"You still killed her."
"I loved her too much to let Cassius do it — loved her too much to turn her into a monster. She wasn't made for it. She was one of the first humans to start… showing effects of the imbalance. A part of me believes it's my fault that the humans keep dying."
"What are you saying?"
"No human mate had died — until I killed my own mate."
"And then?"
"Every human after… has died — not right away. Most live past a hundred having not aged at all. We think the immortality takes, and they simply don't wake up."
"You did something," she whispered, "to the natural order."
"Possibly."
"So it's your fault."
Heaviness descended like a fog. "It was my fault… for loving her too much."
"Your love for her destroyed everything."
"So now you know." I moved away from Genesis and laid my head down on the pillow next to her. "Loving again will take everything I have left."
"You can't love again? Or you won't?"
"It's already too late…" I slurred my words, darkness overtaking me. I needed blood and sleep. "It's too late for me now… but not for you."
"What?" Genesis shook my body. "What do you mean?"
"If you don't love back, the final step never completes itself. You'll be free. I'm setting you free."
"Ethan." Her voice was distant. "Ethan, what's happening?"
"Exhausted." I barely got the word past my lips.
Something soft hit one of my fangs. And then blood was trickling into my mouth.
Memories flashed.
"Now it's your turn to dream," Genesis whispered. "Dream of me."
Blackness overcame me and then, in an instant, I was sitting in a desk with other humans listening to the instructor drone on and on about immortals.
"Never look an immortal in the eye!" the teacher snapped. "You are nothing. Remember that."
I cringed.
A bell rang in the distance. I watched as Genesis stood and walked out by herself.
Her mother was waiting for her at the end of the hallway, hands on hips. "Where's your backpack?"
"Oh…" Genesis covered her mouth. She couldn't have been older than seventeen. "I totally forgot. I'll go back to my locker and—"
"Do you really think any immortal will want you? If you can't even remember something as silly as a textbook?"
Genesis shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
"Useless." Her mother gripped Genesis's arm and shoved her the rest of the way down the hall. "Good thing your number will never be called — you're too ugly."
"Yes, Mother."
I wanted to scream in outrage. She was gorgeous! Even in the dream, I could see the purity of the blood, taste the goodness on my lips.
A house appeared in the distance.
It was poorly lit. The shutters were falling from the windows, and the porch steps had seen better days. The foundation crumbled beneath the heaviness of the home, making it appear depressing.
I took the steps two at a time and found myself in Genesis's room.
She had books everywhere. Books about vampires, werewolves, and sirens. Then finally, Dark Ones.
"Are you studying?" Her mother's voice sounded from the other side of the house.
"Yes!" Genesis yelled, tugging a piece of licorice through her teeth. "Almost done for the night."
Her mother appeared at the door, took one look at Genesis, and scowled. "Candy makes you fat."
The licorice fell from her lips as tears welled in her eyes. "I thought you said I could have licorice if I skipped breakfast?"
"Ugly." Her mother sighed. "And now you'll be fat for them."
"But a number hasn't been called in years!" Genesis argued.
Her mother stilled. "Are you challenging my authority?"
"No." Genesis hung her head. "I'm sorry."
"I do this because I love you."
Bullshit!
Instead of staying in Genesis's room, I followed her mother to the other room where she sat down at a kitchen table and started pouring over bills.
Most of them were overdue.
"Stupid girl," she said under her breath. Her hands shook.
I glanced harder into the mother's eyes.
Jealousy stared right back.
"My number wasn't called." Her mother sniffed, still talking to herself. "Of course hers won't ever be called. It's all because of that stupid bitch."
She wasn't talking about Genesis.
Confused, I moved away from the mother and made my way down the hall again. Pictures lined the walls.
I smiled at the pictures of Genesis as a child.
Something about her struck me as familiar. Almost oddly so.
Her mother was in one picture.
And then another elderly woman. She had pretty, almond-shaped eyes.
The pictures went on, years and years of pictures. The color turned to black and white.
When I reached the end of the hallway, there was one final picture.
It was ancient. I leaned in.
My knees buckled as I braced myself against the wall.
"Ara," I breathed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Genesis
HE SLEPT FOR HOURS. I STAYED. A part of me wanted to leave, but he was right. After ten minutes, I'd calmed down enough to think about the situation logically, not that I still wasn't terrified he'd end up killing me. I no longer felt safe, but I didn't feel like Ethan was a threat.
I'd used his fangs to drop blood into his mouth, hoping it would have the same effect, since he was going to sleep. I wasn't sure if it would help him understand me better, but if it was a night for sharing, maybe he could at least pull information from my past.
I wasn't confident it would be helpful. He'd probably be bored out of his mind, but it was worth a try.
Two hours after giving him my blood, he jolted awake, nearly sending me off the bed in fear.
"Ara," he yelled.
I flinched. "Ethan? You were dreaming. It's okay." Clearly, my blood hadn't worked.
He turned, his eyes predatory. "Tell me you didn't know."
