Sariel glanced to the couch and shuddered, "No."
"Then I'm confused."
"My son…" His eyes went from blue to icy white. "Cassius."
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Ethan
CASSIUS WAS IRRITATED THAT WE HAD to drive, but not everyone could simply appear out of thin air. Part of his angelic heritage made it so that he could, in essence, fly, though he preferred not to discuss it with anyone. Just another reason Dark Ones couldn't be trusted. There were parts, dark parts, they kept hidden that we would never understand.
His blood continued to ice my veins, taking away some of the pain at having Genesis ripped from me.
I'd only experienced this type of pain once before.
When I'd had to kill my own mate.
It had taken me fifty years to stop craving her.
Every evening when I went to bed, I'd dream of her only to wake up in a cold sweat, craving her taste, her smell — everything about her.
The only way to exorcise it from my system was to starve myself of blood, allow her blood to leave my body. It was a battle, possibly with my own bitterness at her betrayal.
"He will not kill her," Cassius said once we reached the Sound.
I snorted. "You think that's what I'm worried about right now?"
"Yes."
I looked away, clenching my teeth, unable to speak because I hated that he was with me, hated that I needed him at all.
"I never took your mate," Cassius said in a detached voice. "I tested her. I never stole her from you. Her betrayal was not my fault."
"You still touched her," I whispered.
"After she begged me," Cassius fired back. "You know I would never force myself on a human."
"You took my mate and my daughter."
"I will say this only once," Cassius growled. "You have no daughter."
"She was more mine than yours."
Cassius ignored me and continued driving. "When we arrive at the house, try your best not to charge the archangel."
I rolled my eyes. "You make it sound like I have no self-control."
"When it comes to Genesis, I believe self-control is something you seriously lack, brother."
"I love her."
Cassius sighed, a slight frown marring his face. "Yes, I know."
"What do you know of love?" I spat, clenching my hand into a tight fist, my knuckles cracking against each other as I fought to keep my rage at bay.
"I know," Cassius said in a hoarse voice. "Believe me when I say I know."
I didn't point out that Dark Ones didn't love — that love was just as forbidden as mating, just as ridiculous a notion. They felt no love because they gave themselves over to their angelic blood more than their humanity, and everyone knew angels didn't feel, didn't love.