Intense frustration shoots through me then as I open my eyes. “Why are you stopping?” I demand breathlessly, searching his face, which looks a bit too smug for my liking.

“You did it,” he smiles. I must seem confused because he adds, “your wings…” and he points to the mirror behind me.

Looking over my shoulder, I can no longer see my wings in the mirror. I am back to looking human again, but I can’t help feeling disappointment because it hadn’t taken very long at all and the method of getting them to retract is very, very, satisfying.

“Oh,” I say lamely, touching my fingertips to my swollen lips. “I thought you said I had to relax. I don’t feel relaxed.” I feel like I’m being consumed by fire, I think to myself.

“This was the other way to do it,” Reed replies with smoldering eyes. “You were so focused on pulling me to you that you were able to do that to your wings.”

“Oh,” I say again lamely, “thanks.”

“No, thank you,” he says softly, leaning forward and caressing my neck with his lips. Then, he whispers, “Do you want to go downstairs now?”

“Downstairs?” I stutter.

“Russell…library…” he replies, still kissing my neck lightly.

“Umm…ahh…yes,” I groan, pulling away from him. “I’d better go downstairs before Russell starts looking for me. I don’t want to try to explain what happened to your room.” Jumping down from the counter, I have to steady myself against it as the alcohol I had just chugged begins to “relax” me. “This should be interesting,” I mutter, squaring my shoulders. “Zephyr is still downstairs?” I ask, hesitating because I don’t think that I really want to ever see him again.

“Yes. He is still here. He wants to speak with you further. You are fascinating—I don’t think I am going to be able to get him to leave willingly until you answer more of his questions,” Reed replies, leading me out of the bathroom.

“What if I get the answers to his questions wrong?” I ask as fear shoots through me again, making my wings restlessly twitch inside of me. I have to calm down or they are going to come popping out of me again. I take a deep breath, trying to relax.

“You won’t get them wrong,” Reed says reassuring me, while walking with me hand-in-hand toward the library.

I don’t have time to worry about what Zephyr might do because Russell immediately rises from his chair when he sees me. Before I can say a word, he lifts me off my feet, embracing me in a bear hug that forces the breath from my body; I feel oddly comforted by it, even as low growls come from both of the angels in the room.

“How did you get here so fast, Russell?” I ask him, hoping he will set me back on my feet before one of the angels decides he has hugged me long enough. Judging by their impatient breathing, it isn’t going to be long from now.

“I told Freddie I forgot somethin’ at our dorm, so he lent me his keys. I still had my clothes in his car, so I changed on the way,” Russell says grimly, indicating the jeans and t-shirt he is wearing instead of the toga I had left him in earlier. He sets me back on my feet, but holds my hand in his. “But, ya beat me here…” he trails off.

Feeling myself paling, I murmur, “Yeah, I beat you here.”

His eyes narrow as he says, “I saw the ones you were talkin’ ‘bout when I went inside to get Freddie’s keys—the Sebastians. I’m startin’ to be able to recognize y’all,” he says, turning to Reed. “Just look for the super attractive people in the room, who seem to have a glow about ‘em, and my skin’s crawlin’ instantly,” Russell says in a surly tone. “They were definitely lookin’ for somethin’. And they kept talkin’ to the walls. It was creepy,” Russell adds as a shiver escapes him.

Stealing a glance at Zephyr, I try to judge his reaction to what Russell is saying. What will Zephyr do if he realizes that Russell is figuring out what they are? Sitting back in his chair, Zephyr toys with the glass in his hand. His eyes aren’t on Russell, but instead, he is studying me.