Chapter 57: Chapter Eight

Stephanie

He was too close, but he would notice if I shifted away, and I didn’t want to appear weak, not when I’d already done so over and over again.

If he wanted to train me, fine.

I imagined it was a forced punishment, but my pride wouldn’t let me go there. Somehow imagining it was way better than him actually admitting it.

“You must have done something very, very bad,” I said under my breath, stealthily moving my chair away and standing, so much for not going there. “After all, when was the last time a Dark One was given mortality? Made human?”

“Never,” he said in a clipped tone. “I would know considering my age.”

“Yes, let’s rehash your age, that always goes over well. You’re how much older than me?”

His blue eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “We’ll have to do something about that attitude of yours.”

“Oh, I’d love to see you try,” I challenged.

He grinned.

I didn’t like that grin.

It was beautiful.

It was also terrifying.

I backed away farther, even though I knew I had the upper hand. I still couldn’t forget—maybe my mind wouldn’t let me—he was a Dark One, or he had been.

He could own my ass with a simple snap of his fingers.

Granted, he was human now.

But for how long?

What if I pissed him off, and he was changed back tomorrow?

Right. I wasn’t taking any chances.

Regardless of my feelings for him—or the way he kissed me—he was a cold, heartless bastard.

Imagining anything else just made my heart sick.

Cassius stalked toward me, his steps purposeful. I walked backward until my body collided with the wall.

He tilted his head, his black hair falling across his strong angular jaw. “A Dark One never cowers.”

I arched my eyebrows and opened my mouth, but he clamped his hand over it.

“And Dark Ones always respect their elders.”

I rolled my eyes, still unable to talk.

Slowly, he removed his hand.

“You know,” I whispered. “You could try to at least be nice to me while we’re training.”

He frowned. “Am I not being nice?”

“Are you insane?”

“Is that sarcasm?”

Cassius looked genuinely confused, like I’d just shouted that I wanted to ride a zebra in for dinner.

“You aren’t smiling at me, you haven’t even asked what I want in this whole scenario, and you touch me like I’m diseased!” I shouted. “Is that your definition of nice?”

His nostrils flared as he pounded a hand next to my head, a mirror crashed to the floor. “Smiling takes an effort I’m not willing to extend lest it become a habit, especially in your presence!”

“I’m not asking your opinion because frankly I don’t give a shit what you think.

And I don’t touch you because the very idea of your skin coming into contact with mine sends this ridiculously human body into flight. And I refuse to run away—from a woman.”

Forget about not wanting to kill him.

I slammed my hands against his chest, his body went flying across the room, landing on my bed, hammering the posts into the wall and creating giant holes I knew Mason was going to be pissed about fixing and hiding from Ethan.

The air in the room fell below zero as ice trickled along my veins.

My skin turned a vivid white as my eyes took in every bit of moisture in the air, freezing it to my advantage so I could create an icy stake to plunge through Cassius’s cold, heartless chest.

My hands snapped forward, the ice joined together in front of my eyes. I gripped the makeshift weapon and launched myself into the air, arm raised.

When I landed on the bed, straddling Cassius.

It wasn’t terror, or fear, I found.

But elation.

His smile was huge, beautiful.

I dropped the ice stake and fell backward, my body turning warm again. “What the hell was that?”

“That—” His grin widened. “—is what happens when you piss off a Dark One. Good to know you aren’t defective.”

“I could have killed you.”

“I’m human. Therefore, every second I suck in air, I’m dying. It would have been worth it to see you what you’re capable of.”

“But!” I covered my face with my hands. “I’m dangerous, you said so yourself, in the car, you said to control my emotions, you said—”

“I said a lot of things,” he interrupted. “Listen to what I’m saying now. I’m truly here to help you. Not because I was punished.”

My heart sped up automatically as my head snapped to attention and I sought his gaze. “Really?”

He nodded, his eyes drinking me in. “I’m here out of an intense desire to help you—and to make sure you don’t kill the rest of your family in one of your adolescent mood swings.”

“I’m not a child.”

“Says the little girl who created a spike out of ice with the intent of stabbing me in the chest, all because her feelings were hurt.”

“You were mean.”

“It was necessary.”

“How do you figure?”

“How else am I supposed to help you?” Cassius leaned up on his elbows. “If I don’t allow you to see the darkest parts of yourself?”

“That’s what you want? To see my darkness?”

“No.” His eyes flashed. “I teach you how to fight the darkness—so you can recognize the light.”

My breath hitched.

Warmth trickled throughout my chest as I stared at his mouth. His eyes gave nothing away—and everything at the same time. He kept his expression indifferent, yet I could hear his heart race.

It sounded like mine felt.

I pressed a hand to his chest.

He covered the hand with his.

With a sigh I leaned down and pressed a kiss to his cheek, then brushed my lips against his mouth.

He didn’t kiss me back.

Rejection washed over me. Obviously I’d read the situation completely wrong. His heart was racing but not for me.

