The curious stares continued, so I clung to Mason like he was my lifeline; that was, until Alex came up beside me and offered a glass of champagne. "They stare because they're curious."
"They always stare at new humans?" I took a sip of the champagne, but it tasted off. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it seemed almost bitter on my tongue.
"No." Alex grinned. "Only you. Because of you who are, and well… you know… the fact that Ethan's your mate and Cassius started a pissing contest over you."
"Alex…" Mason rolled his eyes. "Stop."
"What?" Alex shrugged, and then his blue eyes brightened. "I think I see my conquest for the night."
A wave of heat washed over me; I didn't feel lust this time or anything close to it, just heat. He winked, and then he was moving through the crowd to a tall, dark-haired lady with a black dress slinked around her body.
"Another siren?" I asked.
"Human." Mason nodded. "One of Alex's favorites."
"What?" I stopped him from walking. "Aren't all humans mated?"
"Er…" Mason scratched his head and looked around. "…Ethan really should explain that to you."
"Screw Ethan!" I stomped my foot. "He isn't here. You are."
The air around me crackled with warmth. Ethan.
"Hmm…" Ethan's smooth voice danced across the back of my neck. "Miss me that much, Genesis?"
Slowly, I turned and came face to face with sheer beauty. I couldn't look away even if I tried. His green eyes glowed against his smooth skin; long dark eyelashes fanned across his chiseled cheekbones. He was wearing all black — it should have looked ridiculous — a vampire in all black?
It didn't.
Look ridiculous, that was.
He looked edible.
I stepped away from Mason, not because I wanted to, but because my body couldn't help itself.
"Not every human mates… of course that's been the goal… but we do, at times, make exceptions for some. They want so desperately to be a part of our world that they're willing to do anything to be in it — even if it means they don't mate with an immortal. Getting screwed by one is enough."
"Harsh." Mason coughed.
"You've done your duty, Mason." Ethan looked over my shoulder. "Leave us."
Mason rolled his eyes and walked off.
"His duty?" I repeated.
"Take my arm," Ethan commanded.
"You've ignored me for an entire day, and you want me to take your arm?"
"You're my mate." He said it so simply, so matter-of-factly, that I wanted to punch him across his perfect mouth. "Take my arm, Genesis. You know you want to."
Every cell in my body screamed for me to take his arm and just be done with it, but I didn't want to give in, didn't want to give him the satisfaction.
"How was Cassius?" I asked, ignoring his outstretched arm and glancing away from him so I could gather myself.
"Cranky," Ethan hissed. "Like I'm about to be if you don't follow orders."
"Maybe if you said please," I whispered under my breath, "I'd be more likely to do your bidding."