"Yes, well… Genesis made an offer Sariel couldn't refuse."
Stephanie covered her face with her hands. "Tell me she didn't sacrifice herself for everyone."
I didn't deny it. "And when she did Cassius offered her immortality — something that only he was strong enough to give — to bring her back from the brink of death."
"And now he's cold… dying."
"We don't know that," I said in a soft voice. "But I do know he needs you… he needs your blood."
Stephanie's gaze snapped to mine. "Would it work?"
"No idea." I licked my lips and stood. "But it's worth a try." I cringed at the thought of Mason's advice but offered it nonetheless. "The werewolf seems to think a kiss does the trick."
Stephanie's lips twitched. "He never let me kiss him."
"But I thought you spent the evenings with him and—"
"Talked." A rosy hue pinched her cheeks. "I just wanted to be by him. For some reason, his touch never affected me the same way it did others. It was comforting, familiar, so I've been pestering him every night for the past few years. At first he only let me visit once a year, after I'd come of age… and then it quickly turned into once a month, once a week, every night."
"He cares for you," I said. "I'm sure of it."
"I wish that was enough… caring." She gripped his hand tighter. "But maybe I can love him enough for both of us."
"Nobody deserves to live that way, Stephanie, regardless of what he did."
"He saved my life," she said simply. "How selfish of a person would I have to be to not offer him the same kindness, regardless of how I feel for him?"
"Dark Ones have never tried to bond to one another — ever."
"I know."
"You could die."
"I know."
"I didn't bring you in here to save him… but to give you the truth."
"Then thank you," Stephanie stood and kissed me on the cheek, "for giving me both."
In an instant she turned in my arms and lunged for Cassius. The room plummeted in a blanket of cold as she leaned over him.
"I'll need your teeth, Ethan." She held her arm behind her.
I bit deep.
Pain marred her features, and then she was in my arms. "On the lips."
"What?"
Before I could react, she turned her mouth against my fangs, slicing open her bottom lip.
The tinge of angel blood hit my tongue just as she once again leaned over Cassius and kissed his mouth, breathing out the word, "Live."
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Genesis
"GREEN?" I REPEATED. "LIKE ETHAN-GREEN or milky green?"