“Don’t.” His hoarse voice rattled my confidence even more. “Don’t kiss me—not unless you mean it.”

“What?”

“Kiss me when you’re calm… not when you’ve just come down from what any human would consider the ultimate adrenaline high. Then you’ll mean it. But don’t kiss me out of curiosity, out of thankfulness, or even out of attraction. It doesn’t work that way.”

Ashamed, I looked down, unable to keep eye contact because I hated that he was right. I loved the man.

But he was right.

“And anytime you’d like to get off of me, that would be great,” he finished, grinning. “Because as much as I’d like to compliment you on your lithe body—you’re about two minutes away from crushing my liver.”

With a scowl, I jumped off him, but when he tried to follow, I pushed him back onto the bed.

He grunted and tumbled over the other side.

I smiled to myself and started walking toward the door. “Hurry up, human. We don’t have all day.”

“You forget,” he said from the floor. “You may be a Dark One, but you gave up your immortality the day you saved my life.”

“I’d conveniently forgotten that part, since it was magically given back to me when you disappeared.”

“I haven’t… forgotten.” Cassius reached for my arm and led me out of the room. “Now, I think I need to eat before we begin.”

“How do you think you need to eat? You’re either hungry or you’re not.”

“I think this pain is hunger.” Cassius rubbed his stomach with one hand and frowned. “And that bird looked delicious.”

“Okay…” I patted him on the back, “Humans these days don’t have to shoot their own birds, let’s just ask Mason to cook something, he’s probably bored to tears anyway.”

We walked by the window.

The bird chose to land on the tree closest to us.

Cassius tensed.

“When was the last time you ate?” I asked.

“Ate?”

“Food.”

He licked his lips. “Dark Ones don’t need food—we eat because food tastes delicious.”

“As a human,” I clarified.

He shrugged. “I haven’t.”

“No wonder you want to go all Elmer Fudd on his ass.”

“Elmer Fudd?” Cassius shook his head in confusion. “Is that a figure of speech for eating birds?”

“No.” I patted his shoulder. “It’s Bugs Bunny.”

“Bugs or bunny? They can’t be one and the same.”

“Maybe you do need to watch some TV with everyone—”

I managed to lead him away from the window, though he turned around twice.

I may be stronger, but it was still awkward trying to push him down the stairway when he kept trying to turn around and make creepy eye contact with the feathered creature.

“Someone say TV?” Alex was leaning against the bottom part of the stairway, his naturally bright smile even more amused than normal. “And Bugs Bunny is a rabbit.”

Cassius shrugged. “Of course the bunny is a rabbit. I was confused about the bugs part.”

“It’s his name.”

“But he’s a rabbit—bunny.” Cassius argued.

“Humans name pets.”

“Funny.” Cassius smirked. “They name pets, I keep them as pets…”

“Still talking a big game for being one of them,” Alex grinned. “And sister.” He peered up at me with loving eyes. “I think the best thing for you right now would be to get Cassius caught up on pop culture.”

Cassius groaned. “I’m not stupid. I know about the Backstreet Boys.”

Alex burst out laughing. “Oh, this may be my favorite moment—of my entire existence. Right up there with the time I watched Ethan take his first bite of pizza thinking the sauce was blood.”

A giant scowl formed on Ethan’s face, and he gripped the edge of the table where he was seated. “Well, if you hadn’t lied about it…”

“Best. Day. Ever.” Alex winked.

Genesis finished setting the table by folding white napkins beneath the forks; it was cute that she did it, even though the only people who ate were her and sometimes Mason.

At least now Cassius could join the ranks.

“Sorry, Cassius,” Mason tossed a plate at Genesis; she caught it midair and placed it at the head of the table. “Backstreet Boys aren’t really the in thing anymore.”

“Fine.” Cassius rolled his eyes. “I’ll just go to the store and grab a few CDs and why is everyone looking at me like I’ve lost my mind?”

Ethan shook his head. “You’ve been that busy? Unable to even turn on a TV? Do an Internet search? You have more money than the very country you live in, and you can’t afford cable?”

Cassius walked away from me and sat at the head of the table.

Funny that he’d take his usual seat. I guessed he was still our King even if he was a bit under the weather. “When would I have time? With the Vampires fighting, the Werewolves hiding, the Demons whining…”

“I’d like to know who’s doing your job while you’re—” Mason tilted his head, and his lips pulled into a sneer. “Indisposed.”

Cassius flashed his teeth.

I’m not sure what he was trying to accomplish considering the minute he poked the bear—or in this case Werewolf—Mason flashed his fangs.

Then Ethan felt the need to flash his, followed by my brother nearly glowing. Was it wrong that their reactions at least made things feel more normal?

I sat down and crossed my arms. “Let’s all just agree that Cassius needs this much-needed break to train me and learn the wonder that is the internet… and iTunes.”

“Yes he needs this much-needed break because he needs to fulfill his basic human needs,” Alex said in a smug tone.

“I know what iTunes is,” Cassius glowered in my direction, immediately changing the subject.

