Chapter 22
DARCIE
“There they are. See? I told you they wouldn’t be late.” Alex’s voice greets us as Gregory and I step into the garage.
The mansion’s extension stretches across the back of the property, cavernous and cool, filled with vehicles ranging from sleek black sedans to oversized SUVs and a few motorcycles lined up with military precision. The scent of gasoline and cleaning supplies lingers in the air.
In the center of the space stand Thane, Alex, Des, and two strangers. Off to the side, Charmian stands with her three cloaked offspring, their heads lowered as they speak in soft voices.
Gregory and I fall in with the center group.
Thane’s eyes skim over me. “I trust you are prepared for your departure?”
I hike my smaller duffel bag higher on my shoulder. Gregory holds the other, along with a large bag of his own.
“Yes.” I will my voice not to betray the nerves twisting my stomach. My eyes shift to the man and woman standing with us. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Darcie.”
I extend my hand.
The man steps forward and clasps my palm in his. “Lucas, leader of the Northwestern Pack.”
Recognition hits me.
I glimpsed Lucas when I spied on the alliance meeting all those weeks ago. He had been particularly vocal about his mistrust of Alex and his coven. He’s a were-beast, and apparently the leader of a pack. He looks younger than I would have expected.
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
Lucas releases my hand, and my eyes shift to Alex.
“Lucas and his daughter will be accompanying our task force,” he says.
Daughter?
The young woman is slightly shorter than me. Her rich chocolate-brown hair and eyes match her dad’s, and her naturally tan skin glows. She’s strikingly pretty, but the deep frown carving her mouth harshens her appearance.
Lucas clears his throat. “Allow me to introduce my daughter, Paige.”
I hold out my hand again.
Paige hesitates, then gives me a quick handshake before promptly drawing back.
So…she’s not friendly.
Got it.
“Nice to meet you both.” I ignore how the knot of unease that’s lingered in my chest for days tightens. “Thank you for being willing to help us.”
Lucas tips his head. “Our pack will do whatever we can to facilitate the capture of Lord Adir. We have the best scenters in the entire were-beast community. If he has left a scent anywhere, we will find it.”
My smile falters for a fraction of a second.
Lord Adir.
Even now, after everything, Lucas gives Adir the title.
It seems all half-breeds view the Original Immortals as above themselves.
Except Alex.
He’s the only one who treats the Originals like equals. Like normal people.
But they aren’t normal.
I’ve seen the Immortals’ gentler sides. I’ve seen humor, kindness, and protectiveness.
But I’ve also seen power that could level cities.
Would the Immortals have treated me differently if I’d first met them as a Nightsbane witch instead of…whatever they think I am now?
“The alliance appreciates your assistance.” Thane clasps a hand on Lucas’s shoulder. “Your skills combined with the tracking spells of the Nightsbane clan will no doubt lead us directly to where Adir is hiding.”
Lucas bows his head further.
“Don’t forget about me and Gregory.” An instigating grin curls Alex’s lips.
A grumble rumbles in Lucas’s throat.
“Of course.” Thane releases the were-beast. “I am indebted to you and your second for offering protection for Darcie.
“As you all know,” he pauses, his gaze sweeping the group, “she is invaluable to my family, but her training with the Nightsbane clan is of the utmost importance.”
Heat floods my cheeks. I avert my gaze.
Unfortunately, it lands on Des.
We haven’t spoken since our argument. Now he’s here, and he isn’t avoiding me.
The conversation around us continues, but I’m caught in the gravity of his loaded stare.
He clears his throat. “Can I have a word, Darcie?”
I blink. “Sure.”
He holds out his hand.
After a brief hesitation that I’m sure doesn’t go unnoticed, I place my hand in his. Sparks pepper my palm, zipping up my arm and settling in my chest.
The garage quiets, but I still don’t look away from Des. Not until he turns and leads us to the open garage doors.
Grass brushes against my legs as we cross the field sprawled out behind the mansion. My leggings do little to protect my ankles from the itchy blades, though Des subtly moves ahead of me, clearing a path where he can.
The small gesture makes something warm bloom in my chest. But just as suddenly, reality returns like a bucket of ice poured over my head.
What am I doing?
I tug my hand.
Des releases me.
He glances over his shoulder. “Is everything alright?”
No.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere we can talk without being overheard.” He gives me nothing else.
And I don’t ask.
I follow him through the field, admiring the way the sun highlights the lighter strands in his dark hair and the way his back muscles shift under his shirt with each step.
I sigh and drop my gaze.
I’m glad I’ll be traveling with the task force.
Maybe another couple of weeks of distance will cure me of this undeniable pull I feel for the broody Immortal.
Unlikely.
The field reaches the edge of a small copse of trees. The air cools beneath the canopy. Leaves filter the sunlight into soft patterns across the ground.
I draw close to Des’s back as he leads us through the winding trees.
Humidity makes my shirt cling to my skin. I tug the fabric away when we take a final turn and come up on a building.
A very old building.
“Whoa.” I stop in my tracks.
Stone pillars rise into the air, cracked in places from the vines winding around them. A set of five steps leads up to the structure, crumbling along the edges from wear and weathering.
