"So don't use your power."
His nostrils flared.
"Don't pursue her as a Dark One…" I whispered. "Pursue her as a man."
Cassius closed his eyes and leaned back against the headboard. "Or I simply don't do anything."
I burst out laughing at the way his heart picked up pace. "I'd really like to see you try."
"You don't think I'm strong enough?" he roared.
"No." I shrugged and got up. "I think you're tired of fighting what's been in front of you too damn long, but good luck with your plan. I'm sure that will work out really well, you miserable bastard."
"Since when do you talk to your king like this?"
"Since I realized he's more friend, more brother, than king."
Cassius's lips twitched. "Don't let that get around. Imagine what it would do to my horrible reputation."
Laughing, I turned on my heel and walked toward the door. "Cassius?"
"Hmm?" He lifted his head.
"You owe it to you, and you owe it to her to at least try."
"And fail?"
"Trying isn't near as fun when you already know you'll succeed."
"Go find your mate. I'm tired of you making sense, vampire."
Smirking, I waved him off and made my way downstairs, passing Stephanie's room on the way. Alex was just leaving, his expression amused.
"What?" My eyes narrowed.
"She's human."
"So?"
"I just find it funny." Alex slapped me on the back. "We gain a human a few days ago only to lose her and gain another."
I stopped walking. "Genesis is still human."
Alex tilted his head. "Her heart still beats, yes. But…" His smile grew. "Interesting. You didn't even notice."
"Notice?" I gripped him by the shirt and slammed him against the wall. "Notice what?"
"Holy shit!" Mason screamed from the kitchen.
Alex burst out laughing. "I think you're about to find out, poor Mason. I do hope he was able to get away in time."
Genesis
"Mason!" I covered my mouth with my hands — my very sharp mouth. "I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me!"
His mouth was still open, maybe in shock, possibly a bit of horror as he looked from the raw steak back to me. "Blood."
I shook my head. "It just — I didn't—"
Mason roared with laughter then carefully set the knife down and made his way around the table. "Fangs look good on you."
I covered my mouth again. "But I'm human."
"Vampires get very protective when they feel threatened." He held up his hands then tilted his head. "May I?"
"What?"
He winked and leaned down, pressing his head against my stomach. Was he insane?
"Mason, please, tell me why the hell you have your head pressed against my mate before I rip your tongue out."
"Such violence," Alex said in an amused voice. "You'll have to learn to guard what you say when you have a little person running around."
"Little person?" Ethan repeated.
"Shh…" Alex held his finger to his lips. "…listen."
Ethan stared at me then at Mason then at Alex. "Three heartbeats, but—"
"But…" Alex nodded. "Do you hear that fourth one? Kind of sounds like a horse taking off, its hooves hitting the race track in rapid succession."
Mason grinned and looked up at me. "Healthy."
"Wh-what?" I was still covering my mouth.
"Vampire blood…" Mason laughed and slapped his knee as he sat down. "For one reason or another the mixture of the bloody steak and me holding a knife set your heart racing. Protective vampire blood took over, compliments of your mate and newfound immortality, and here we are…"
"I attacked you!" I wanted to crawl under the table and hide.
"To protect your little one." Mason winked. "It won't be the last time."
"Little one," Ethan repeated still as a statue.
Alex grinned between all of us. "I'd like to point out I knew first."
"How?" Ethan growled.
"I counted." Alex rolled his eyes. "The heartbeat was so faint at first. I thought it was because we were losing Cassius, and then when Genesis walked in, it was stronger. And we all know what happens when a mate is made immortal. They take on different… gifts… from their immortal partner. She's still human, but mama bear will most definitely fang a bitch or…" He smirked. "…a werewolf — my apologies — if she feels threatened."
Mason let out a low growl while Ethan moved around the table and gathered me into his arms. "You're pregnant."
"Um…" I gulped. "Apparently."
"Immortals move fast and all that." Alex yawned. "Oh, and here's some good news. Six months — not nine. Immortal blood develops faster."
I nodded my head, unsure if what I was hearing was actually happening. "I think… I think I need to sit."
"Yes, well, just keep your fangs in." Ethan grinned.
Horrified, I touched my mouth again only to find the fangs gone. "What happened?"
"Retracted." Alex winked. "Cool trick, right?"
"Alex, don't you have somewhere to be?" Ethan hissed.
"No." Alex pulled out a chair. "I really don't, and it's Uncle Alex."
Mason grinned.
"Does that make me a grandfather?" Cassius stumbled into the room. "Because as much as a new life excites me, I'm the oldest here, and the thought doesn't sit well with me." He winced and pulled out a seat.