Chapter 41
DARCIE
Vibrant colors streak across my vision. Heat courses from my head to my toes.
I’ve kissed Des before.
But this moment, with the string binding my soul to his tugging into a firm knot, nothing in the past could ever compare.
Because Des and I are bonded.
I am his One.
And he admits it.
Finally.
I snake my arms around his neck and press into the kiss, determined not to let him retreat. I won’t let him run away from me again. Not if I can help it.
A trill courses through my veins, a silent voice humming its agreement.
Des drags his lips away and presses toe-curling kisses along my jaw. “Are you laughing at me?”
“Of course not.”
He kisses my neck. “Then why are you smiling?”
I sigh, sliding my fingers into his thick hair. “Because I’m happy.”
He pauses and leans back, cupping my face with his palm and searching my eyes. “Truly?”
“About us?” I murmur. “Yes.”
His thumb brushes my cheek, and his answering smile is subdued. “I’m sorry for all you’ve endured. I wish things could have been different.”
So do I.
But there is no point in dwelling on the past.
“I know.” I press my lips to his in a quick kiss, then lean back and hold his gaze. “Does this mean you’re done avoiding me?”
“I’m done.” His nostrils flare. “And I will spend the rest of my life making up for all the pain I’ve caused you.”
“Whoa, slow down.” I smirk. “We aren’t even official.”
The words are meant as a joke, but a shadow falls over Des’s face, and the arm banded around my waist draws me closer.
“I hate to break it to you, Darcie Abernathy, but Fate has finally deigned to allow me to bond with my One. I’ll meet the Creator in death before I allow you to slip through my fingers again.”
The declaration, delivered with complete confidence and zero hesitation, weakens my knees.
“Really?”
“Really.” He dips down for another quick kiss. “I’m sorry I didn’t claim you sooner.”
I rise on my toes and tug on his head, forcing his mouth to meet mine in another pent-up kiss that sends pleasant shockwaves throughout my body.
With every press of his lips, certainty settles in my chest. This is where I’m meant to be.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Ignore it,” Des growls against my lips.
He lifts me up. My legs wrap around his waist, and we continue kissing.
Knock. Knock.
“Des?” Lome calls through the door. “Darcie?”
“Go away,” Des shouts before recapturing my lips.
I smile.
“Trust me, I wish I could.” Amusement laces through his voice before he clears his throat. “But it’s the alliance. There’s been a development regarding Adir.”
Adir…Bella
The reminder of her loss is a bucket of ice water, dousing my fiery lust.
Des and I pull back at the same moment. His eyes shine with regret, but he lowers me to my feet.
He gives me a moment to straighten my clothes before opening the door.
“What’s happened?” he asks.
Lome clears his throat. “It’s best if you hear it from Thane.”
His eyes slide to mine when I step out from behind Des’s shoulder, and he grins. “Darcie. You look…recovered.”
My cheeks heat, and I smooth down my wild hair.
“Shut up.” Des shoves Lome’s shoulder.
Lome stumbles back with a laugh. “Oh, this is going to be fun. I can already tell.”
“That’s enough, Lome.” Eshe steps into view, standing beside her husband.
Her dark eyes trail over me. “You’re all right?”
I shrug. “For the most part.”
Her shoulders fall. “Good. That’s…good.”
Lome places a hand on his wife’s back. “We should get back to Thane.”
She nods and joins Lome as they lead us down the hall.
Des reaches back and takes my hand in his, drawing me forward. My skin tingles.
“Where is Thane?” Des asks.
“The gardens,” Eshe answers. “With Alex and Jennifer.”
I stumble at the mention of my mother.
Des squeezes my hand, then asks, “And the rest of their task force?”
“Lucas and his daughter returned to their pack to relay what transpired,” Lome says. “And Mistress Lola is doing the same with the Nightsbane clan.”
“Was everyone there?” I ask. “In Italy?”
“Yes,” Des says.
We reach the staircase and begin to descend.
“How?”
“Your mother had a tracking spell on you.”
My brows rise. “Really?”
He nods. “When you and Gregory went missing, it took her a moment to locate you, but once she did, we all knew you had to be with Adir.”
Because there is no one else determined to kidnap me.
“How’s Gregory?”
“Recovering,” he answers, voice tight. “But fine.”
My eyes close in relief. “Good.”
