Read Genesis Girl for Free Online Page B

family, darling!”
    “Thank you,” I say, extracting myself.
    After that, everyone wants to take my picture. Most people spend their whole lives and never meet a Vestal in person. But Cal doesn’t let them.
    “Part of Vestal culture is not to be photographed,” he explains. “Unless it’s to sell a product.”
    Vestals give blessings freely, but never their image. Vestal privacy belongs to their company . Or in my case, to Cal. But he doesn’t want my picture out there either. That would ruin everything.
    “Are you the new face of McNeal Solar?” a guest asks me.
    I shake my head. “No.”
    “I want Blanca to have a normal life,” Cal says. “There’s no need for her to do anything but simply be,” he lies.
    So the party continues. I eat shrimp, I drink water, and I sample strawberries. I shake hands as Cal leads me through the room. But I’m not here to make conversation.
    I am here as bait.
     
     

     
     
    I feel his stare before I see him. The whole room goes silent when he enters the room. Probably nobody but Cal and I expected Seth to come.
    He stands by the fire, dressed in a black tuxedo. He’s so cleaned up he’s practically a different guy than the one who was in my car a few days ago. Seth’s hair is slicked back, and the tattoos shoot up his neck from a starched white collar. His hands are in his pockets as if he’s trying to be causal, but his face is like iron.
    I don’t have to fake it. I’m completely stunned.
    It’s like I’m finally seeing Seth for the first time.
    And he’s blinding.
    Fast as lightning, I tell my hormones to shut down. Sure, Seth looks different from every other guy I grew up with from Tabula Rasa. Yes, my pulse races at the sight of him in a way it never has around Beau or Ethan. But I am a Vestal, and Seth is a Virus. He’s forbidden to me—unless my purchaser instructs me otherwise.
    Tonight I have a job to do, and that’s it. My heart pounds as I lean into Cal and stage-whisper, “Who is he?”
    It’s showtime.
    Cal squeezes my arm. Then he leads me across the room. “Blanca,” he says. “Meet my son, Seth.”
    Seth stares at me, at my shoulders and at my neck. Then he glances at his father with the coldest chill ever. “Blanca and I have already met.”
    “We’ve met? Right. If stealing my picture and getting kicked is your idea of an introduction, then we’re old friends. Too bad you didn’t bother telling me your real name.”
    Seth smirks. “I was kind of busy.”
    I turn to Cal and glare. “You knew?” I pretend to accuse him. “You knew Veritas Rex was your son, and you didn’t tell me?”
    Cal feigns hurt. “Blanca, I should have told you. I’m sorry.” His eyes meet Seth’s . “You’ve seen her, okay? Now it’s probably best if you leave her alone. You’ve done enough harm to Blanca already, so let her be and stay away.”
    I don’t wait to hear Seth’s answer. I flee.
    The white silk of my dress billows after me like a sail. When I get to my room, I leave the door open, on purpose.
    I don’t have much time.
    My skirt’s detachable, and I rip it off. Underneath I’m already wearing my white spandex pants. They match perfectly with my strapless silk top. I throw on my leather jacket, zip on my boots, and start to climb through the open window, right as Seth walks in. Exactly like Cal predicted he would.
    “He’ll do precisely what I tell him not to,” Cal told me before the party started.
    “Where’re you going?” Seth demands, bursting into the room.
    “To get some air.”
    “What are you gonna do, jump? It’s the second floor.”
    “There’s a ledge,” I counter.
    Seth crosses the room in about two strides and slides his arm around my waist, pulling me back. “I’ve got a better idea.” He sets me on my feet. “Let’s go for a ride on my bike.”
    That wasn’t the official plan, but Cal did say I could improvise. Maybe this will be easier than I thought.
     
     

     
     
    Ten million stars light up the