Page 70 of Dark Island: Rescue

Edgar dodged easily, his immortal reflexes making the movements look effortless.

The tissue box came next, followed by the TV remote. Each projectile was thrown with impressive force for someone who had just woken up and was in the midst of a transition.

"Stand still so I can hit you!" Angelica demanded, reaching for Frankie's purse.

"Stop it!" Frankie yelled at her cousin. "Just calm down and listen to reason. Dagor didn't tell me who he was right away either, and I didn't make such a big deal out of it."

"Dagor is your problem," Angelica hissed. "Edgar is mine."

"Angel, please." Edgar held up his hands. "I know you're angry. You have every right to be mad. But can we talk about this like two rational adults?"

"Why should I talk to you? Why should I believe anything you say?"

"Because I love you." The words came out raw, honest. "And because this is all good. You are going to be young and beautiful forever, and I won't need to lie to you anymore."

Angelica's lower lip trembled. "But you lied."

"Yes. And I'm sorry. If I could have told you sooner, I would have. But I can't change that now. All I can do is promise that I'm not hiding any more secrets, and that from now on you'll get only the truth from me." He smiled. "Even if I have to tell you that the pink dress you bought last week is not doing you any favors."

She was quiet for a long moment. Then her gaze fixed on him with laser focus, and Edgar saw the moment when the practical side of her brain kicked in—the part that made her such a good businesswoman.

"So let me get this straight." Her voice had shifted from fury to calculation. "You're telling me I'm going to be young and beautiful forever?"

"Yes. Once the transition completes, you'll stop aging, never get sick, and if you get injured for whatever reason, your body will heal much faster than it could if you were still human."

"I'll be stronger and faster," she murmured.

"Significantly."

Angelica was silent, her wheels clearly turning. "So, what's the downside?"

Edgar and Frankie exchanged glances.

"There is none," Edgar said. "Unless you consider living forever a downside. Well, that and hiding who you are. Humans can't know about us, and that includes your very large and loving family, which is a problem."

Frankie cleared her throat. "You need to tell her about the bond."

Edgar shot her a look that promised retribution later, but there was no avoiding it now.

"What bond?" Angelica demanded.

"Some immortals are blessed with an unbreakable bond," Edgar said, trying to make it sound casual and failing miserably. "A truelove mate bond. When it forms, the two people are bound together for life. They can't stray, can't fall out of love, can't really function well without each other."

"And?"

Edgar gave her what he hoped was a charming smile but suspected it came across as sheepish. "You and I might be such mates. There's a chance you're stuck with me forever."

Angelica stared at him. Then she started laughing—not the hysterical laugh from before, but genuine amusement.

"Let me see if I have this right. You lied to me for four months about being immortal, you messed with my mind, you kept Frankie's secret, you made me transition without my consent?—"

"Technically, it was because of a faulty condom. That wasn't planned?—"

"Shut up, I'm not done." She pointed a finger at him. "You did all of that, and now you're telling me I might be magically bound to you forever and can't even leave you if I want to?"

"When you put it that way, it sounds bad."

"It is bad!" But she was still laughing. "This is the most insane, ridiculous, messed-up thing I've ever heard."