"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."
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
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."