I tilted my head. “Oh, yeah?”

“Songs.”

“You’ll have to do better than that.”

“Songs that people…” He gulped. “Sing.”

Alex burst out laughing.

Cassius rolled his eyes and glanced out the window. The bird, the same damn bird appeared.

“Food!” He jumped out of his seat.

I quickly got to my feet and pushed him back down. “Sit.”

“But—”

“Uh…?” Alex raised his hand. “Why is Cassius bird watching?”

“He’s watching because he wants to eat it,” I explained.

Mason placed a salad in front of Cassius.

You’d think he’d just asked Cassius to tend to the garden and eat raw tomatoes. “What’s this?”

“Salad.” I scooted the dressing toward him.

“It’s green.”

“Hey, at least you’ve got your eyesight,” Ethan remarked.

“But the bird?” Cassius pointed behind him, “Why aren’t we eating meat?”

Mason looked heavenward. “I must have done something seriously awful to be cursed with a Dark One who suddenly wants food. He’ll eat everything!”

“He’s starving!” I pointed at Cassius. “Come on, fix him something good Mason. Salads are for girls.”

Genesis laughed and reached across the table to grab Cassius’s plate, but he was busy poking the tomato with a fork or trying to.

“It’s like watching a baby learn how to walk. Come on Cassius, you can do it!” Alex clapped behind him.

And earned a fork in the thigh.

“Shit!” Alex collapsed to the ground. “What the hell, I thought you weren’t a Dark One anymore.”

“So, I’ve lost my aim?” Cassius snorted. “Hardly. And next time you make fun of me I’m grabbing a knife.”

“Ethan has a gun case, the code is 1492,” Mason said in a cheerful voice.

Alex glared. “Thanks, Mason. Real helpful.”

“Please, it wouldn’t kill you.”

“It damn well wouldn’t tickle either, you bastard!” Alex shouted.

“Guys!” I held up my hands. “Do I need to order take-out, or do we have enough meat to feed…” I pointed to Cassius. “…this?”

“Not even a person anymore.” Alex cackled behind him. “How’s it feel?”

“About as good as a bullet between the eyes, Alex, care to experience it?”

Alex jerked the fork out of his thigh and tossed it in the sink. “Wash the blood off why don’t you, Mason?”

“I can’t concentrate with all the yelling.” Mason reached for his cell. “I say we go out to eat.”

“Yes!” Genesis stood. “We haven’t done a date night in weeks!”

Ethan reached for her hand and kissed it.

“Date night?” Cassius frowned. “A night with dates?”

I leaned forward and rested my forehead on the table. “It’s romantic.”

“Date night,” he repeated again.

I stood. “Whatever, let’s go somewhere close because Cassius is about five minutes away from molesting that bird.”

“I would never!” Cassius stood, outrage pouring over his face.

“Sarcasm.” Alex slapped him on the back. “You should try it, Dark One.”

Cassius jerked away from Alex. “I know what it is.”

“Clearly.” Alex nodded in mock understanding.

“The Lodge.” Mason grabbed his keys. “They always make room for us. Let’s go, kids… before Dad eats the family pet.”

“The bird is your pet?” Cassius looked horrified.

Alex sighed and whispered again, “Sarcasm.”

Cassius shoved past him then stopped in his tracks and turned. “Stephanie, will we be riding together?”

His eyes were hopeful.

What game was he playing?

He held out his hand.

I took it, still frowning.

“Uh, sure. We’ll drive separate since we can’t all fit in Ethan’s car.”

“They’re all my cars,” Ethan said under his breath then sped past us with Genesis in tow.

I nodded toward the garage. Cassius followed, our hands still linked.

“Well, which one of Ethan’s toys do you want to take?” The lights flickered on as Ethan and the rest of the crew piled into his white Mercedes.

“That.” Cassius pointed at the red Hummer.

I sighed. “Of course. Big bad Dark One wants a big bad car.”

“It’s tall. I’m tall…” He shrugged, his smile flirtatious.

My heart skipped in my chest. “Fine, but you do realize we’re in Seattle, right? People are going to flip you off for just driving something that gets only eight miles per gallon.”

“Does it matter?” He was giddy. “When we can run them over anyway?”

“Good point.”

“I’d like to think so.”

“I’ll grab the keys.” I still hadn’t moved.

His eyes were penetrating as he held my gaze. “All right.”

“Keys,” I repeated.

“To drive the monstrosity.”

Slowly, I shook my head as I left his side and grabbed the keys then met him back at the car. He was already inside, strapped in and looking about as pumped as a ten-year-old at a carnival.

“Fast,” he commanded, and then cleared his throat. “I mean… please?”

I smiled and started the car. “Only because you said please.”

His eyes met mine. “I’ll have to remember that for future reference. Say please, and… she says yes.”

My body hummed with anticipation.

Or maybe it was irritation…

…that as a human he was completely wreaking havoc on my emotions—even more so than when he was immortal.