Icarus; The Kindred (A Paranormal Romance) by J. S. Chancellor Page B

pauses for a second, then when I still don't say anything, he adds, "Or rather, that you remember. Don't you get what this means? I can feel everything you're feeling. I know exactly where to touch you and how … not just from knowing you, like I did before, but through actually experiencing what you're experiencing as it happens."
    I'm reminded of Jacelynd's comment about my inner thigh. "You sadistic bastard! How can you be so heartless? They were telling me the truth when they said that everything in my past is a lie, weren't they?"
    Still holding my panties, Trinity takes a seat in the chair a few feet from where I sit. "Yes, they were." He watches me, waiting for my reaction. "How can I be so heartless? You were my betrothed, Jessica. Jacelynd stole you away from me centuries ago, before we even had a chance to become what we are now. But I've never blamed you. It wasn't your fault."
    "I'm not a possession, Trinity! I can't be stolen. God, your arrogance is immeasurable. Quinn and the others? Who are they to me? Quinn knew more about me than the others, why?"
    Trinity frowns. "Did they tell you
anything
?" When I don't respond he says, "Blake and Quinn are your cousins."
    So much shit to process, so little serotonin to work with. "And we … we aren't humans who were turned? We're really not from … Earth?"
    I really am an effing alien.
    "You're a Blood-Born Kindred. Technically speaking, we are from Earth. Our parents, on the other hand, were not. However, your classmates and fellow assassins are mostly turned vampires taken from the Rebellion and … reprogrammed, for lack of a better word."
    Strangely, laughter is all that I can muster at the moment. "Blood-Born, so there's a name for it. You're telling me all of this like I'm supposed to just accept it. We might be Tithed, but I'm beginning to recall all of the reasons I said 'no' when you asked me to marry you … and then some! You couldn't have expected this to go over well with me. Shit, Trinity, I was sent to bring in my own cousin. Seriously?"
    "You could have woken up ten years ago believing that I was your lover, or more specifically, your husband. But I wanted you to come to me on your own. Jacelynd rushed me a little with this stunt he pulled, but you were close enough to fully surrendering."
    You know nothing of what I would have done of my own volition.
    His fingers dig into my jaw as he takes my chin and forces my back against the wall with his forearm across my collarbone, then slides his free hand between my legs.
    You can say anything, think anything you want, Jess. But your body's reaction to me doesn't lie.

Once
    It's been hours since Trinity left me alone in his room. I am sitting in the window seat, staring out across the expansive lawn that suddenly feels like a prison yard. Sunlight bathes my skin and I can't help but feel foolish. Jacelynd, Quinn, they all knew I wouldn't be harmed by daylight. Jace must have asked me what time it was with the intention of keeping me in one place while they looked for me. It explained why the film on the windows was only on one side of the house—why we were upstairs. They weren't going to tell me until … when? Until I regained my memories?
    I relive the whole event, from waking up to leaving—every glance, every word and find deeper regret than I've ever experienced. Jace still had tenderness in his eyes even after I ripped his shoulder open, pushed him away. He still spoke to me with affection in his voice after I deceived him and left him unconscious; still professed his devotion to me even after hearing me say the name of who I assume is his greatest enemy in longing and desperation. And Trinity knew, told me to say his name, all to torment Jace. The thought of it makes me nauseous.
    And the dreams …
memories
. Why couldn't I have read more into that? Five hundred years? I can't even fathom being that old, let alone being with someone for that long. Yet, just as Jace said, below all of my snark and