"Know what?" I brought my knees to my chest. "What are you talking about?"
"She's from your bloodline."
"Who?"
"Ara."
"The mate you killed?"
He growled.
"I—" Tears welled in my eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Her picture." His eyes went black. "I saw a picture. It was old — it was her."
"You have to believe me." I held up my hands. "I would never lie."
Ethan shook his head; dark circles appeared under his eyes. "Sorry…" He trembled. "I'm still exhausted. It was a shock. We need to visit your mother."
"She hates me."
"Shall I kill her for you? Once I've gained the information I need?"
"No," I blurted.
Ethan sighed against my neck. "Just give me the word if you change your mind. The woman's insane."
"Ara?"
"No. Your mother."
"I hope it doesn't run in the family."
"Your blood is pure." Ethan kissed my neck. "Believe that truth, and you'll be fine."
"Is that—" Insecurity wrapped itself around me. "Is that why you wanted to mate with me? Because I remind you of her?"
"No!" Ethan pounced on me, his eyes so black that I was afraid if I stared too long I'd fall into their depths and never come back to reality. "You're different — you feel different."
"Different," I repeated.
"Better," he soothed, nipping my lower lip. "The best."
"I don't want to be her."
"You aren't." His voice was commanding. "And I'm too exhausted to spend the night arguing with you."
"You can take more blood… if you need to." The thought sent a little thrill of excitement through me as his eyes faded back to green.
Ethan moved off me and stared up at the cei
ling. "You don't want me to do that."
"Why?"
"Because," he growled, "it won't be a little blood, just like it won't be a little bite… just like I won't stop at the bite but will continue kissing you and possessing you until you can't breathe — until my body fills yours, until you scream for more just when you don't think you can take it."
I had no words.
"Scared you?"
"I'm not sure." Was I feeling fear? Or excitement?
"Your heart's racing."
"Yes."
"If I asked you for everything, would you give it freely, knowing what you know?"
"If I offered you everything, would you take it? Knowing the possibility of my bloodline?"
We lay in silence.
I thought Ethan had fallen asleep.
Until he moved, hovering over me, his lips grazing mine with the softest of kisses. "I don't think I can stop myself…"
"What?"
"I can't set you free. I know I said I could. I can't. I lied."
"A vampire who's a liar. Who would have thought?" I teased.
He didn't return my smile. "It's a death sentence."
"Then show me sweet death." I wrapped my arms around his neck. He let out a pitiful groan before his mouth touched mine again.
"You ask for death — yet you offer me life."
"I'm human. We're confusing like that."
His smile felt good against my lips.
"Kiss me harder," I begged, hooking my legs around his body.
"I'm old… go easy on me." He returned my frantic kiss with a slow torturous one of his own. He licked my lips then pierced the bottom, sucking away droplets of blood.
"You don't want easy." I sighed.
In a flash, I was on my back, my shirt completely gone. "You're right." He tongued the curve of my ear. "Mine."
"Yours."
My jeans went flying. "All. Mine."
Cold air bit at my skin. My heartbeat sped up as Ethan's body hovered over me, his lips hot on my neck. With a growl, he tugged my hair, forcing my head back, exposing my neck completely to his lips.
His fangs slid across my neck. "I'm going to mark you forever. You still have a choice, Genesis."
"No," I breathed, squeezing my eyes shut, "I really don't."
"You do," he urged. His body was scorching hot behind me. "Tell me no."
"I can't," I repeated, tilting my head back further, arching my back.
With a growl, he pierced my skin. I felt each drop of blood leave my body.
I reached for his shirt, but he slapped my hands away, pinning my wrists above my head as his mouth nipped my neck again. My body almost bucked off the bed when he drank more. It was different than before.
His tongue scalded me — in the best way — almost like he really was forever marking me, making it so anyone who looked at me knew whom I belonged to.
"Ethan—" I almost choked on his name, stunned I could even remember it after all the emotions swirling inside me — fear, excitement, lust, and something else, something bigger than me, bigger than him, having him pressed against me, his hot mouth on my skin. It was right, even though I couldn't explain anything beyond that.
He drank deeper.
The room exploded into a burst of light.
I gasped in response. His mouth left my neck and moved along my chin.
He released one of my hands. I immediately dug it into his hair and pulled his mouth to mine. Our mouths met with such aggression — almost violence — that I was sure more blood would be drawn.
He chuckled against my lips. "Is the need for me greater than anything else?"
"No," I lied, not wanting to admit to him that my need was so great I didn't even want to survive without him — couldn't.
His eyes darkened as his tongue slid across my mouth. "I can taste the lie on your lips."
"Really?"
"God, you're beautiful." His eyes were so black, so inviting.
I tugged his head again then moved my hand down his chest. He closed his eyes; a hiss escaped between his teeth.
He lifted the shirt over his head and grabbed my hand, holding it firm against his muscled stomach. "Touch me."
I really didn't need an invitation.
I don't know what possessed me to lean forward and lick his stomach — but that's what I did.
