Alex opened the door first. "What happened?"
I couldn't speak. I just shook my head, holding her closer to my body as Mason shoved Alex out of the way and let out a guttural howl before changing in front of my very eyes and running off into the darkness.
"It's still fresh, the death of his own mate," Alex whispered.
With a nod, I slowly lifted Genesis up and got out of the car. Alex shook his head and glanced at Cassius. "Stephanie's been asking for you."
"Stephanie is dead to me," Cassius said in a cold voice.
I froze and turned slowly, ready to rip his head from his body. "She better mean more to you than you say, Cassius. It's because Stephanie breathes that Genesis sacrificed herself. Go. Now. Apologize. Tell her the truth."
Alex cursed. "No." He shook his head. "No. It would destroy her. It's been over a hundred years. Just let her believe the lie. It's better for everyone."
"She has no idea what she is!" I roared. "And Cassius saved her pathetic life only to have her turn over Genesis to the very archangel who commanded her death!"
Alex hung his head. "She's my sister."
"Not by blood."
"In every way that matters." Alex clenched his teeth. "You're asking me to tell her I lied to her my entire life? About what she was? About who she was? You know the best part? I weakened myself purposefully to keep her strong, to keep the glamour in place, and now you want me to take that all away? All those years?"
"Alex." Cassius held up his hand. "I should have never asked it of you."
"You are king," Alex said in a deadly voice. "You speak. We do. Regardless of right and wrong."
"And I was…" Cassius seemed to trip over the words. "…very wrong to ask you to limit your own immortality in order to shield people from what she was — who she is."
As if hearing our discussion, Stephanie slowly walked out of the house, tears streaming down her face. "Is she dead?"
"No," I growled. "She's going to be fine."
"I'm so s-sorry," Stephanie sobbed. "It's my fault. I just wanted… I don't know why, I can't explain why. I just… something has always been missing."
Cassius swore while Alex held up his hands and walked off in the other direction. "I'm taking the car. Let me know what you decide. I can't watch this."
Stephanie wiped her cheeks. "I'll help you take her to the room. Maybe if she's in some place familiar, she'll wake up."
I grunted and pushed past Stephanie. "Maybe."
"Ethan…" Stephanie croaked. "You have to believe me. I'm so sorry."
"I know," I whispered hoarsely. "I know." With a curse, I turned to Cassius. "Tell her, or I will."
Stephanie sniffed. "Tell me what?"
Cassius seemed to pale in that instant, all at once, as he swayed on his feet, gripping the door with both hands. "Stephanie…"
"What?" She looked between us. "Cassius, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so weak?"
"He saved Genesis," I answered.
Realization dawned on Stephanie's face as she stumbled back from both of us. "When she wakes up… she'll belong to him."
I didn't say anything because I didn't know what would happen, and neither did Cassius.
"Possibly," Cassius finally said.
Stephanie choked out a sob and ran past both of us and up the stairs.
"Cassius," I growled. "Tell her."
"Yeah." He licked his lips. "Just let me catch my breath first."
"It won't get easier with time."
"I know." He hung his head. "Let me just… give me just…" He shook his head. "Something's wrong."
"Cassius?"
"Very wrong." His eyes narrowed until they were fully white then black, tiny pinpricks. "I think I'm dying."
The last sentence he uttered before falling to the ground.
Genesis
Sariel was standing with me, holding my hand. It felt good. He wasn't so cold anymore, mostly warm like me.
"His blood calls to you," Sariel whispered.
"Who?" I felt happy, complete, yet a part of me missed something, like I was staring at a really pretty picture, but it was missing something epic, something that would change my world.
"Cassius and Ethan, both of their blood fights for you right now. I'm afraid you must yet again make a choice."
I sighed, my heart remembering Ethan, my mate, my love. "He's so warm. Why is Cassius cold?"
"Opposites, I suppose." Sariel squeezed my hand. "It was never meant to be like this, Genesis."
"Like what?" I continued watching the waves crash in front of me. He'd brought me to the beach. It was calming, beautiful.
"This…" Sariel held out his hand. "Dark Ones were never meant to exist, but it seems a human is just like a siren in the sense that their blood sings to angels in a way immortals' does not."
"Was Cassius's mom beautiful like him?"
"Yes." Sariel hung his head. "And she died just like Ara."
"Because she loved you?"
Sariel was quiet then whispered, "Because I loved her — too much."