guess selfishly, I didn’t want anything to change between us. . . .”

“I understand perfectly, Caleb,” I say. “I just hope you can forgive me too.”

His face clouds. “Forgive you for what?”

Instead of answering, I place my right hand on his cheek. It’s warm, and the stubble on his jaw tickles my hand. I look at him for a moment, then I touch the Stone of Carrefour hanging from my neck and ask Eloi Oke to open the gate.

“Lemon balm to release you, saltpeter to change your fate, rue to reverse a charm,” I say quickly, before he has a chance to stop me. “Spirits, please grant the Shaw family a return of their free will.”

“Eveny, what are you—” Caleb begins to say.

But I cut him off by continuing with the brief incantation Chloe taught me. “M’lage ou. M’lage ou. M’lage ou,” I say quickly, the Creole version of I release you.

There’s a brief swirling wind in the alley, and then everything goes still.

Caleb pulls away. “What did you just do, Eveny?”

“I let you go,” I tell him. “Officially. So you’re not obligated to protect me anymore. You and your family have your life back. And if I die, you still live.”

His eyes get even bigger. “Eveny, no, you don’t know what you’re doing!”

“I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“But you just broke the bond between us! That means I won’t know where you are if you’re in trouble and you need me!”

I take a deep breath. “I know that. So you’re free now. Get on with your life.”