Page 18 of Touched By Darkness

“I’m a fallen angel,” I breathe out.

“You are,” he confirms as he shifts behind me and trails his touch over my black feathers.

I’m too stunned to push him away. I can barely breathe, unable to take it all in.

I lean in to get a closer look and blink my lashes. “My eyes are brown.”

“And your wings are black.”

My gaze meets his in the mirror again, and I slowly straighten back up, then turn. “What does this mean, exactly?”

“It means you can now blend in with the crowds.” He walks to the minibar over by the window and proceeds to pour himself a tumbler of amber liquid.

Slowly turning back around, I study myself in the mirror. My once pale skin is now tanned, and the freckles on my nose are no longer visible. My blonde hair is the darkest shade of black and reminds me of smoke and midnight. It shines, silky smooth, beneath the flickering flames on the walls. I can hardly recognize myself.

“Looks like you have some explaining to do when you see your friends.” Amenadiel doesn’t attempt to hide the amusement in his voice.

“How did this happen?” I whisper.

“How? By committing the ultimate sin and relinquishing the last of your light. You were already tarnished by sin, but your act of violence inside the gates of Eden drained you of your remaining light. I think a more eloquent way of putting it is to say that you sold your soul to the Devil. Now”—he gestures in my general direction—“get dressed.”

“In what? I have no clothes.”

Amenadiel takes a sip of his alcoholic drink before making his way over to the walk-in closet. He re-emerges a few seconds later with a black dress and a pair of heels. “Here. The shower is through there.” He points to an adjoining bathroom. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”

The door clicks shut behind him and I stare after him for a long moment, wondering why he’s being so kind to me when he tried to murder me not long ago. Worrying my lip, I look down at the strappy dress in my hands. It’s made of silk and has a cowl neck. It’s more revealing than what I would normally wear, but considering I’m currently naked, this is plenty of fabric.

At least, I think so, until I step out of the bathroom after my shower. If I bend over, I’ll flash my ass to strangers.

“Fucking typical,” I mutter.

Amenadiel nearly chokes on his drink when I enter the spacious living room. And not because he thinks I’m a sexy vision he wants to tear into with his teeth, but due to the unimpressed look on my face.

“Are you making fun of me? Is this supposed to be a joke? This dress makes Dariana look modestly dressed.”

“That dress will ensure Daemon sees no one but you,” he replies when he stops coughing.

My eyes narrow. “What are you doing?”

“Ensuring you turn heads at the academy. Why?”

I watch him turn away from the large window and take a seat on the couch in front of the blazing fire. It’s an impressive mantelpiece with intricate, carved detailing. I’m drawn closer to the heat from the flickering flames. “Why? You’re a cold-hearted monster, for one. I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you. But don’t you worry, Amenadiel, I’ll figure you out.”

He bites down on ice, a lazy smirk on his lips. “Is that so?”

My eyes dance across the room. Thick, heavy curtains frame the tall windows, the chandelier on the roof is void of candles, and there’s a stack of firewood next to the fire. I back away when I spot the dead bear on the floor. Its jaw is wide open, and the teeth look fierce in the dim light. “Interesting rug.”

Amenadiel follows my line of sight. “Yeah, watch where you step so you don’t trip over its head. Been there, done that.” He tips his glass back and drinks the last of his amber whisky.

“So… It’s still early. If I leave now, I’ll make it to the academy just before lunch. Are you sure you won’t go on a murder spree the moment I walk out?”

Placing his tumbler down on the coffee table, he stretches his arm out over the back of the couch. His eyes sparkle with humor and something far darker that makes me want to shrink back. My survival instincts are always on high alert around Amenadiel. I’m not stupid; my brain, body, and mind know he’s ancient—one of the originals. With that comes power and control.

“If I wanted to go after Daemon and his friends, don’t you think I would’ve done it already? Why would I spend this long listening to your annoying, constant stream of verbalized thoughts?”

“Maybe because you were adamant you wanted to buy me to piss off your nephew. It wasn’t that long ago, and I don’t believe for a second that your stint inside my mind reformed you in any kind of way.”

“Well, sweetheart…” He rises to his feet and walks up to me. “I guess you have no choice but to trust me, hmm?”

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