Marked by Masks and Secrets (Everlasting Possession, #1)

by Maggie Sunseri

“Choosing meaning over meaninglessness is vulnerable, and vulnerability isn’t wrong. It’s beautiful and brave.”

“It’s not childish to be idealistic,” he continued. “All the greats are.”

softness and intuitiveness were just as powerful as masculine displays of strength.

Chaos witches weren’t gifted in one particular form of magick. Witches like me had all available currents open to us. We were in tune with the flow of the universe, connected to the spirit realm and the world of the gods, pulling from this natural order to concoct our own spells and magickal creations. We were necessary. We were the reason for innovation and change, new grimoires and covens, the keeping of balance and the communication with the powerful forces that ruled us all.

Witchcraft was best thought of as an ecosystem. Witches who ignored basic tenets of reciprocity, harmony, and balance would be continually frustrated by their lack of results.

“Orgies are a perfectly acceptable way to spend your Tuesday evening.

“Libraries are excellent places to teach ornery little princesses harsh lessons.”

“When you commune with the otherworld, you see it—that reality is ever-shifting. It’s not static. It’s not set. We decide reality. Everything is always in flux. The ether responds to us, and we respond to it; it’s an ecosystem of influence. If you believe the world has no meaning except power, the world—both in the spirit and physical dimensions—will respond and interact with you in accordance with that belief. You should never put such stringent limits on yourself. You talk, and the gods listen. You are the arbiter of your own destiny.”

Jill was his wife. I loved watching them together—the way she seemed both hopelessly in love and endlessly annoyed with Cecil both at the same time. It was a comforting, uniquely human depiction of devotion.

“Mm, you’re so fucking sexy when you threaten me. More please?”