“He has a fascination with mortals.

Raphael had said that to her before she'd woken with wings of midnight and dawn.

"Why are you starting at me, Ellie?" Illium said without taking his eyes from the blade dancing around his fingers.

The words were instinctive, something she might as easily have said to rib Ransom. "You're so pretty, it's difficult to resist."

A flashing grin, a hint of that aristocratic English accent in his response. "It's hard to be me, it's true.”