Evelyn's POV
Maybe I was doing it wrong.
I waited for the coughing to subside, forcing myself to steady my breathing, and then took another drag, but the moment the smoke hit my throat, it rebelled instantly, burning like I had swallowed fire, my body utterly confused by this sudden intrusion—unsure where to send it, how to process it, and certainly incapable of releasing it with anything resembling the quiet elegance Julian had shown.
“—cough, cough—”
The sound tore out of me again, harsher this time, my eyes watering uncontrollably as the irritation spread.
…
“—cough, cough—”
…
“—cough, cough—”
Each wave of coughing felt like a public declaration of failure, my composure unraveling with every breath I couldn’t control, tears spilling freely down my cheeks as I stood there, painf
