y against the roof outside, but inside, the world had gone still. Eli stood at the door with a lantern in hand, casting a warm glow across the sh

the

s beneath Amon's shoulder blades, like wings that had been there once, torn out by brutal hands devoid of mercy

on murmured but

lted.

ve never seen a

admitted.

had ever seen. He moved like a cat: slow, passionate, and quiet. Those eyes still glowed

d as he stepped closer. "Why

"Because you

st melancholic. "Men don't help strangers

most men,"

agreed. "Yo

because Amon was threatening him, but becau

finally. "Not really. But I remember fire. I

d his brow.

ding it up. "They said I was too curious. They said I loved too much. They

him with wide

. "They tore out my wings, El

truth establishing its ho

re an

I am just a story that mothers tell their children

nk you are a villain,"

his head.

one broken.

Eli," Amon said quietly.

swung around, instinctively moving to

n't

fingers were long and cool, but there was heat

n, his voice lower now

owly, and Amo

the storm picked up outside once again, thunder rumbling like a heavy memory

iss it?"

e he wasn't interested in it. "No. Heave

t is

o feeling; no choice. You are expected to

hy

a whisper. "Because I fe

ed. "You fe

ed up at

h wh

name anymore. But he was.

eks, heart racing. "And t

-love of my kind and your kind is ta

air thick

trying hard to maint

i's. "Now I don't know what I'm doing. But being here,

ve moved back. He should have said

e whispered, "

lt unreal. Then lower, trailing down his jaw. His touch was

't," Amon

ou wan

es

Amon kis

wly; the kiss was searching, as if to remember somethi

soft skin, the quiet thrum of pow

Amon rested his

t to hurt yo

haven

et

He pulled the blanket tighter

said. "Before I forget that

ened, and even more importantly, what it all me

e did know one thing: I

h me. N