Page 58 of Touched By Darkness

“I told you, he was helping me.”

“And what does he want in return? Information?”

“No!”

She jumps to her feet, and then, in a flash, she’s in front of me with her teeth bared. “I don’t buy your lies.”

“I’m not asking you to.” I bare my teeth as well, refusing to back down.

“This is kinda hot,” Ronan says, slouched on the couch with the joint dangling from his lips.

I ignore him. “I am not here to hurt anyone.”

“You haven’t answered my question,” Daemon drawls, picking imaginary lint from his jeans. “Why would he help you out of Eden? And not only that, how did he get into contact with you inside of Heaven in order to even help you out? We can’t communicate with angels. Eden is bordered shut to outsiders.”

Fuck him and his intelligent brain.

“You want the truth?”

His dark eyes hold mine, unraveling me layer by layer, then he smirks. “I want the truth.”

ChapterThirteen

AURELIA

We stay locked in a stare-down until I release a defeated sigh and step back. What options do I have but to tell them the truth? But even if I tell him the truth, he won’t believe me.

None of them will.

The truth is too far-fetched, too crazy, and too out there.

“I can’t tell you the truth,” I whisper quietly.

“You can’t, or you won’t.”

“I can’t.” There’s a bite to my tone now. “I can’t explain it to you because it doesn’t even make sense to me.”

Dariana snorts with disgust, and Alaric narrows his eyes on me, as if he’s hunting for more than the truth.

“You have no choice but to try, little witch.”

My attention returns to Daemon, who watches me from beneath his dark lashes. His gaze lacks the affection it once held, and it hurts so much to be the subject of his cold indifference that I avert my gaze and stare at my reflection in the window behind him. The wind whips through the trees, causing a branch to slam against the glass rhythmically. I choose to focus on it instead of the tense silence in the room.

“I don’t think you understand, little witch. Either you tell us the truth, or we hurt you. Now, I suggest you sing like a lark.”

My teeth grind together as I meet his unrelenting, detached gaze. “The simple fact that you’re willing to hurt me is why I’ll keep the truth to myself.”

The old Daemon would have never hurt me. Even as I think it, I know I’m lying to myself. The old Daemon hurt me time and time again to get beneath my skin so he could peer inside me.

But not like this. He wanted me in his own twisted way.

Daemon rises from his seat and kills the distance between us in three steps. That’s all it takes before he’s in front of me, engulfing me with his dark presence that whispers to mine. His punishing fingers dig into my chin, commanding my attention. Fighting is futile, so I don’t even try as I meet his dark gaze and allow him to pull me further into his darkness.

“I’ll tell you a story, Daemon. There once was an angel with blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, and wings as white as God’s eternal light. The little angel wandered Eden aimlessly, restless and curious about the world outside the shimmering golden gates. For years, she fought the desire to let her inquisitive mind lead her into trouble until, one day, she found herself in front of the gates. As if they had waited for her, they creaked open, and the angel snuck out.

She hesitated at the tree line, staring up at the tall, spindly trees that resembled demons with fangs and talons. Inside her, a little voice urged her to go back, to stay clear of the darkness calling out her name and urging her closer. But against her better judgment, she entered the forest, and it swallowed her whole.” I wrench free from his grip and pin him with my steady gaze. “Three male angels, with wings black as night, found the angel wandering through the trees and decided to take her back to Hell.

Once there, they corrupted her soul beyond repair, toyed with her, and stole her heart. They dipped her wings in ink and tattooed themselves on the tapestry that made up her very essence. Her very soul. More importantly, they stole her from God. But an enemy had them in his sight. A terrifying, dangerous, and vengeful enemy, who entered the angel’s mind, threatening her life.

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