“You know how Ethan gave Genesis lessons about immortals and our history?” Stephanie asked, changing the subject as we walked hand in hand down the sidewalk.
“Yes.”
She stopped. “I think it’s my turn.”
“Hell.” I released her hand. “I’m not sure that’s the best idea.”
“You don’t even know what I’m asking!”
“Yes, I do.” My laugh was completely without humor. “You want to know what the darkness really is, you want to know Dark Ones history 101.”
She nodded.
“Hell.”
“You said that already.”
“Steph…”
“Please?” She reached for my hand, gripping it. “If I just understood it, I could fight it.”
I wrapped my arms around her waist and whispered. “Lie.”
“Huh?”
“You lied to yourself.”
“We can do that?”
“We’re half human, we can do anything they can.”
“Can Angels lie?”
“They could,” I said slowly, then rolled my eyes. “Damn it, you’re going to get it out of me one way or another aren’t you?”
“My next offer was some sort of mind blowing sexual experience… with snow.”
I chuckled despite myself and the tense topic. “Snow, huh?”
“Lots of snow. You like snow.”
“Who told you that?”
“Genesis.” Stephanie shrugged. “I may have let it slip that I could dream walk and she said in your guys dreams you always had snow surrounding you. You said it was comforting.”
“Home.” Emotion clogged my throat. “Always brings comfort.”
“Home?” Stephanie repeated. “What do you mean home?”
“Where I was born. It always brings comfort. Snow… represents where I was born.”
Stephanie leaned in, sniffing the air. “Truth. So, Cassius…” She patted my stomach, I’d seen human couples do that before in teasing and never understood the need for such trivial flirting with one’s hands… until her hands were on me, until I was part of the couple, and every single glance and caress my way was like breathing for the first time, after being without air for an eternity. “Where were you born? Siberia?”
“Da.” I confirmed in Russian and then pressed my fingertips to her wrist.
Stephanie
“WHERE ARE WE?” I gasped, rubbing my arms, they weren’t necessarily chilled, but they felt colder than ever before. The sun was just starting to set, casting a beautiful orange glow across a small city.