Chapter 35
DARCIE
I stare at the Immortal, certain I misheard him.
“Your what?”
“My father-in-law,” Adir repeats, and a pleased, secretive smile creeps over his mouth.
The implication should be obvious, but my brain skids, refusing to catch.
“We aren’t together,” I blurt because I don’t know what else to say.
“Of course not, but I am determined to ensure your powers will not be available to the alliance. And there is only one way to do that.”
My mind races, tripping over itself. I flick my gaze from Adir, who is so confident and maddeningly calm, to Bella.
But she looks as baffled as I feel.
Enough.
“What are you talking about?” My voice sharpens.
“It would be best to show you.” Adir pivots and strides toward the metal door. “Come.”
I balk, suspicion gripping my chest. “You’re letting me leave?”
He glances over his shoulder. “You were never intended to be in here. Come. Let me take you to the main house.”
Then he continues like my compliance is a foregone conclusion.
I don’t move. “I won’t leave Gregory here.”
Adir stops in the doorway.
His posture becomes rigid. With eerie slowness, he turns back and pins me with his glare.
“Either you follow my requests,” he says evenly, “or your friend will no longer be in a state that warrants you to worry.”
A cold wave of fear rolls through me.
My eyes drop to Gregory. He’s still unconscious, but he’s breathing, proof that he is alive.
I don’t know if Adir will follow through on his threat, but I’m not willing to risk finding out.
“Alright.” I lift my gaze. “But promise you won’t hurt him. If I go along with what you want, you leave Gregory alone.”
Adir bends at the hips into a low bow. “You have my word.”
He disappears through the doorway.
Without a word, Bella follows, her skirt swishing softly against the floor as she trails after him.
Every instinct I have screams not to do this.
But I don’t see another choice.
Even if I had access to my power, I don’t stand a chance against fighting Adir. I have to comply. For now.
I step forward and follow my captor out of the bare room.
The hallway beyond is made of the same bleak, concrete walls, cold air, and fluorescent lights that make everything look sickly.
I leave the metal door open, hoping that when Gregory wakes up, he’ll have a way out.
As long as no one comes to stop him.
My pace quickens to catch up as Bella’s skirt rounds the corner. The walls on either side remain empty. The corridor stretches ahead. Voices drift faintly to my ears.
I turn the next corner and find Adir, Henry, and Bella waiting.
My glare snaps to Henry.
How can he be working for Adir?
The brothers trust him.
I trusted him.
His betrayal cuts deep.
The warlock doesn’t react to my stare. If anything, he looks…indifferent. His attention stays on Adir. Like a dog waiting for its master’s command.
Adir dips his head in my direction, then leads us through a pair of doors, into the bright Italian sun.
I shield my eyes, squinting as I breathe in the warmer air that carries the fresh scent of trimmed hedges and something floral.
Cobblestone winds through a manicured garden filled with fountains, stone planters, and neatly clipped trees until it opens at the base of an immense Italian country estate.
It is grand. Imposing. Beautiful.
But I refuse to admire the elegant architecture or the priceless décor visible through the tall windows. I will not be impressed by anything Adir owns.
But as soon as we step inside, my resolve falters. Not from admiration, but shock.
The massive home is teeming with people.
Men and women, all attractive and well dressed, flutter around the room as if preparing for a royal visit. Conversations overlap. Footsteps echo. Someone brushes past me hard enough to bump my shoulder, nearly knocking me off balance.
“What’s going on, Adir?” Bella finally voices the question. She’s just as stunned as I am. “What is everyone doing?”
“Organizing this evening’s party, of course,” Adir states with a pleased grin. “It should be quite the event.”
“A party?” Bella quickens her pace until she’s beside him. She leans in, muttering something I can’t hear.
But Adir’s response is loud and clear.
“To celebrate Darcie joining our cause, of course.”
Like hell.
I keep the curse in my throat, but there is absolutely no way I’m going along with whatever plan Adir has conjured up.
Getting out of here is imperative.
But first, I need to understand what he’s planning.
Once I know the level of crazy I’m dealing with, I can figure out how to survive it.
“Ah, here we are.” Adir claps once, and the door in front of us swings inward.
He moves past Bella, dismissing her continuing questions like she’s background noise.
