Chapter 4
DARCIE
“You cannot seriously wish to watch that insipid movie again.” Gregory scoffs from his position by the door. His British accent sharpens on insipid, like the word itself tastes bitter. “That’s the third time in as many days.”
I sit on a black leather couch in the brothers’ media room, searching for my favorite romantic comedy on a movie app.
“I seriously do,” I reply, unapologetic. “It’s my favorite.”
“Can’t we watch something else? Anything else?” He sounds so pathetic it’s almost comical.
I narrow my eyes at the vampire. “I didn’t think you watched the movies. Aren’t you supposed to be standing guard?”
His posture resets in a snap, shoulders squared, jaw tightening. He angles his face away from my grin.
Guilt creeps in.
It’s taken days for Gregory to loosen up, and I don’t want to spook him back into his no-nonsense guard mode.
“Fine,” I concede with exaggerated defeat. “I’ll pick something else.”
“Thank you.” His voice is careful, measured, but the corner of his mouth twitches, betraying him.
“Ridiculous,” I mutter with a smile and click through the movie options.
The media room’s low lighting pools across black leather couches and built-in bookshelves that look more like museum displays, littered with priceless artifacts.
A massive flat screen dominates the far wall, reflecting the glow of the app menu across my face. This whole setup is awesome and criminally underused. I didn’t even know it was here the first time I stayed in the mansion.
“How about a musical?” I call over my shoulder.
Gregory groans.
I bite my lip to hold in a laugh. “I’ll take that as a no.”
“Correct.”
I scroll through titles, pretending to weigh my options, every few seconds tossing an over-the-top suggestion back at him just to watch his expressions shift from polite horror to genuine disbelief. It’s the most fun I’ve had in a week.
Eventually, we settle on one of the classic James Bond films. His suggestion.
Action, guns, explosions. My dad used to love these films. We spent many Saturday nights watching secret agents on the couch, stuffing our faces with popcorn. The memory makes my heart ache.
I grab the oversized blanket draped across the couch and burrow in as the opening credits roll, featuring bold music, enticing silhouettes, and fancy technology.
Gregory abandons his position and lowers himself into the recliner nearest the door. His back remains perfectly straight, posture rigid, but his gaze flickers between the screen and the doorway.
The movie starts, and a sense of normalcy flows through me.
Right now, Gregory and I are just two people watching a movie. The stress of reality takes a back seat.
And the longer the film plays, the heavier my eyelids grow. Between the steady rumble of dialogue and the blanket’s warmth, the world fades to gray.
A crash of triumphant theme music yanks me out of sleep. I blink, disoriented, half convinced I’ve fallen into another vision.
Gregory’s amused eyes catch mine.
“What?” I mumble, running a hand through my untamed hair.
“I can’t believe you fell asleep,” he responds, shaking his head. “Who sleeps during a James Bond movie?”
“Someone who’s seen it before.” I rub sleep from my eyes. “Is it over?”
“Yes.” He gestures toward the scrolling credits. “You missed the ending.”
“Tragic.” I stretch under the blanket. “Did you like it?”
“I did.” He stands, long limbs unfolding with predatory grace. “It was quite good, actually. Much better than your silly romance.”
“I’ll have you know, 10 Things I Hate About You is a classic.”
“Sure.” He reaches for the light switch and flips it on.
“Ah!” I yelp, yanking the blanket over my head. “What are you doing? Warn a girl before blinding her!”
Gregory laughs, a rich, melodic sound that fills the room. “Stop being such a baby.”
I tear the blanket away, ready to fire back, but freeze mid-sentence.
Alex hovers just outside the entrance of the media room, arms crossed, dark hair falling over one glacial eye. “What’s going on here?”
Gregory pivots and drops into a bow. “Sir.”
He rises and holds Alex’s stare. The atmosphere shifts from relaxed to tense in a blink.
“We were watching a movie,” I say.
Alex doesn’t even look at me. His cold gaze stays on Gregory. “Were my instructions not clear?”
Gregory’s head dips. “No, Sir. They were clear.”
“Did those orders mention anything about mid-afternoon movie dates?”
“It wasn’t a date.” I kick off the blanket and stand. “I was watching a movie. Gregory was literally right here guarding me.”
“Not with the diligence I expect from my second-in-command,” Alex replies, disapproval radiating off him.
The instinct to vouch for my new friend is strong.
“Gregory has barely let me out of his sight since you’ve been gone.”
Alex’s gaze finally slides to me in a slow, assessing sweep. “I have no doubt that is true.”
Implication hums in the space between us, and I can’t tell if I’m supposed to be flattered or annoyed.
He turns back to Gregory. “Did you hear me arrive?”
