Chapter 24
DARCIE
By the time we land, I’ve only managed a couple of hours of intermittent sleep.
My body desperately needs more, but I couldn’t shut off my mind long enough to rest. Not with so many questions swirling and my mother’s probing gaze leveled on me nearly the entire flight.
I shuffle through the airport after the others, bleary-eyed, grateful Gregory continues to carry my larger bag, until I practically fall into the third row of the oversized SUV Alex rented for our drive to the safehouse.
Gregory slides in next to me, folding up his long legs with impressive flexibility.
Paige, Mistress Lola, and my mother sit in the second row. Alex drives, and Lucas takes shotgun. With the help of the witches' magic, all of our luggage miraculously fits in the trunk space.
As we drive, I try to take in the sights of Miami, but my need for sleep overcomes my curiosity, and I doze.
I wake with a jolt, bolting up from where my head rested on Gregory’s arm. Drool stains his sleeve.
“Sorry,” I mutter, wiping my cheeks.
“Don’t be. You needed rest.”
I turn my head and stare out the small window next to me. “Where are we?”
“The safehouse.”
The safehouse turns out to be a Tuscan-style villa tucked between lush green bushes with tall palm trees soaring into the sky. It’s three stories. Ivy creeps up the stone walls, and the terracotta roof gleams in the sun.
My jaw drops.
I don’t know what I was expecting.
An underground bunker?
A concrete building with no windows and a barbed-wire fence?
Certainly not something so…pretty.
“All right, everyone.” Alex kills the engine. “Go inside, find a bedroom, and get settled. We will meet in the dining room in one hour to discuss today’s mission.”
Mumbles of assent fill the vehicle before the doors swing open and everyone stumbles out.
Gregory pulls the strand that collapses the seat in front of us, then climbs out. He turns around and extends a helping hand.
“Thanks.” He helps me out, gripping my hand when my legs wobble.
His eyebrows furrow. “Come. You should rest more.”
He tugs me toward the villa.
I stumble after him. “I’m fine. A quick shower will wake me right up.”
He huffs, but doesn’t argue, leading me through the front doors.
Inside the villa are a cozy kitchen, a breakfast nook, and a study. At the back of the first floor sits a quaint living room with a modest TV. It would be a tight fit if all of us tried to convene in the space.
We pass a wide dining room with a massive wood table on our way to the stairs, and I make a note to set my phone’s alarm for an hour from now.
Still clutching Gregory’s hand, we climb to the second floor, and we’re greeted by the sight of a cloaked figure standing in front of one of the many doors that branch off the hall.
“You will sleep here,” Mistress Lola says.
It takes a moment to realize she’s speaking to me.
“What?” I blink, then frown. “Why?”
“Your mother and I are sleeping here.” She motions to the door to the left of the one she indicated is mine. “We need you close to ensure you are protected.”
“I don’t need your protection.”
“No?” Her eyes dip to where my hand rests in Gregory’s. “We disagree.”
Gregory’s fingers flex, but he doesn’t release me.
Irritation pricks my tongue, but I am exhausted. I don’t have it in me to argue.
“Fine,” I clip out.
She dips her chin. “When the day is done, be sure to sleep. We begin your training tomorrow. We’ll start with grounding exercises. Your gift is strongest when your emotions are balanced.”
I snort. “Then we’re in trouble.”
Her gaze sharpens. “I mean it, child. If you cannot control what you feel, you will never control what you are.”
The words strike hard.
I swallow and nod. “I’ll try.”
“Good.” She turns away and disappears into the bedroom.
Through the opening, I catch a glimpse of my mother. She lies on one of two twin beds inside, staring at the ceiling. Her gaze drops to me just before Mistress Lola closes the door.
Moisture gathers behind my eyes.
I scowl and rub them away with my free hand.
Mistress Lola is right. I’m tired.
That’s the only reason I’m emotional.
It’s definitely not because the woman who abandoned me as a child is just feet away and has yet to speak to me.
No.
She’s only stared. As if she’s waiting for me to make the first move.
But that’s not my job.
She’s the one who left.
She’s the one who needs to try to bridge the canyon she put between us.
“Come.” Gregory tugs my hand.
He opens the bedroom door, revealing a small, cozy room.
A narrow twin bed is tucked along the wall, covered in a sea of ocean-blue and seafoam-green pillows and blankets. The walls are painted a lighter shade of blue, and through the open window, the ocean gleams in the distance.
Gregory guides me inside, releasing my hand.
With heavy feet, I walk to the edge of the bed and sit down with a sigh.
“I’ll grab your bags. You should shower and relax,” he says, already stepping into the hall.
“Thank you, Gregory. For everything.”
