"And, Stephanie, what's your excuse?"
She dropped her head and gave a little shudder. "Sorry, Cassius."
"Mason?" He turned to the werewolf. "Your looks don't betray you, but your rapid heartbeat does. Tell me, does she set your blood on fire?"
The werewolf rolled his eyes. "Only in irritation, my lord."
"Ethan…" Cassius barked. "You've been quiet."
"I've been watching." Ethan tilted his head, making himself look more vampire than before. The way his eyes glowed in my direction sent shivers all the way down my spine. "I think I'll keep her."
Stephanie jumped up from her seat. "Ethan—!"
"Please." Ethan waved her off. "He owes me, don't you, Cassius?"
The temperature in the room dropped at least thirty degrees while Cassius stood and, with little effort, threw Ethan across the room. He slammed into one of the rock walls.
Pieces of dust flew into the air. I gasped, covering my mouth with my hands.
"Dramatic," Ethan huffed beneath an array of rubble and rock. "Then again, you've always been dramatic, haven't you, Dark One?"
Cassius released Ethan and turned to face me. "You will go with Ethan. You will do your… duty." The way he said it made me feel dirty, like I was being whored out.
"I don't need to explain the rules, but I will, for your sake, explain them once. You're hired to do a specific job for us. You are not here to try to land yourself an immortal husband, so leave those hopes and dreams at the door. Physical contact between you and an immortal is forbidden, and if you are on the receiving end of it, outside of your duties, you will be the one punished, not the immortal.
Yeah, that was what I was afraid of.
"They may touch you, may do whatever the hell they want with you. But if you seek them out, touch them without proper invitation…" His voice trailed off, his nostrils flared. "Do you understand?"
Not at all. But I had no choice. I gave a quick nod, wringing my hands together. "Yes."
"Ethan," Cassius turned, "consider my debt paid."
Ethan's smile grew to gigantic proportions. "Oh, it's been paid," he licked his lips, "in full."
I knew that look.
I was going to die.
Because there was no way that vampire wasn't putting his hands or his fangs on me — and it would be my fault because I was the human.
To them, we weren't victims. Just nuisances they put up with.
"Well then…" Ethan held out his hand in my direction. "Shall we?"
Fear kept me rooted to my spot.
Then suddenly warmth spread throughout the room. I quickly glanced to the siren; Alex had his hand raised in the air, and I could almost see the heat radiating from his hand toward my body.
Be calm, he whispered in my head. Ethan will not harm you.
And you?
None of us mean you harm.
My gaze flickered to Cassius.
Alex gave a slight shake of his head. Yes, human. He means you harm. You are never to be alone with him. Ever. If you are, I cannot help you. I cannot shield you from his power. If he touches you, if he claims you, it will be the last time you own your own body, soul, and mind. He will destroy you. If you must… run.