I hesitate at the threshold.
Bella stands beside me, frozen as Adir strides into a room filled with more impossibly attractive people.
Lesser Immortals.
“What is this?” I whisper.
“I honestly don’t know,” she whispers back, chewing her bottom lip.
“Henry.” Adir’s voice cuts through the room.
I jump.
Henry steps forward. “My Lord?”
The occupants of the room turn curious gazes in my direction, their interest sharp and eager.
“Please escort Darcie to her chambers,” he orders with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I have business to attend to before we can get the change underway.”
“Of course.” Henry bows, then moves toward me. “Let’s go.”
Without waiting to see if I follow, he turns and walks down the hallway.
I have never wanted to punch someone so much in my life, but I drag my feet to follow the traitorous warlock. Anything to be free of the room’s unsettling stares.
I won’t lie and say I’m not relieved when Bella joins us.
We wind through a maze of corridors in the extravagant home. People stop and gape as I pass.
“Why are they staring?” I ask Bella, glaring at the red-haired woman who snickers behind her manicured fingers as I pass.
“They’ve heard all about you,” Bella murmurs. “And they’re curious.”
I can only imagine what they’ve heard. I pray it’s limited to my connection to Des and nothing else. I pray Adir hasn’t been spreading rumors about my abilities, turning me into some myth the rebellion covets.
“Bella?”
Dim brown eyes meet mine. “Yes?”
“Adir wasn’t serious earlier, was he?”
“About what?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “The in-law stuff…he was just trying to mess with me. Right?
Bella opens her mouth—
Henry cuts in first.
“You will be bound to Adir,” he says, voice flat and certain. His steps don’t slow. “Once you’re bonded, the brothers will not have access to you or your abilities.”
My stomach drops so fast I nearly vomit.
“I don’t understand. How is that possible?”
Is Adir going to perform a spell or something?
How could he possibly gain access to my powers?
“You will find out soon enough,” he replies as he stops outside a set of wide double doors and gestures inside. “This is your room.”
I pause and press my lips together.
A glance to my left and right confirms others continue to stare.
With a sigh, I shuffle inside.
The room is massive, even bigger than my room at the brothers’ mansion in Greece.
A four-post bed sits in the center, ornately decorated and embossed in gold. Deep maroon fabric covers every soft surface. Varying shades of dark gray and green round out the color scheme.
Priceless objects gleam on shelves and tables: vases, carved statues, framed paintings. Everything screams wealth and excess.
I’m too afraid to touch anything except a cylindrical neck pillow resting on a desk chair. I pick it up and clutch it to my chest.
“Don’t bother trying to escape,” Henry says.
I whirl back around.
The warlock’s eyes are hard. His expression is firm. “This room is warded by some of the strongest witches and warlocks in the world. You will not be able to leave without Adir’s knowledge.”
Shit.
When I don’t speak, Henry nods and takes a step back. “Adir will be by shortly to discuss the transition."
“What transition?”
Henry starts to shut the door.
Panic surges.
I lunge forward and slap my palm against it, halting the motion.
He pauses, his face unreadable.
“What transition?” I ask again, harder.
Henry’s eyes lock on mine. “Step back.”
Fear climbs my throat. What isn’t he telling me?
Is Adir going to accelerate my change in mortality?
Does he even know about the Immortal’s Curse?
“Why are you doing this, Henry?” My voice cracks. “We all trusted you. I thought you were a friend.”
I expect dismissal.
What I don’t expect is his cold, calculated grin.
“I’m glad to hear I played my part so well.” His tone drips with malice. “Now, step away from the door before I move you myself.”
My blood boils.
I don’t know whether to throw something at him or shrink away.
Before I can decide, Bella places a gentle hand on my shoulder and guides me back into the room, her touch careful, like she’s afraid I’ll shatter.
“Very good,” Henry praises insincerely, watching me retreat. “Perhaps you can be obedient, after all.”
That snarky comment makes the decision for me.
I fling the decorative pillow with all my strength, aiming straight for his smug face. I want to scream until my throat bleeds. I want him to pay for betraying me and the alliance.
But the door shuts just as the green fabric collides with it.
My hands clench into fists until my knuckles go white.
And through the thick wood, Henry’s laugh bellows, fading slowly as he strolls away.