Page 136 of Illusory

I started to turn and then halted as the tips of my wings began to flutter as though a gust of wind had swept through the room and stroked them. Except there was no wind to speak of. The subtle movement drew their eyes right back to my twitching feathers, fascination once again overtaking their features.

Feeling uncomfortable, I crossed my arms, completely dejected by my inability to have even the slightest bit of control over them. To make them disappear like I wanted them to. And standing there with them staring at me as they were only made me feel worse. More naked and alone and ashamed, like my body was being cut wide open and examined like some weird science experiment.

God, I really was a living, breathing sideshow freak.

I growled my frustration out and then spun on my heel to leave, not even bothering to say another word.

Trace and Dominic exchanged a look, but neither one tried to stop me this time as I shuffled out of the room and down the hallway. My footsteps felt alien and clunky, as though the weight of the wings were messing with my balance and making me unsteady on my own feet.

Then again, it could have been the indecent amount of alcohol I had drank tonight. Or the blood loss. Either way, it had both Trace and Dominic following me all the way up the stairs to my bedroom as though they were afraid I might not be able to make it up there on my own.

And if I was being perfectly honest, I wasn’t even sure of it myself, so I let them.

Flicking on the light switch, I walked straight to my dresser and pulled out a T-shirt and shorts to change into and then tossed them onto my bed as Trace and Dominic filed into my room. As much as I appreciated their accompaniment and concern, the only thing I wanted then was to be left alone.

“Thank you very much for escorting me to my room, but you can both leave now,” I said as I turned my back to them and pulled down the zipper that ran along the side of my dress before peeling the measly fabric off my body and kicking it into the corner. There was no time for modesty. Besides, I already knew my giant bird wings would cover everything that needed covering, and the quicker I got out of the dress and into my pajamas, the faster I could get back to pretending I was just another run-of-the-mill Slayer.

Grabbing the T-shirt from my bed, I slipped my arms and head through the holes and then tried to pull it down over myself, but the shirt snagged on my wings, bunching up around my shoulders and refusing to budge no matter how many times I tugged at it. Because, you know,wings. Stupid, fucking wings.

“Here, let me help you,” offered Trace from somewhere over my shoulder.

But that was the last thing I needed.

“I’m fine. I don’t need your help,” I snapped more harshly than I’d intended as I continued to struggle with the shirt, trying to force it onto my body. It didn’t matter which way I worked it, there was too much of my feathered appendages and not enough fabric to cover them.

Giving up, I ripped the shirt off and chucked it into the corner pile with my dress. My vision blurred as I glared at the T-shirt, trying not to cry. I hated the wings. I hated everythingabout them. I just wanted them to go away so that I could be my father’s daughter again. So that I could be normal again.

“Why don’t you tell us what youdoneed, angel?” suggested Dominic, his voice soft and disarming.

“What I need is to get rid of these fucking wings,” I cried as I spun around to face them, a single tear trickling down my cheek before plummeting to the ground below me. “So, unless either of you know how to do that, I think I’m just about done with this entire night.”

Trace’s eyes darkened to night as Dominic swallowed roughly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as his eyes ran down the length of my body. It took me a few seconds to realize what had them in a chokehold: Me standing there with nothing on but Tessa’s black, strapless bra and my cotton red underwear.

Mymismatchedred underwear. Because of course they were.

Heat flooded my cheeks as an almost pained growl rumbled deep in Trace’s chest. He immediately tried to close the gap between us, practically lunging from the spot he was standing in, but Dominic threw his arm out in front of his chest and stopped him.

“I think it’s safe to say that your wings aren’t going anywhere, angel. It seems you’re going to need to get used to them whether you like it or not.”

I already knew that. I did. But it still didn’t stop me from wishing them away anyway.

Trace exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders as he pulled himself together. “Why don’t you let us see if we can help you learn to control them?” he asked gingerly, his eyes back to their usual pristine blue as he lowered Dominic’s arm.

The prior conversation I had with them about ‘riling my emotions’ flashed through my mind and I dutifully shook my head. Things had already gotten heated enough beforewithout them trying to do it on purpose. “N-no. That’s okay. I think I’m just going to wait them out.”

“Ah, yes,” taunted Dominic as he slipped his hands into his pockets. “That’s a splendid idea. Why deal with the problem at hand when we can drag it out indefinitely? Should we tuck youandyour wings into bed now, or would you prefer to go another round with a T-shirt first?”

I wasn’t sure which part of his statement to bark at first. “Are you seriously mocking me right now?”

“I don’t know, angel. Am I?”

“You know what, Dominic? Screw you!”

He snorted as he crossed the room to me, stopping just inches from where I was standing, half-naked and bristling. “I’d be happy to oblige you,” he said as he leaned in close to my ear and purred, “but apparently we’re not doing that anymore.”

All the blood rushed up to my face, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of my anger or because of the memories his comment dragged in with them. “I hate you right now.”

His gaze skirted over my shoulder at my wings flapping behind my back before boomeranging back to my eyes, a small smirk forming on his lips. “I think we both know that’s a lie, angel.”

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