I almost dropped her on her ass. I'd been taunting her, teasing. I wasn't serious.
Slowly, I brought her back up to standing position. "Then take a bite."
"What?" she gasped.
"Just a small one…" I teased. "It's perfectly natural."
"But I'm a human."
Her cheeks were completely flushed; her heart beat faster and faster. It was like a drug, listening to the physical effect I had on her body.
I raised her hand and twirled her twice, fast, and bit into my wrist on the third twirl. Three drops of blood met her lower lip.
She licked. Her eyes flashed green — my green.
And I lost complete control.
My mouth met hers in a frenzy; the perfect mixture of my blood and her taste was devastating to my senses.
What was worse?
Her hands had moved to my shoulders and were now fisting in my hair, tugging me closer, her body arching, trying to gain better access.
Her lips suddenly turned cold.
I pulled back and met Cassius's gaze across the room. He was smirking, the bastard.
Genesis shivered, her eyes confused. "What just happened?"
"I kissed you."
"Yeah, got that part." Her cheeks were still flushed. "But then it was cold… like before."
"A trick…" I turned her slowly.
Cassius nodded from his spot across the room.
Genesis leaned back against me, her knees buckling. "I want to go home now."
"You can't."
"What?" She turned in my arms, grabbing my jacket with her hands. "You mean we have to stay here all night?"
"Wait, what?" I shook my head. "Home as in… back to your mother?"
Her cheeks went bright red. "No, I mean… back to the house. Your house."
Home. She'd called my house her home. Male pride roared in my chest. Barely keeping it together, I nodded my head and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Yes, but first you must acknowledge Cassius."
"Why?" She dug her heels into the floor.
"Because he's as close to a king as we get, and every immortal, regardless of their feelings toward him, has to pay his respects."
Genesis reached for my hand, squeezing the life out of it. "But he won't hurt me, right?"
Pieces of her golden hair clung to her ruby red lipstick. I tugged them away and cupped her face. "He can't touch you — not with me here. I swear."
Nodding, she kept her tight grip on my hand as I led her through the crowd. The closer we got to Cassius the quieter it became. By now, it was no secret that I'd stolen Genesis from him — marked her, claimed her, and then had had the nerve to show up with her at the Gathering.
People knew our history.
But that didn't make what I'd done acceptable.
In fact, had I not been an Elder, I was pretty sure he would have ripped my heart from my chest and crushed it in his hand.
Cassius leaned against one of the tables, his arms crossed. He wore a smile that would make anyone — mortal or immortal — sell his soul for just one more.
I hated him in that moment, all over again, because I'd known an immortal once who'd been willing to do anything for one of Cassius's smiles or touches.
Feeling sick, I held Genesis tighter. Not her. Please not her. Cassius had taken everything from me. Would he take her too? Was she weak like Ara had been?
A lie.
It had all been a lie.
Just like my bond with Genesis was a lie.
I bit into my lip, drawing blood as Cassius's grin grew with each step we took toward him.
He was wearing a white button-up shirt, revealing half his chest. I rolled my eyes. Dark Ones were vain, nice to look at, but they knew it.
At least vampires tried to appear humble.
Cassius knew he commanded the world and lived for that power.
"Genesis." Her name on his lips had me hissing aloud.
He grinned wider.
I imagined myself strangling him then removing his head from his body.
"Cassius," Genesis whispered.
The room was completely silent.
Cassius held out his hand.
Genesis looked at me, refusing to take his hand.
"Ah, he's taught you well." Cassius drew his hand back. "Apparently, your mate doubts your ability to stay true. If you really loved him… if the bond has truly worked… you'd be able to touch me and feel nothing. Did he tell you that?"
"Yes," she lied.
I could kiss her. I hadn't told her the truth — was afraid to — because of my own insecurities.
"I just don't want to disrespect Ethan."
Cassius's eyes narrowed in on Genesis. "Interesting."
Stephanie appeared by Cassius's side; he pulled her close to his body, his eyes going from blue to white then back again after releasing her. I didn't understand their special type of friendship, and a part of me didn't want to.
Sirens could become just as addicted to Dark Ones, and I hated to think that Stephanie had fallen into his trap like so many others before her.
Though her eyes stayed blue, and she didn't give off the normal chill a woman claimed would.