We reach the ground floor and make our way to the balcony.
Alex and my mother stand next to the stone railing, heads tilted close, and based on the strain in my former boss’s face, it’s a tense conversation.
Our footfalls sound against the stone. Alex straightens and turns our way.
“Darcie,” he greets, smile tight. "It's good to see you walking around.”
“You, too.”
I look at my mother.
She clears her throat. “You are well?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to vent about how her spell left me defenseless, but what’s done is done.
There are bigger issues we need to focus on.
I settle on, “I’m okay.”
Her lips press together, and she dips her head. “Good.”
“Where’s Thane?” Lome asks as our group comes to a stop just in front of them.
“The fountain.” Alex motions towards the hedge maze. “I thought it best not to disturb him.”
“Hm.” Lome hums.
Des asks, “What’s the news of Adir? Has he been located?”
“No, but Nightbane has confirmed three Elders are missing from their temple,” my mother answers.
“Fuck,” Des curses.
Lome and Eshe share wary glances.
“What is it?” I search the faces of those gathered around me. “Why is that bad news?”
“The Elders are ancient humans, blessed by the Creator,” Alex explains. “They are gifted certain…abilities by the one who made mankind.”
“Abilities?” I lift my brows. “Like the ones Immortals have?”
“Not quite,” a new voice joins our conversation.
Every person turns and watches Charmian approach from the balcony doors.
She wears her usual flowy gown adorned with colorful rose petals that flutter in the wind.
“In fact,” Charmian continues, “their power is far superior to ours in some ways.”
I tilt my head to the side. “How so?”
Her tired eyes meet mine. “Because they have the power to take our Immortality away.”
I stare at the Original Immortal whose blood runs through my veins, certain I didn’t hear her right.
But Eshe robs me of that surety the next moment.
“So it’s true, the Elders are working with Adir,” she says, her voice tightening on the last words.
“Yes,” Charmian says.
Lome growls. “You can’t know that for sure.”
“Is Darcie’s transformation not evidence enough?” She waves a hand in my direction. “Or the fact that her bond to Desmond has been completed?”
“What?” my mother shouts.
A jolt and whip my head towards her, but her furious stare is leveled on Des.
“How dare you!” she snarls, taking a step.
Alex grabs her shoulder and pulls her back.
But he can’t subdue the orbs of light gathering in her palms.
Des meets her glare with a blank expression. “I did what needed to be done to protect Darcie.”
“Bullshit!” She seethes. “You did what you wanted. What you always wanted.”
Lome shifts forward. “My brother has done everything he could to save Darcie from this life. It is not his fault Adir tried to force a bond with her.”
“He, what?” My mother tries to shrug off Alex’s hand, but his grip only tightens.
“Let me go, Alex,” she hisses.
“No. Not until you calm down.”
“How can I calm down?” She shrieks. “He has condemned my daughter. First to immortality, and now to a life relegated to sticking by his side.”
Des stiffens.
“Stop it.” I shift so I stand in front of Des. “This isn’t anyone’s fault but Adir’s.”
Her glare shifts to mine, her ire abating only a fraction. “Do you know what happened to his past soulmates, Darcie?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Then you know that being with him is a death sentence!” Her eyes widen, desperate, begging me to see reason.
I take a deep breath and repeat, “This isn’t Des’s fault.”
The Immortal has gone out of his way to keep his distance. More than he should have at times. At least, in my opinion.
“What about your plans, Darcie? School? Kids?” She shakes her head. “What about your dad?”
“Don’t.” I snap. “Don’t you dare talk about Dad.”
Des places a staying hand on my arm. Or perhaps it’s for reassurance. I don’t take my eyes off my mother to confirm either way.
She presses her lips together. “John is still my—”
“Nothing. He is your nothing.” Heat licks at my palms. “You don’t get a right to claim him. Not after you left us.”
“I had to—”
“I don’t care what you have to say!” I shout. “What’s done is done. I am Immortal. Des and I are bound. Now, how about we focus on the real problem, which is how we can stop Adir from fucking destroying the world!”
The words tear out of me from somewhere deep, and they don’t sound like me at all.
I don’t feel like myself.
Blood rushes to my head. I teeter back.
Des’s hands grip my biceps. “Darcie? What—”
His words cut off as my consciousness is tossed back, away from my present, and into the unknown.