The Dark Ones (The Dark Ones Saga 1)

Keep to the plan.

And above all — don't allow Genesis in. Because I wouldn't survive it a second time.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Genesis

I DIDN'T SEE ETHAN THE REST of the day. Stephanie tried to distract me with reality TV. It worked for a while, and then I'd gotten restless again. It wasn't that I was worried about him or anything. I just wanted to know that Cassius hadn't removed Ethan's head from his body. When I'd asked Alex about them fighting, he'd simply rolled his eyes and started talking about the Gathering that evening.

The women.

The lights.

The dancing.

But mostly the women.

It was time to go, and Ethan still wasn't there. I fidgeted with my dress, hoping it would please him and hating myself that it was even an issue. Why would I care? He'd rejected me over and over again only to offer me comfort and then reject me again. He made absolutely no sense, and in my current emotional state, I really desperately needed something to make sense.

Next to Stephanie, I felt like the ugly friend. The one you took with you and forced your brother or cousin to dance with. As if on cue, Alex stepped forward and offered his arm.

It's not that I needed compliments — I'd lasted my entire life without them. I'd turned them away, knowing that if my number was ever called, I would never feel pretty again, because I'd be in the constant company of immortals.

Though I'd foolishly thought I'd be a type of teacher.

It was what I'd lived for, to either live to teach them or continue on with my boring life and find a career I was passionate about.

"Hey now," Alex whispered in my ear, "hold your head high. They'll smell your fear from a mile away."

"Fear isn't welcome," I repeated under my breath.

"Good girl." He patted my hand. "And you look gorgeous."

"Don't," I snapped. "Just… don't lie, please."

His eyebrows drew together; he opened his mouth but earned a slap on the shoulder from Mason.

I hadn't noticed his arrival. Mason was wearing dress pants and a shirt that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. Every muscle was outlined — it was hard not to stare. The man was huge. Had he not shown me compassion, I would be afraid of his size.

"She rides with me." He started prying my arm away from Alex.

Alex rolled his eyes. "Why not me?"

"She's safer with me, and those were Ethan's instructions. Check your phone."

Alex pulled out his iPhone. "Damn, how am I supposed to make an entrance without little human on my arm?"

"Name." Mason barked.

"Calling her human is my term of endearment, like sweetheart or babycakes."

"Call me babycakes, and I'll scratch your eyes out," my mouth fired off before I could stop it. Closing my eyes in embarrassment, I shook my head. "I'm sorry, I mean."

Alex barked out a laugh. "You're allowed to have opinions, babycakes."

I groaned.

"It's staying," he announced, "because it makes her turn red. Look."