Chapter 8
DARCIE
This is the second time I’ve found Alex in a condemning posture in recent days.
Though this time, I can’t imagine what puts a disapproving look on his face.
I’m not failing at training, and no one is slacking in their duties to protect me.
Des faces the vampire. “Alexander.”
Alex’s jaw works once, twice. His eyes slide to mine. “What are you doing?”
I frown. “Talking with Des.”
I don’t understand the anger in his stare, and I really don’t appreciate the tone.
“I wasn’t talking to you.” His eyes cut back to Des. “What are you doing?”
Des straightens, muscles tightening down his forearms like cables. “Excuse me?”
Are they about to fight? Over this?
I don’t understand. But I don’t need to. I just need to de-escalate the tension.
Maybe I should faint. They wouldn’t brawl over an unconscious girl, right?
With that thought in mind, I hold my breath.
Des swings a startled look my way. “Don’t be ridiculous, Darcie. Breathe.”
My mouth falls open.
Did he… did he just read my mind?
He shakes his head once, lips twitching, then turns back to Alex. “I’m waiting for an explanation, Alexander.”
The vampire bristles. “You’re being indiscreet. What were you thinking? Standing so close with the door open where anyone can see?”
It takes me an extra beat to understand.
When I do, heat rushes up my neck. “Are you being for real?”
“What if Thane had walked in? Or another member of The Alliance?” Alex presses, hard eyes unwavering. “You know they’re all just looking for an excuse to try and force a bond between you two.”
My stomach clenches, and it sinks to the floor when Des rubs the back of his neck and drops his gaze to the scattered papers at his feet. “I wasn’t thinking.”
My heart drops.
“Clearly.” Alex sneers.
He steps into the room, closes the door, and leans against the surface with crossed arms. “There are enough rumors circulating about the two of you. There is no need to fuel the fires.”
Des sighs. “You’re right.”
My eyes bounce between the two males.
What in the world is happening right now?
Since when does Des answer to Alex?
“Are either of you going to explain what this is all about?” I ask.
Des pulls his eyes from Alex. His jaw works from side to side. “Thane is deranged with grief, and he’s looking for any reason to force us to bond.”
I ignore the way the words make my heart flutter. “I know.”
“You know?” His forehead furrows.
“I had a vision a couple of days ago,” I say with a shrug. “While you guys were in the dining room.”
Instead of surprised, Des looks amused.
“Ah, yes.” His cheek twitches. “The chair.”
I duck my head. “Yeah…I need to work on keeping quiet.”
“It seems so.” He clears his throat. “If you saw Thane, then you know he is not himself. His demands are becoming more insistent, and I’m beginning to wonder what he’s capable of.”
A chill races down my spine.
“What is the worst he could do? It’s not like he can force you to do anything. Right?”
Alex snorts.
“What?” My narrowed eyes slide his way. “What is wrong with you?”
“I could ask you the same thing. Do you like gambling with your life? Is this a game to you?”
I rock back on my heels, eyes wide. “Of course not.”
“Are you sure? Because it seems like you still haven’t grasped the seriousness of your situation.”
“Then why do you think I am here and not at home with my friends and family?” I snap.
“Because we are all too busy to be traveling halfway across the world to babysit you.”
Ouch.
Alright…That one hurt.
I bite my lip.
Des steps between us. “That’s enough. You’ve made your point. Now, leave so Darcie and I can talk.”
The vampire remains where he stands, eyes brimming with unspoken words.
I’ve never seen Alex lose his cool, and we’ve spent a lot of time together these past weeks.
Why would he unleash his temper on me?
I thought we were friends.
After a tense silence, he straightens, yanks the door open, and exits the room.
I let out the breath I’d been holding.
Des turns toward me. “Are you okay?”
I close my eyes, willing the adrenaline to leave my body. “I’m fine. That was just…unexpected.”
And weird.
“Alexander should have taken more care when trying to make his point,” Des says. “But his fears are not invalid. I should have shut the door to ensure no one saw us speaking.”
“So, I’m not allowed to talk to you?”
“I didn’t say that.” Des’s gaze softens. “We just need to be discreet.”
Is Thane really that unhinged?
A shadow falls over his features. “Unfortunately, yes.”
A gasp tears from my throat.
“It’s true…” I take a step back as panic grips my chest. “You can hear my thoughts?”
“No. Not exactly.” He shakes his head. “It’s more like I can feel your intentions. Or your emotions. More often than not, they need to be running high for me to get a read on them.”
My stomach rolls. I’m going to be sick.
“You’ve been aware of this for a while,” he points out with soft eyes. “You asked me about it the night after the Portland attack.”
I shake my head even though I know his words are true.
“I-I thought I was speaking directly into your head,” I admit.
I’d deliberately cried out for Des during the rebellion’s surprise attack. And he’d come.
To test my theory, I mentally called for him that same night.
In both instances, he promptly appeared to help me.
“I didn’t think you could feel my emotions,” I mumble, unable to deny how intrusive his ability feels.
Am I not allowed to have any genuine feelings or emotions without alerting Des? It seems like he can pinpoint them pretty accurately.
I sigh and meet his concerned gaze. “Can I control it?”
Can I keep you out of my head?
“I do not believe so.”
My shoulders fall.
“Well…” I look at the pile of papers on his desk. “I guess I should let you get back to work.”
“Of course.” He clears his throat. “About what I was saying before Alex arrived—”
“It’s fine.” I cut him off. “Don’t worry about it. I get it.”
He frowns. “Darcie, I—”
“I’m not feeling great,” I say, waving a hand over my body. “I think I’m still hungry from…you know. Missing meals.”
I inch toward the door.
His feet shift forward, and my breath catches.
I wait for him to reach for me.
I yearn for him to touch me.
But his fingers curl into a fist, and he nods once. “Very well. But we will talk soon.”
“Sure.” My voice is breathy, but steady. I turn, grip the handle, and slip out before I can second-guess myself.
I make it to my room on autopilot, shut the door with my back, and slide down it until the floor catches me. The quiet rushes in.
Then I press my palms over my face and groan.
Just when I thought I was making progress, the universe reminds me: in a house full of Immortals, privacy is a myth—especially when the man you can’t stop thinking about can literally feel it.