I shook my head as heat consumed my body.
We were back in the throne room.
Cassius stood over me, his cold stare haunting. "And you still choose him? When I could give you relief?"
"Genesis, NO!" Ethan roared, but I couldn't see him.
All I could see, all I could feel was relief in Cassius's presence.
My body shook.
Cassius grinned, moving closer and closer to me.
The lesser of two evils.
Ethan.
I reared back; the heat got worse. I continued stepping backward until I was falling.
I landed in his arms.
His body was warm, not too hot, just warm enough to make me feel more comfortable.
"Genesis," Ethan whispered, his mouth near my ear. "Don't fight it."
"Don't…" I fought to get the words out. "Want. Me."
His eyes flashed green, and then his mouth was on mine.
It was like ice.
And all I saw was him.
All I wanted was him.
All I could think about was him.
As our heartbeats and breathing synced in perfect cadence with one another. I tugged his head harder toward mine — greedy for his lips, needing so desperately to taste him I thought I'd die.
With a cry I jolted awake from the dream.
To find myself not in Mason's arms — but Ethan's.
Completely.
Naked.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Genesis
I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO RECOIL, ASHAMED, embarrassed, and horrified that I was in his arms without any clothes on. As if sensing my thoughts, Ethan looked away, jaw clenched. "You were taking them off."
"I was hot!" I yelled, happy that my voice was back but still shaking from the pain. It was still there — the searing heat — but it was bearable.
"I had it under control," a voice said from the corner.
I pulled the blankets and covered myself as Mason stepped out of the shadows, now looking like his normal self.