My bodyguard has gone above and beyond his protective duties. I don’t want to think what the last couple of days would’ve been like without him.
“Anytime, Darcie.” He smiles. “I’ll be back soon.”
He closes the door, and I flop back onto the bed.
The ceiling is painted a solid cream color, and I can’t help but miss the beautiful paintings that decorate the brothers’ mansion.
Stop it.
I close my eyes and release another sigh.
I’ve left Greece. With any luck, I won’t return unless I want to.
Our task force will find Adir and end this rebellion.
Bella will return to Thane safe and sound, and the brothers’ roles as protectors of humanity will remain intact when they return to their full power.
I repeat the words over and over again, manifesting them into reality, as I drift off to sleep.
A streak of brightness falls over my eyes.
A groan drags from my throat, and I flip over to hide my face in the fluffy pillow under my head. I’m not ready to wake up. An unfamiliar floral scent tickles my nostrils. And the buzz of insects travels into my ears.
I gasp and fly upright.
My neck snaps left and right as I take in my surroundings. My racing heart slows as I recognize my room in the safehouse.
That’s right.
I’m in Florida.
My duffel bags sit on the floor by the end of the bed. I’m still wearing my clothes from the flight.
With another groan, I push myself out of bed and shuffle to my bag.
I dig out my phone to check for a message from Dad, but the time makes me freeze.
It’s nine?
I glance outside. The sun is bright. That’s not possible. Unless—
“Damnit.” I curse.
I slept the night away. I missed the first meeting with the task force.
I grab a fresh set of clothes and a bag of toiletries, then rush out of the room. I want to find someone to figure out what I missed, but I am a mess. I can smell myself. I need to clean up first.
I step into the hall, bracing myself to run into someone, but it’s empty. I find a bathroom and shower, brush my teeth, and change in record time.
My hair soaks my new t-shirt as I rip open the bathroom door and let out a scream.
I place a hand over my racing heart. “What the hell, Gregory? You scared me.”
“Sorry.” My bodyguard leans against the wall in front of me, wearing a pair of black jeans and a gray long sleeve. “I went to your room to wake you, but you weren’t there.”
“I showered.”
“I can see that.” He smiles. “Hungry?”
“Starving.”
He jerks his head. “There’s food in the kitchen. I’ll meet you there.”
“Sounds good.” I brush past him; his spicy cologne follows me as I head downstairs.
I follow the sound of cabinets opening and closing, sidestepping end tables littered with fragile seashells and oceanic figurines, and round the corner.
Paige stands in the middle of the kitchen, hands on her hips, glaring at the counter in front of her.
I clear my throat. “Everything alright?”
Paige spins around to face me.
“Oh.” She lets loose a breath. “It’s you.”
“Yup. It’s me.” I step into the kitchen. I ask again, “Are you alright?”
Paige sighs. “No. I can’t find coffee.”
“Huh.” That doesn’t make sense. Alex loves coffee. “I’m sure it’s here somewhere.”
“Well, I can’t find it,” she says mournfully.
“Did you check the pantry?” I move towards one of the two closed doors positioned in the wall opposite the kitchen.
Opening the first, I find a laundry room. Closing it, I proceed to cross the space and open the second door.
I grin as I swing the door wider and turn to show Paige the shelf with no less than four bags of coffee roasts. “Ta-da!”
“God, I’m an idiot. I didn’t even think about looking for a pantry!” Paige hurries to my side and desperately grabs the first bag she can reach.
She takes it to the counter with the coffee maker and pours it into the coffee filter. “Want some?”
I decide not to question her friendly behavior.
“Sure.” I close the pantry door, lean against it, and watch her make the coffee.
“How did you sleep?”
“Fine.” I frown at the reminder of missing the meeting with our contact, but I refrain from asking Paige about it. I’ll get my information from Gregory.
“So…” Paige hits the brew button and then turns around to rest against the counter, studying me with curious eyes. “You’re the chosen one, huh?”
I nearly choke on my spit. “Chosen one?”
“Yeah. You know…the whole soulmate to an Original Immortal thing.” She waves her hand in the air. “Apparently, you’re a big deal.”
“I’m not a big deal.”
“You’re all anyone talks about. Well…” She pauses and lifts her gaze to the ceiling, thinking. “You and Adir. And the rebellion. That’s all anyone seems to talk about these days.”
I groan and let my head fall forward.
It’s too early to try to conceal what I really am to Des.
But if I don’t, Paige will keep adding to the circulating rumors.
I can’t have that.
Not while Adir is still out there, somewhere. And not when Des is determined not to honor the bond.
“I’m sorry,” Paige says before I can figure out what to say. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”