Page 56 of Illusory

He ran his hand along his jaw. “That’s a good point.”

“But you’re right—I didn’t actually see them do it.” I frowned. “I didn’t see anyone.”

“Whatdidyou see?”

“Mostly, I justhearda lot of growling and snarling and clothes ripping. By the time I was actually able to open my eyes, I saw all of three things: I saw my wings. I saw the dead vampires. And then I saw the Hellhounds doing their bow thing.” I paused to think about it. “Or was it the bowing before the body parts? No. I think it was the body parts first,” I rambled, mostly to myself.

“Did you just say your wings appeared?” he asked as a strange look passed through his eyes, but I was still too preoccupied with the timeline to pay it much attention.

“My wings? Yeah. They must have popped out while they were feeding on me.”

“You’re sure of it?”

“Yeah, I mean, I was staring right at them.”

“Interesting,” he said, running his lean fingers along his jaw again.

“I guess so. I mean, I wish I could figure out how to do it ‘on demand’, though. I really can’t have those things busting out whenever they feel like it.” No doubt at the most inopportune moment because that was just how my luck went. “Seeing as you apparently know everything, maybe you know a thing or two about learning to control these things?” I asked him and then frowned at the distant look in his eyes. He hadn’t heard a word of what I’d said. “Dominic, are you even listening to me?”

“Always.”

“Liar,” I said, though my heart had sped up just the same.

“Tell me, angel,” he said as he grabbed the chair from my desk and dragged it over to where I was seated. “Did the hounds start attacking the Revenantsafteryour wings appeared or before?” he asked as he sat down across from me and leaned forward.

“I think it was after,” I answered gingerly, trying not to get distracted by the way the moonlight from the window made the edges of his face almost glow. “I felt something burning at my back while the Revs were feeding. I’m pretty sure it was the wings popping out.”

His lips coiled into a delicious smirk that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. “I think that’s it.”

“Hm?” I tore my gaze away from his lips and methis eyes. “What’sit? What are we even talking about?” I asked thoroughly confused since we’d apparently been having separate conversations this entire time.

“The wings, angel. I think they’re the reason why the Hellhounds protected you.”

I blinked at him. One time. Two times. Three. “How in the world did you reach that conclusion?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked and then went on before I could answer a resounding ‘no’. “You’re the Daughter of Hades. Lucifer’s daughter,” he said like it was the juiciest revelation we’d ever heard.

“And?” I blinked at him again. “I was the Daughter of Hades when I first walked into the house, too, and they had no problem attacking me then.”

“Because your wings were sheathed.”

“Why would they care about that?” I asked, still not following.

“Because up until that moment, you were simply a contract to be fulfilled. You could have been anyone—a no one. You’ve never aligned yourself with the Dark Legion or made any claim to that side of you. But the wings are undeniable proof that your blood isofLucifer—that you’re his direct heir.” His flint eyes glimmered dangerously. “Now, I’m no expert on the inner workings of Hades, but I would assume that alone gives you some sort of dominion over them.”

His words stunned me silent. Dominion? Over Hellhounds?

Could it be true? Could that have been the reason why the Hellhounds saved me instead of finishing the job? Was it possible that I held some sort of power over them because I was Lucifer’s daughter? And what about other demons? Could I get them to lay their weapons down too just by flexing my wings a couple times?

I highly doubted it, but it still seemed like something I should look into.

“We should test it out,” I said, emphasizing the ‘we’ part when I met his eyes again. “Maybe it works on demons and vampires too.”

“Demons, perhaps, but not Revenants,” he stated with complete certainty and a hint of arrogance.

“How do you know?”

“Revenants are earthborn demons. We did not originate in Hades and therefore are not subject to the rules or societal hierarchies of that Realm.”

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