A guttural growl erupted from him as soon as my tongue licked along the thick lines of muscle along his stomach. "I said touch me. Don't kill me."
Laughing, I traded licks for kisses; he tasted sweet — scalding. Power surged through me with each tremble of his body, each moan. His hands dug into my hair, tugging me closer to his chest. I reached for the button of his pants, expecting him to slap me away or say something.
He went very still.
Too still.
Nervous, I pulled back and looked up at him.
His eyes were back to green. "There's no going back, Genesis."
I kept my gaze trained on him as I slowly undid the button and slid my hands inside.
Green turned to black as his fangs dug into his bottom lip. His head tilted back. He was like a god… in that moment more immortal than I'd ever acknowledged or realized.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Ethan
HER HANDS STOPPED MOVING.
I'd killed her.
That was my first errant thought — because at that point, I'd stopped thinking rationally and had moved past logic, straight toward possessing Genesis and marking her beyond recognition.
With a groan, I touched my forehead to hers gently, so as to not scare her into realizing that she was, in fact, ready to give herself fully to something not human.
Her breathing picked up speed again.
I smirked and moved her hands down the side of my hips. When her fingers came into contact with my length, she let out a tiny gasp.
"Care to explore?" I taunted. "Or does the human not like playing with fire."
She gripped me — hard, almost painfully so — considering I was ready to impale the poor thing.
"I can handle it," she whispered in a husky voice.
"Prove it," I smirked, licking her lips again, needing that taste more than I needed anything else in my existence.
Her tight little fingers began to move. I enjoyed her innocence for about two seconds before I was ready to lose my mind.
"What?" she asked when I moved her hands away and quickly ripped off the remainder of my clothes. "I thought you wanted me to explore."
"We'll explore later," I said gruffly.
Her cheeks stained with delicious blood.
"I'm not patient," I blurted. "Not when it comes to you — your taste." I lunged for her. "Your essence."
With a predatory growl, I tugged her bra down and bit between her breasts then licked my way down toward her navel. Her body was made for exploring for hours on end — hours I didn't have — because selfishly, waiting seemed like a horrible idea.
Each lick had her muscles clenching.
Each kiss, her body damn near flying off the bed.
She was sensitive to my every touch. Possessiveness washed over me as I moved down her hips and bit the inside of her thigh, where her life source — her blood — ran purest.
I received a kick to the head. Dodging it, I chuckled and bit the other side of her thigh.
"That… feels… funny." She gripped the sheets in her hands.
"I believe, in this situation, the correct word is amazing… not funny, humorous, or any of the sort," I growled.
"S-sorry." She tried clenching her legs together.
"No." I pulled them apart and gazed upon every inch of her. "You're mine. I get to see every inch of you, I get to lick all of you, and when I'm done, I get to taste over and over again until you scream for me to stop."
"You think I'll want you to?"
I barked out a laugh. "You're only human."
"Don't break me."
"Wouldn't dream of it," I whispered against her inne
r thigh. "Now let the vampire play."
"I'm not sure I'm capable of handling that without passing out," Genesis whimpered when my mouth found her core. She let out another gasp while I steadied her hips exactly where I wanted them. She tasted so sweet I could have died.
"Ethan!"
I pulled back. "That was more of an irritated yell, not a scream." Sighing, I sucked harder, drinking her in. "Try again, human."
Tremors wracked her body.
She clenched her eyes shut. When they opened, they were bright green.
"Ethan." Now she said my name like a prayer.
"Yes?"
"What's happening?"
I was making sure she never left me — that's what was happening. "You're ready for me…"
"No." She shook her head. "I don't think I can take anymore of—"
I took possession of her mouth then lifted her into my arms. My lips moved to her neck, and I bit, knowing the effect it would have on her.
Our lovemaking wouldn't be fast.
Not if I drank.
I was going to extend every sensation… in slow motion.
One drop of my own blood lingered on my tongue. I shared it with her just as our bodies joined together.
Genesis's green eyes blinked in wonder as I lowered her down on me, inch by inch, sensation by sensation, each second sharing another drop of my blood, slowing down the process and making it so she would never forget what it felt like to be with her mate — to be possessed by me and only me.
Her body was made for mine — stretched around me so perfectly that even in my old age, with my experience, with my patience, I refused to share more drops of blood, refused to drink anymore. I just wanted her. Over and over again.
"You're mine," I demanded, thrusting faster and faster. "Say it!"
Her nails dug into my back.
I needed to hear the words.
Her green eyes flashed. "Ethan."
"Say it…" I slowed.
"Don't stop."
"Say it!"
"I'm yours."
The words washed over me as I thrust one last time, the walls of my carefully built world crashing down around me in shattered pieces.
She gave me her body.
In return, I gave her my soul.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Genesis
MY BODY WAS HEAVY — ON FIRE — and the only way it felt better was when I was pressed against Ethan. I had no idea how long we'd slept. He woke me up three times in the middle of the night. Each time, he'd drunk from me, never a lot, but enough to make it so my world stopped.
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