Page 37 of Immortal Alliance

“I don’t know,” she replies. “I know the missing memories have something to do with my mother’s and sister’s deaths, but... part of me doesn’t want those memories to resurface. They might break me.”

“I don’t think so. You’re much stronger than you were then, Eilish. Nothing can break you unless you let it,” I reply.

“There’s still so much I don’t know. So many questions I still have.” She takes a breath. “I still don’t understand why I am the way I am—how I have two sets of wings.”

“Do you think those answers will come to light as well?”

“I hope so,” she says. “I already know my father was an incubus. His wings were like mine, from what I remember. Pyre and Noni both know of him, and so does Theren. I know very little, but I want to learn more.”

I pause as I consider telling her what I know. I’m just worried it might open a can of worms I’m not ready to face. “I knew your father, Eilish.”

“What?”

“Theren and Cambion did, as well.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” she demands, angry.

“I didn’t piece it together until I learned who your father was. And that was only recent.”

“How did you know him?”

“Cambion and I went to him to ask for his aid during the war, before Theren sided with Variant.” I pause as I take in her stunned expression. “Your father refused us.”

***

EILISH

Mercenary Stronghold

The light inside the tent is barely glowing when I return. I can’t believe Dragan knew my father, thatall of themknew my father and yet none of them ever told me! My mind is a minefield at the moment, and I can’t seem to settle my thoughts no matter how hard I try. Nights like this usually come with dreams, dreams I’ve been dreading since my memories started to return. I need to know who erased my memories, but I fear the answer might not be something I can handle.

Why didn’t Dragan tell me sooner? Why didn’t any of them tell me sooner? I guess I can understand why Baron wouldn’t have mentioned it—he probably doesn’t remember the fact that he knew my father. And Cambion has never gone out of his way to tell me anything so I guess that makes sense as well. But Dragan…

Dragan owed me more than this.

Yes, he might have only recently found out who my father was but as soon as he knew, he should have come to me! He should have told me!

I lay my head down in an attempt to rest and find myself hurtling through a seemingly endless vortex of images from my past and present. And then, there’s nothing but darkness…

“Mother!” I shout, bursting through the door as the remnants of my home crackle like embers in the hearth. I can’t find her! Panic begins to bloom in my chest.

He was supposed to protect them!

My hands burn as I sift through the ash, looking for any trace of my mother and sister. “Solya!”

A man stands over me.

Silvanus.

He helps me to my feet and his eyes are just as hard as they always are. He’s a god—he doesn’t understand the pain of losing someone.

“Don’t let him take you, Eilish,” he whispers. Suddenly, he’s gone, blown away with the snow that hovers on the wind.

Crimson catches my eye, stark against the white snow. A trail of blood leads to the mangled bodies of my family—their heads severed, displayed on pillars of ice like macabre statues. Chunks of flesh litter the ground, and I fall to my knees…

“I’m too late,” Cambion says as he appears above me.

I peer up at him from over my shoulder, not caring if the snow and blood have begun to soak through my breeches. His eyes are full of emotion even as his expression remains impassive.

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