“No, Sir.” Shame colors his response.
“Exactly.” The word lands like a gavel. He scowls. “You are dismissed. We will discuss the matter later.”
Gregory bows deeper. “Your Grace.”
Then he’s gone. His quick speed sends a gust of air across my cheeks.
Your Grace?
I arch a brow.
Alex catches my expression and snorts. “It’s just a title of respect.”
Something tells me there’s more to it than that—more to my former coffee store manager than I know.
But I let it go.
“Did you have to be so harsh?” I ask. “It took forever for Gregory to start being nice.”
He blinks.
Then a boisterous laugh bellows from his chest.
“What’s so funny?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard anyone describe Gregory Fang as nice.”
“Don’t say his last name like that,” I mutter, shivering despite myself. “And yes, he’s nice. He’s been a lifesaver since you left.”
“Careful, Darcie.” A smirk blooms. “Or I might think you’ve forgiven me.”
For his deception, he means.
While a small part of me wants to hold on to the hurt and frustration that came from being tricked by the vampire back in Maine, there are bigger issues at play that demand my attention.
Still, I’m not ready to completely let him off the hook. “You wish.”
“Aw, come on. I know you missed me.”
“Missed your nagging?” I roll my eyes. “Yeah, right.”
He chuckles.
I crack a smile.
He glances toward the hall, still amused, then back at me with an expression I can’t read.
“I’m beginning to wonder if you have this effect on everyone you meet,” he says, almost to himself.
“What effect?”
“The ability to make the most reserved, distant individuals drop their barriers.” His gaze holds mine. “I have not seen Gregory smile in years.”
Years?
“Beats me,” I say, aiming for a light tone. “Maybe he just needed a break from his boss.”
“Perhaps.” He lets me have the out. Gracious or strategic, I can’t tell. “Other than spending time with Gregory, what have you been up to since I left? How is your training?”
“Fine.” I shrug. “I’m not making much progress with Henry, though.”
While I can now conjure weak orbs of power, I cannot control them.
Just this morning, I failed to hit a single target. The moment the power leaves my palms, it fizzles out before flying even three feet.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
I wave a dismissive hand. “What about you? How was your trip?”
Did you find Adir?
Do you know where he’s keeping Bella?
Alex sighs and drops onto the recliner Gregory vacated. “Unsurprisingly unenlightening. The whole thing turned out to be a dead-end.”
Disappointment stabs me in the chest. “Oh.”
“Don’t worry. No one is giving up. We will find Adir eventually.”
But will it be too late?
I swallow the question and nod.
“Alexander?” A lilting voice floats in from the hall.
Julisanna appears in the doorway, a picture cut from a fashion magazine. The Original Immortal’s pale pink sundress is sprinkled with tiny yellow flowers that climb the hem and fade up the skirt. Her blonde waves are pinned just so, not a strand out of place.
Her eyes flick between us, assessing, and the tiniest frown tugs at her lips.
“Alexander?” she repeats sweetly, but with a sharp bite. “Are you ready for our walk?”
The vampire dons his brightest smile. “Yes, love. Just permit me one more minute, and I shall meet you on the back terrace shortly.”
Love?
Her features twist, her anger there and gone in a blink.
Faux brightness covers her lovely face. “Of course. Don’t take too long.”
Her lovely skirt flares as she pivots and strides away without a backward glance or a single word of acknowledgment for me.
The moment I no longer hear her heels clicking against the floor, I whirl on Alex and spit out, “Love?!”
Alex meets my stare. “Yes?”
I scowl. “I was not calling you that.”
He chuckles. “No? That’s good. I quite like all my extremities intact.”
I refuse to dwell on what that means.
“Please tell me you and Julisanna are not together.”
His eyes crinkle. “Careful, Darcie. Envy is unattractive. Even on someone as lovely as you.”
“I’m not envious.” I scowl. “But Julisanna…she’s—”
“A powerful Original,” Alex interrupts, eyes shadowed with meaning. “And right now, I need to keep my allies close.”
Details from the vision in the dining room come back to me. Namely, Thane’s harsh words about the vampire in front of me.
“Are people questioning your loyalty?”
“They will always question my loyalty. And now that Adir has escaped, and his accomplices have yet to be found, I need to ensure the Originals trust me now more than ever.”
I pinch my lips together. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. We all have roles to play in the game the rebellion has started, and I am determined to excel at mine.” The recliner rocks back as he stands. “With that, I take my leave. I’ll find you in the morning for your next training session.”
I watch him go, unable to dislodge the sinking sensation in my gut that tells me something bad is coming…
Something that will be out of Alex’s and the Originals’ control…