Des stops and turns to watch my reaction.
My eyes drink in the ruins.
The roof is missing. Through the gaps between the pillars, remnants of statues and mosaics greet me.
“Is it safe to go inside?” I ask.
“As long as we don’t touch anything.”
I move forward. Des falls into step behind me.
Slowly, I climb the aged steps and inhale a deep breath when I reach the opening.
I couch and brush dirt from the floor. It’s marble. I rise and turn in circles, taking in the broken statues on sturdy-looking pedestals. The women arch in graceful poses, their surfaces dulled by dirt and grime.
“This is Doric architecture,” I whisper, stunned. This structure is more than two thousand years old.
“Impressive.”
My pulse quickens, thrilled by the compliment. “Who built this place?”
“I did.”
“You?” I spin around. “You’ve lived in Greece this long?”
I thought Eshe and Lome met in Egypt in 400 BC. This structure would have been built at least two hundred years earlier.
Des crosses the space between us, stopping by the statue of the woman missing the tip of her nose.
“My brothers and I moved around, but I always considered Greece home. I built this place not long before Rome fell.”
I shake my head.
Even after weeks of knowing the Immortals, their reality still shocks me.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“Because I know you admire ancient architecture.”
I blink. “How do you know that?”
Unease flashes over his handsome features, but it clears quickly. “You have a Parthenon keychain.”
I frown.
How does he—
Wait…
The memory resurfaces.
Des. Standing in my bedroom after our first, mindblowing kiss.
Him telling me it was a mistake. That he and I were never meant to be.
He saw the keychain resting on my desk.
I’d bought it after touring the monument. Though the memory of that day is fuzzy. That same evening was when I learned of Dad’s cancer diagnosis.
Still… owning a cheap souvenir hardly suggests I enjoy architecture.
The urge to press him crawls up my throat, but I shove it down.
What’s the point?
“Well, this place is amazing.” I admire the circular structure once more. “Too bad it’s hidden on your property. Tourists would love to see it.”
He hums. “Maybe one day.”
I move closer to a statue, counting the missing fingers from the graceful hand that in no way diminishes the statue’s beauty.
“Why did you build it?” I ask. “What did you use it for?”
“A place to be alone.”
“It doesn’t look like you’ve been here for a while.” I rub my fingers together, clearing away the residue from wiping the floor.
“Lome discovered it and erased any hope I had of privacy.”
I laugh. “That’s a shame.”
His lips twitch. “Indeed.”
My heart squeezes.
I drag my gaze to the floor and clear my throat. “You said you needed to speak to me?”
“Yes.” He draws closer. “I wanted to make sure you’re ready for what comes next.”
“Of course.” I trace a circle in the marble with my sneaker.
“Are you sure?”
Slowly, I lift my head.
Des’s eyes swirl. His emerald eyes.
My heartbeat stutters. “What is that supposed to mean?”
He studies my face, reading every flicker of doubt and fear I try to hide.
“You can do it, you know,” he says in a low voice.
“What?”
“Whatever the Nightsbane clan asks you to do. Whatever comes next, you can do it.”
I can’t contain my scoff. “Before or after I burn out or fall into another coma?”
“That won’t happen again.”
“How can you say that—”
“Because I know you, Darcie. I know your soul.” The hand at his side flexes, and I get the distinct impression he wants to reach out for me.
I step back before he can try.
“Don’t do that.”
He stills. “Do what?”
“Discuss our connection.” I swallow the lump in my throat and then lift my chin and meet his swirling eyes. “You knew those women, Des. But you don’t know me. Not really.”
“Darcie, I—”
“In fact,” I cut him off, rage drawing each word from my mouth. “I’d appreciate it if you stop this game of hot and cold. It’s not fun for me.”
His strong brows turn inward. “I’m not playing a game.”
“No?” I curl my hands into fists. “You could have fooled me.”
Silence falls, heavy and weighed down by the history of our past interactions, kisses, words, and embraces.
I remember every single one.
And I remember the hurt that always followed any glimpse of emotion or feeling from the stoic Immortal.
“You’ve made your decision about us, Des. Now, do us both a favor and actually let me go. Please.”
My soul screams in protest.
But I hold my ground.
There’s too much at stake.
With Bella missing…with my powers emerging and immortality allegedly lingering on the horizon…with Thane trying to force Des to admit I’m his One and tie me to the Immortal family forever…I cannot keep letting Des mess with my head.
I will travel with the task force and train with the Nightsbane clan.
We will search the world for Adir. For Bella.
And once we find them, I will take the next step to permanently separate myself from him.
Whatever that may entail.
Des continues to stare, but I’m not certain he actually sees me.
There’s a haze over his gaze, and I’d bet my college tuition that he’s seeing all the past versions of me. The women he once knew. The women he loved.
But they aren’t me.
“We should get back.” I take another step away from him. “The others are waiting.”
Des blinks. The haze clears. “Of course.”
He turns on his heel and strides out of the ruins.
I follow him through the trees and fields, back to the garage with my heart in my throat.
And the traitorous organ threatens to choke me with agony when Des leaves me with the task force and strides away without so much as a glance goodbye.