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"No."

"Cassius—"

"No!" He pointed at the door. "That woman… that, that—" He bit down into his lip. "She'll ruin me."

"How do you figure?"

"Because I'll fail."

"I think you lost me."

Cassius pushed the dark hair from his face and swallowed. "I don't know the first thing about honestly pursuing someone or something without using every ounce of power I possess. To Stephanie, I may as well be human."

"And that's so bad?"

"It's horrible." His eyes met mine. "Because I'll be found wanting."

"So insecure."

"Honest," he said in a humorless laugh. "She couldn't possibly want me, darkness and all, and even if she did, I have no power to convince her of anything."

"So don't use your power."

His nostrils flared.

"Don't pursue her as a Dark One…" I whispered. "Pursue her as a man."

Cassius closed his eyes and leaned back against the headboard. "Or I simply don't do anything."

I burst out laughing at the way his heart picked up pace. "I'd really like to see you try."

"You don't think I'm strong enough?" he roared.

"No." I shrugged and got up. "I think you're tired of fighting what's been in front of you too damn long, but good luck with your plan. I'm sure that will work out really well, you miserable bastard."

"Since when do you talk to your king like this?"

"Since I realized he's more friend, more brother, than king."

Cassius's lips twitched. "Don't let that get around. Imagine what it would do to my horrible reputation."

Laughing, I turned on my heel and walked toward the door. "Cassius?"

"Hmm?" He lifted his head.

"You owe it to you, and you owe it to her to at least try."

"And fail?"

"Trying isn't near as fun when you already know you'll succeed."

"Go find your mate. I'm tired of you making sense, vampire."

Smirking, I waved him off and made my way downstairs, passing Stephanie's room on the way. Alex was just leaving, his expression amused.

"What?" My eyes narrowed.

"She's human."


Tags: Rachel Van Dyken The Dark Ones Saga Paranormal