(BLAINE)
After leaving Zane's room, I pace in the hall outside his door, fighting the urge to go back inside.
I hear the shower turn on and inwardly groan at the mental image of him standing beneath the stream, water running down his naked body. I'd just had him and already want him again.
Fuck this.
Needing to put distance between us, I storm outside and spread my wings, my shirt ripping off with the action. I take off into the clear night sky, deeply inhaling the crisp air as I fly higher. I land on the cliff beside the mansion and look out over the dark sea.
Sex means nothing to me. It is only a means to an end. A quick release. Over the years, I've bedded too many men to count. Emotions never play a part in any of the encounters.
Yet, sex with Zane feels different.
I have faced him, for one. I normally fuck the men from behind, hardly ever even kiss them. But his lips had tempted me, and I'd needed to taste them. Needed to feel his breaths on my skin and see pleasure spark in his eyes as I took him hard. And when he touched the slits in my shoulder blades, I'd lost control. No other human had ever touched me there. I'd never allowed it.
"Goddammit," I growl, kicking at a rock. It flies off the cliff and lands in the water below.
What did that poor rock ever do to you?" Thereon asks, landing beside me. His black wings have gold undertones, the color associated with his sin. All of us hve black wings. The only difference is the underlying shade. Mine is a deep red.
"Keep talking and I'll kick you off the cliff too."
"Harsh." Thereon relaxes his wings but keeps them visible. He peers up at the moon. "You marked him."
Another growl forms in my throat. "It was an accident."
I bit Zane. Marked him as mine. Now, any supernatural creature he comes across will smell my scent on him and know to stay away. If they know what was good for them anyway.
Shit. There I go again with the possessive crap.
"If you grind your teeth any harder, they'll crack." Thereon turns to me. "Ever since the day you met Zane, I've noticed a change in you. We all have. Why not embrace your feelings instead of running from them?"
"You know why," I snarl.
"Need I remind you what happened last time I fell for someone?" Thereon frowns.
"And just look at Kian," I continue. "When Joseph finally passes, it will crush his spirit. Again. Why would I wish that upon myself?"
"I don't know."
A sad smile touches his lips before he returns his gaze to the sky. "Sometimes I think it's worth it though. The pain. All the men I've loved have touched my life in ways I'll never forget. I think of one man each time I look at the moon. Another one when I hear his favorite song. Losing them hurt, but loving them? It brought light to my dark world, if only for a moment."
"I will never love Zane," I say. I wouldn't let myself. "He's no different than any other human I've fucked. This discussion is pointless."
"Right. Because you mark all of the men you screw in the club too. Totally normal."
"I'm not in the mood for your smart-ass comments, Greed."
Thereon smirks. "You know, I always wondered why we were given the ability to mark our mates. It seems rather beastlike."
"Because we are beasts." At least, I feel like one. A memory begins to surface, and I try to shove it back behind the wall I've erected in my mind. A wall that keeps back all the shit I want to forget.
A piece of it slips through the cracks anyway. I remember beating against the bars of a cage, tasting blood as I roared and shouted obscenities. "The world will burn!" I screamed. "I'll kill them all!"
My six brothers stood on the other side of the bars, their eyes glistening as they stared at me. "I have no choice but to kill him," Cyrus said, stepping toward the cage, a sword of fire appearing in his hand.
"No!" Kian grabbed the angel. "Don't do this. I beg of you."
"What choice have I?" Cyrus jerked free of my brother's hold.
"His mind is gone. He's nothing more than a blood-hungry beast."
"Blaine," Kian yelled, rushing toward me. Tears wet his pale cheeks. "This isn't you. Snap out of it."
I slammed my body against the bars in front of him, snarling.
"Blaine?" Thereon touched my arm. I looked down at his hand, confused for a moment. The metallic taste of blood faded away, as did the red spots in my vision. My screams silenced. It was only a memory. Yet, the feelings it stirred up felt so real.
"Are you okay?" he asks.
"I…" I glance around, feeling an icy sensation fill my chest. And then I jump off the cliff, free falling before letting my wings catch on the breeze. My chest brush the water's surface before I shoot up higher into the air.
Thereon however doesnt' come after me, but I sense him poking around in my head as he tries to get a read on my thoughts. I fly faster. The more distance I put between us, the harder it will be for him to get inside my mind unless I speak directly to him.
I just want to be alone.
Without intending to, I end up going to Zane's antique shop. I perch on the rooftop and listen to the sounds of the city. Sirens, car doors slamming, humans leaving bars as last call comes.
I lean over the edge of the roof and open the window before climbing inside Zane's loft. Thereon and I had fixed the broken window, and we'd cleaned the trail of blood leading from his living quarters down the stairs.
The memory of Zane so close to death will always be seared into my head. When i picked him up and he'd nuzzled my chest, a soft whine coming from his throat, my heart had cracked wide open.
I should've known right then to keep my distance from Zane. Even without knowing a thing about him, I'd been drawn to him. Connected on a level I didn't understand.
"What are you doing to me, Zane Parks?"
I walk through his loft and sit on the edge of his bed, gliding a hand across his pillow. "You're nothing but a weak human."
A human I've marked as mine.
By the time I return to the mansion, itis almost 4:00 a.m. And god help me, I head straight to Zane's room. His is sleeping in his bed, lightly snoring. His sandy-brown hair fall into his eyes, and I move it aside before leaning down and softly kissing him on the forehead.
As the scent of rain and earth surrounds me, I close my eyes and rest my head on the side of his.
My protective urge over him increases, as does a strong possessiveness. That feeling bounces around in my chest and only settles when I press my face into his soft hair.
Nearly every supernatural species—vampires, werewolves, even certain types of demons—all have a version of mates. Nephilim are no exception. When the one destined to be your mate crossed your path, a connection was forms, one not easily broken. But in the years I have lived, I've never experienced that possessive need to make someone mine.
Until now.