He roared with laughter, interrupting what I thought was a pretty good speech.
"So that's what they tell you now?"
"Wh-what?" I looked behind me only because he kept looking behind us. For Cassius to fly overhead? Or what? We were in the middle of Seattle. It's not like the immortal would want to be seen.
"Immortals cannot have children with one another, Genesis."
"What?" I gasped. "But that's impossible. That would mean—"
Ethan's eyes flashed. "Do you really think that with all the money we have, all the resources, we would need a tiny pitiful ugly little human to tell us how to use a damn computer?"
Well, when he put it that way…
It didn't make sense. I mean, I'd studied their history, studied everything about each race. I'd studied my butt off so I could be useful for them, to them. And when all of that was finished, I'd even had to take classes on proper etiquette — how to serve at an immortal feast, how to dress when I was presented, how to—
"Oh, my gosh," I gasped, reaching for the seatbelt.
Ethan's hands went to mine. "Stop. It will pass. You're just scared."
"But—"
"Shhh." Something shifted in the car, maybe it was the temperature, maybe it was just Ethan trying to calm me down, but my heartbeat slowed way down.
"Did you just…" My words felt funny. "…slow down my heart?"
"I'm a vampire, love. What did you expect me to do? Bite you into silence?"
Yeah, that's exactly what I expected; it's what the books had said.
"Don't believe everything you read. Besides, I'm not the least bit hungry." He winked and took the next exit toward Lake Washington.
"So…" He drove the car like a maniac. Turns weren't just turns. It was like he was jerking the car so hard the steering wheel was about to come off. "Tell me you believe me."
"Believe you?"
"About your purpose?"
"What is my purpose?" I asked. "I mean, sir, or… um…" Crap, I'd drawn a blank on how I was supposed to address him. He was above me; I needed to show him respect.
"Ethan." He sighed heavily. "Damn, do they brainwash you that much these days?"
"These days?"
"We haven't called a number up in fifty years." Ethan shook his head. "Pity that Cassius would do it now. Then again, after looking at you…" He licked his lips. "…I'd probably do the same damn thing."
"What?"
"Home!" Ethan screeched the car to a halt in front of a gigantic, fenced-in mansion overlooking the lake. A few men stood outside the gates. When they magically swung open, Ethan sped inside then turned off the car. "Come on."
With no other option but to follow, I quickly got out of the car and followed him to the door.
Two men with the same-colored eyes but darker hair glanced from me to Ethan and back again.
The first spoke. "Apologies, my lord, but she… you cannot bring a breeder into the house! Not if you want to live through the night." He leaned forward and sniffed. "She's marked!"
"Stay out of it, Ben." Ethan gripped my hand and jerked me into the house.
"Breeder?" I repeated. "What did he mean by that?"
"Silence, human." Ethan continued pulling me through the house until finally stopping in a gourmet kitchen. "I don't know what to do with you yet. I don't suppose you'll take kindly to the doghouse out back or the nice water bowl with the name Scratch on it?"
My mouth dropped open. "A dog? You're going to treat me like your dog?"
"Joke." He smirked. "But good to know you're opposed to sleeping outside."
My knees threatened to give out. He must have noticed; in an instant I was in his arms being carried to the nearest chair.
"Humans," he whispered into my hair. "So fragile."
It didn't register I was in a vampire's arms. In fact, nothing was registering. Nothing was making sense, and I wasn't sure if I was even allowed to ask questions. It wasn't my place. My mom had made that clear.
I was terrified of doing the wrong thing — and suffering for it.
The room felt warm again. Warm and familiar. I looked up just as Stephanie and Alex rushed in the room.
"Your scent is all over the thing." Alex shook his head. "It's not enough."
Ethan hissed. "I've had her for fifteen minutes. He freaking marked her. What do you expect me to do?"
"Try harder," Alex clipped then turned his cold blue eyes toward me. "Sorry, little one, but this day's going to get a hell of a lot worse before it gets better."
"I'll do it," a third gruff voice said.
"Mason…" Ethan nodded. "…do your worst."
Mason grunted then held out his hand to me.
I didn't take it.
"Hell, Ethan, what did you do to her?" Mason rolled his eyes. "She's petrified."
"She's human," Stephanie pointed out.
"S-sorry." I shook my head. "I'm sorry that I'm scared."
They all stopped glaring at one another and instead turned their full focus on me.
"Fear attracts immortals," Mason said plainly. "It would be good of you to stop shaking."
"Slow her heart." Stephanie slapped Ethan in the chest. "Hurry."
Rolling his eyes, Ethan focused in on me, and slowly my racing heart went back to normal.
"Mason," Alex barked, "hurry."
"Right." Mason took a step forward. "We won't hurt you… but it will hurt."
"What?"
"Just…" Ethan cursed and looked away. "…stay as still as possible, human."
"She has a name," Alex grumbled, earning a fiery look from both Ethan and Mason.
My breath hitched when Mason leaned down, gripping my shoulders, and softly nibbled on my neck. It felt good — until a slicing pain followed the nibbling.
I shrieked.
He didn't let go.
When I was about ready to pass out, he pulled back, his eyes completely black. "It didn't work."
"Shit." Ethan ran his hands through his hair.
"You have to do something." Stephanie looked toward Ethan. "He'll find her if you don't."
"What the hell do you expect me to do?" Ethan roared. "Bite her?"
The room fell silent. Didn't vampires bite?
Isn't that what the text had said?
Alex exhaled loudly. "I'll try, just don't get all pissed off when she melts into a puddle on the floor."
"Oh please." Stephanie rolled her eyes.
"Focus." Alex snapped his fingers in front of my face. "Let me try to at least smother his scent with mine."
His lips descended.
And I was being kissed — by a siren. Something the texts described as indescribable ecstasy.
I was too afraid to feel anything except for heat and desire.
My heartbeat picked up again. My body went damp and hot as his mouth moved against mine.
When he pulled back, it wasn't with a satisfied smirk but one of hopelessness. "I'm so sorry, little human."