"The memories are removed. Just make sure she continues to donate blood and keep the glamour on her at all costs."
Alex shook his head. "I swear they'll never discover her true identity. On my life."
"Good." Cassius nodded. "That's good."
"Are you alright?"
"Of course!" Cassius pulled the hood over his head, covering his dark hair and white features, a pure giveaway to any of the townsfolk of what he was, what he was capable of. "Run along, Alex."
Alex rolled his eyes and left.
The girl stopped at the house, turned around, and lifted a hand in a cautious wave.
"Goodbye… Stephanie." Cassius cursed and walked in the other direction. Each step he took covered the grass with ice.
The scene faded.
And Ethan was back in the house with Cassius, Sariel, and Genesis.
Had they seen it too?
He turned to gauge Genesis's reaction. Tears streamed down her face as she shook her head in disbelief.
Cassius let out a pitiful moan.
"So you see…" Sariel rubbed his hands together. "…an abomination was allowed to live — still lives — for I've marked her, tasted her blood to be sure of it. Balance was wrecked the day she was born, and now we have someone from the same blood line living." He turned to Genesis. "Your great-great aunt should have made the call, should have paid for her sins. But she's dead, and soon Aziel's blood will leave your mate, and he will be gone from this world as well. So I tell you again, Genesis. You must choose who lives and who dies."
Genesis
My heart was shattering, breaking over and over again in my chest. It was hard to breathe.
Watching Cassius with Stephanie — it was like I could feel his pain, his agony as he watched her skip off — knowing that she would never remember him.
And things suddenly made sense. Why Stephanie was drawn to him. Why she loved him.
Why he pushed her away.
When all he wanted was to hold her close.
Tears streamed down my face at Cassius's helplessness.
Ethan looked absolutely dejected, his eyes black as he swallowed and gripped Cassius's hand.
It seemed, in the end, peace had been made between them. But who was I to decide? I loved Ethan, but I wept for Cassius, for what he'd gone through. I'd always been told Dark Ones had no capacity to love.
I'd been taught wrong.
Sariel, on the other hand, clearly had no heart — to put his son through that, to watch that and still ask me to choose who lived and who died.
I knew balance had to be restored.
It was my bloodline that had ruined everything in the first place. Ara had been selfish, and her selfishness had caused a split between our races.
But her selfishness had also caused a Dark One to love. And I couldn't be mad at her for that.
"Time's wasting," Sariel said in an irritated voice. "If you don't tell me, I'll just assume you wish for me to eliminate both of them."
"I love Ethan," I whispered. "But does that mean Cassius doesn't also deserve to live?"
"This has nothing to do with what Cassius deserves or your feelings for Ethan." Sariel pushed me forward. His feathers brushed against my skin. "This is logic, pure and simple. Two plus two does not equal three. For humanity's sake… for the sake of the immortals and keeping both races thriving… a life must be taken."
I trembled.
"You think me evil." Sariel's voice was so cold, so detached. "But this isn't evil. This is life and death. This is the most simple fact about both worlds — something that unites us, despite our differences."
"What about yours?" I asked. "What if I spilled your blood?"
Sariel's eyebrows shot up. "Interesting. You'd spill my blood to save them?"
"Yes."
"Impossible. But brave."
"A girl has to try."
He held out the purple feather. "Take it and make your choice."
My hands shook as I took the feather between my fingertips. How could something so soft be so deadly? The tip was pointed, like a knife.
"I love you." My eyes filled with tears as I looked up to Ethan. "You know that. You hear my heart."
"Genesis…" His eyes flashed. "Whatever you're thinking — don't. I can't live without you, but you can live without me." His voice cracked. "Cassius will take care of you, Alex, Mason…" His eyes pleaded with mine as a red and blue tear slipped down his cheek. "I'll always be with you." His hands reached out toward the feather, but Cassius moved him out of the way.
"I was the one who did wrong," he said in a strong voice. "I deserve punishment." His face cracked into a smile. "And I cannot love." His nostrils flared. "Even if I want to."
"But you did," I argued.
"In the past." Cassius eyes turned black. "And now I feel nothing."
"Lie." My voice was hoarse.
His breath hitched as he reached for the feather, his fingertips grazing the edges of it. "Genesis, stay with your mate."