"You mean, he's never been like this before? In all the years you've known him?" Her eyes were accusing. Then again, she was scared for him — she loved him.
"Just how old do you think I am?" I fired back. "And no." I released her hand. "I've never seen him like this. I can hear his heart… it's slow."
She slowly made her way to his side and reached for his hand. The minute she touched him, the temperature in the room rose a few degrees, I could taste it on my tongue, taste the heat of life building, boiling inside him.
"I can't explain it." Her eyes locked on him. I imagined she couldn't look away even if she wanted to. "The pull he has on me. Like I've known him my whole life — like I've waited for him—" She hung her head. "Or maybe like he's been waiting for me. It's stupid." Her laugh was hollow. "I know it's stupid, but I can't help it."
"Stephanie…" I took a seat across from her. "It's not stupid… because a very long time ago… there was an innocent little girl caught in the middle of a war that should have never been started. He saved her life and, in return, hid her true identity from herself."
"What?"
The easiest way was to show her, so I bit into my wrist and held the blood to her lips. "Drink and see."
"I've never drunk vampire blood."
"Yes, well, this is a day of firsts." I rolled my eyes. "Just know it's going to burn going down, always does for your kind."
"Sirens?"
My throat was thick with emotion. "No. Dark Ones."
Her mouth dropped open. I took advantage and shoved what I could of my wrist past her lips. The minute the blood entered her body, her head fell back, eyes white, mouth open.
I closed my own eyes and focused in on the exact memory I needed to pull.
Cassius in the Orchard with Stephanie.
Stephanie and Alex.
Him wiping her memories.
And finally, her waving goodbye.
It broke my heart all over again to feel his sadness — to experience his loss as if it was my own.
With a gasp, Stephanie opened her eyes and stared at Cassius. "He saved my life."
"He did."
"He…" Tears streamed down her cheeks. "He promised I would never forget him." Her lips trembled. "He lied."
"He had to protect you — at all costs. Dark Ones are no longer made, Stephanie. You know that. He's one of the oldest, one of ten who were allowed to live."
"But I'm alive," she whispered, touching her fingertips to her mouth. "I should be dead."
"Yes, well… Genesis made an offer Sariel couldn't refuse."
Stephanie covered her face with her hands. "Tell me she didn't sacrifice herself for everyone."
I didn't deny it. "And when she did Cassius offered her immortality — something that only he was strong enough to give — to bring her back from the brink of death."
"And now he's cold… dying."
"We don't know that," I said in a soft voice. "But I do know he needs you… he needs your blood."
Stephanie's gaze snapped to mine. "Would it work?"
"No idea." I licked my lips and stood. "But it's worth a try." I cringed at the thought of Mason's advice but offered it nonetheless. "The werewolf seems to think a kiss does the trick."
Stephanie's lips twitched. "He never let me kiss him."
"But I thought you spent the evenings with him and—"
"Talked." A rosy hue pinched her cheeks. "I just wanted to be by him. For some reason, his touch never affected me the same way it did others. It was comforting, familiar, so I've been pestering him every night for the past few years. At first he only let me visit once a year, after I'd come of age… and then it quickly turned into once a month, once a week, every night."
"He cares for you," I said. "I'm sure of it."
"I wish that was enough… caring." She gripped his hand tighter. "But maybe I can love him enough for both of us."
"Nobody deserves to live that way, Stephanie, regardless of what he did."
"He saved my life," she said simply. "How selfish of a person would I have to be to not offer him the same kindness, regardless of how I feel for him?"
"Dark Ones have never tried to bond to one another — ever."
"I know."
"You could die."
"I know."
"I didn't bring you in here to save him… but to give you the truth."
"Then thank you," Stephanie stood and kissed me on the cheek, "for giving me both."
In an instant she turned in my arms and lunged for Cassius. The room plummeted in a blanket of cold as she leaned over him.
"I'll need your teeth, Ethan." She held her arm behind her.
I bit deep.
Pain marred her features, and then she was in my arms. "On the lips."