Stephanie squinted as if she was having trouble focusing. "Because a long time ago, you saved a little girl who should have died. It was the least I could do."
I watched the scene unfold. Something was off. Stephanie wasn't dying, not that I thought she would, but Cassius was—
"Cassius!" I yelled. "Stop touching her!"
Cassius frowned and looked down at his hands. They were still touching her skin, but Stephanie wasn't acting like a typical human being touched by a Dark One. Usually they were filled with so much lust that they attacked, and their arousal was so evident you could smell it in the air.
I smelled absolutely nothing but my own mate and every other person in that room.
No lust.
"Well…" Alex chuckled from the door. "How's that for a fun twist to the story? The great Dark One has no effect on Stephanie as a human."
I was relieved.
Cassius looked irritated.
He moved his hands down her arms then back up again, his face twisting with curiosity until he finally cupped her chin. "You feel nothing?"
Stephanie shrugged. "You feel a bit cold, but other than that, it's nice to be touched."
"Nice…" Cassius repeated. "Nice?"
"Bad answer," Genesis said under her breath.
I wrapped my arm tighter around her, tugging the warmth of her body against mine.
Cassius continued inspecting Stephanie as if he couldn't understand why she wasn't affected by him.
"You would know if she was lying," I finally pointed out. "And Stephanie, you should rest."
She nodded, suppressing a yawn with her hand. When she rose, she leaned over and kissed Cassius on the cheek. "I'm glad you're okay."
Cassius's face was priceless.
Never in his existence had he ever had any creature not be affected by his presence. I imagined it was a humbling experience — one he didn't enjoy.
"Thank you." He released her, his arms falling to his sides as if they carried the weight of the world.
She stumbled toward us.
Alex moved quickly, lifting her into his arms. "You know, you're still my sister… in every way that matters."
"Ha." She yawned. "So you won't disown me?"
"Not unless you really piss me off — then again, you are a human. By the way, do I affect you? Feeling warm and tingly?"
She frowned. "First of all, gross… second, no."
"Fascinating." Mason rubbed his chin and shook his head. "It must be because she started out immortal."
Cassius was still staring at the door long after Alex had carried her out of it.
"I need to talk to him," I whispered into Genesis's hair.
She nodded and held out her hand to Mason. "I believe you promised we'd share a steak?"
"You heard that?" Mason growled.
"All of it." She grinned. "Come on, feed me, wolf."
He smiled and tucked her into his body. "I'll feed you, but I may need help with my own eating habits."
"Together." She patted his chest. "Alright?"
He kissed her forehead and walked out with her.
Typically, I would have ripped his lips off for daring to graze her skin, but I felt her heart beat for me, saw her green eyes, knew without a shadow of a doubt that she loved me — and only me.
"Controlling your emotions well, I see," Cassius said in a low gravelly voice.
"One of us should," I fired back.
He looked away and cursed. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh?" I moved toward the bed and sat on the edge. "No idea at all?"
Cassius stared at the blankets.
I laughed. "Lie."
Mumbling another curse, he crossed his arms. "Dirty vampire trick, tasting the air to see if I'm being honest."
"Well…" I shrugged. "At least be honest with yourself. You're disappointed."
"It's called shock. Hasn't happened in a great while… I imagine it will pass." He licked his lips only to have those same lips covered in frost again.
"You love her."
"Dark Ones don't love."
"I really wish people would stop saying that when all evidence points to the contrary." I arched my eyebrows. "She's human now."
"Thanks, caught that."
"You could mate with her."
Cassius went very still.
I kept talking. "She's immune. She wouldn't become addicted or obsessed."
"Right," he croaked.
"Fear…" I tilted my head. "Now I taste fear. Odd, since Dark Ones are afraid of nothing."
"It's a day of firsts. I should sleep."
"You rarely sleep."
Cassius pounded the mattress with his fist. "Damn it! Why didn't she just let me pass? Things would have been so much easier."
"Do you truly want easy?"
"No."
"Cassius—"
"No!" He pointed at the door. "That woman… that, that—" He bit down into his lip. "She'll ruin me."
"How do you figure?"
"Because I'll fail."
"I think you lost me."
Cassius pushed the dark hair from his face and swallowed. "I don't know the first thing about honestly pursuing someone or something without using every ounce of power I possess. To Stephanie, I may as well be human."
"And that's so bad?"
"It's horrible." His eyes met mine. "Because I'll be found wanting."
"So insecure."
"Honest," he said in a humorless laugh. "She couldn't possibly want me, darkness and all, and even if she did, I have no power to convince her of anything."