Page 17 of The Immortal’s Curse (Bound to the Immortals #2)

DARCIE

Ice cold fear slithers across my skin, raising goosebumps in its wake.

I don’t want to believe what I just heard. I’ve spent days, weeks trying to convince myself my vivid dreams were just that… dreams .

But deep down, I knew this conversation was coming. Knew it from the moment Lome walked through the café door after Charmian looked me in my eye last night.

Still, hearing it out loud is something else entirely.

A vise of dread clamps around my lungs, making it hard to breathe.

I clench my hands in my lap, digging my nails into my palms until they sting and force air into and out of my mouth. My mind scrambles for any excuse or reason that would prove Lome wrong—anything to explain what’s happening to me.

But Lome’s expression isn’t speculative; it’s resolved. And haunted. My hands begin to tremble as I inhale a shaky breath.

“That’s not possible,” I finally say. “I’m not… I’m not psychic.”

Lome’s stare is unwavering. “I’m not saying you are. ”

I dig my heels into the floor and press my back against the booth. “Then what are you saying?”

His mouth draws into a thin line. “I’m saying you had a vision… a mental projection that enabled you to witness events while your physical body remained elsewhere.”

A rock drops into the pit of my stomach.

No . No, this can’t be real.

I try again, desperate and in denial, “H-how do you know it wasn’t just a dream?”

“Because Des told me what happened in the dungeon. He repeated the conversation you shared, nearly word for word. Except…” He trails off, his eyes burning with knowing, before he adds, “Des mentioned how Adir threatened to find you.”

Renewed terror pours into my chest, flowing out through my entire body.

Adir’s threat was real? The rebellion knows where I am?

I stare at my cooling coffee, the surface rippling from the tremor in my hand, and try to steady my racing heart.

“Why am I having visions?” I ask, my voice comes out brittle, feeling like I’m one more piece of bad news away from losing it.

“Visions?” Lome’s voice sharpens. “There’s been more than one?”

I drag my eyes up to meet his. “I think you already know the answer to that.”

He hesitates. Then— “You were at Evetta’s trial.”

Bingo.

I’m going to be sick. “So that was real? Charmian actually saw me?”

“She did. Though the crowd was too overwhelmed by Thane’s power to process it. Which, now that I think about it, might’ve been Charmian’s intent.”

My brow furrows. “But why would she do that?”

“I imagine it’s because most of her descendants are clairvoyants.” He shrugs one shoulder. “Charmian has a soft spot for individuals with similar abilities.”

My eyes widen. “Are you saying I’m one of her descendants?”

“I don’t believe so.”

Confusion knots tighter inside me. “… I don’t get it.”

Lome leans back, eyes drifting to the busy café. A shadow moves through his expression. “Did you ever wonder why there were no mortals at Thane’s estate?”

I blink at the sudden subject change. “No. I mean, I just assumed since you guys are Immortal, you didn’t want humans around… that you didn’t want them figuring out what you are.”

That would open Pandora’s box for all of humanity.

“Fair,” Lome concedes. “But we have ways of altering mortals’ memories.”

“You mean Masking?” I ask.

He nods. “There are far more mortals than Immortals. It would be much easier for Thane to hire loyal mortals to work in his home than scour our limited population for lesser Immortals we can trust.”

My thoughts spin. “Then why doesn’t he?”

Lome leans forward, voice low. “Because mortals can… change if they spend too much time around us.”

“Change?” A new kind of fear curls in my chest. “How?”

He fixes me with a knowing stare. “Visions, for one. Others experienced different supernatural powers, as you would call them.”

Shit.

My pulse thunders. “So… these visions don’t mean I’m Charmian’s descendant.”

“Not necessarily,” he confirms.

Well, that’s something.

Still, it’s hard to believe that spending a relatively short amount of time around the Immortals could fundamentally change me.

“What about Eshe or Bella?” I refrain from mentioning Des’s soulmates, but this applies to them as well. “Did they ever show any powers when they were mortal?”

“No, our bondings occurred before that ever occurred.”

“But I’ve been back in Maine for weeks,” I murmur, thoughts racing. “The visions didn’t start until after I left Greece. This… this doesn’t make sense.”

Lome frowns. “There must’ve been a catalyst to jumpstart the shift. Maybe it was being abducted by Adir. Did he use his power on you?”

A cold sweat trickles down my neck. “Yes. To knock me unconscious.”

“Hm. That shouldn’t have been enough to trigger a change.” He looks away, lost in thought.

That’s the only reason he doesn’t see the blood drain from my face when what else happened the night at Adir’s slaps me across the face.

Des . Me .

My body crushed against his in that tiny closet like I’d been waiting for his touch my whole life. His hand at my jaw. His lips on mine. That surge of something ancient and alive jolting between us.

Could a single kiss do… this ?

“Couldn’t this just be a side effect of being in Greece?” I offer, clinging to denial. “Maybe a delayed reaction?”

Lome doesn’t respond right away. When he does, it’s with a slow shake of his head. “No. Bella never developed powers, and she lived with us for almost a month before she accepted immortality.”

His eyes drop, as if he can see my healed hand through the solid table. “And a vision is one thing, but accelerated healing… ”

I lay my palm flat on the table, make a fist, and then open it again. Nothing feels different, but I knew the quick healing wasn’t normal.

“So, what do I do?” I stare into his probing green eyes and wave my hand around my head. “How do I stop this ?”

“I’m not sure.” He begins to slide out of the booth. “But I will find out.”

I stay rooted in place. “How?”

“I need to find Charmian. If anyone can offer insight on this situation, it’s her.”

The last thing I want is another Original Immortal involved in my life, but I force down my protest and nod. “Okay.”

Lome’s gaze softens as he looks down at me. “Just sit tight, Darcie. We’ll figure this out. I promise.”

I lift an eyebrow. “ We ?”

“Yes. I’ll have to inform my brothers of what’s happening.”

Mortification floods my face.

When Des learns what's happening to me, he’ll put two and two together. But will he tell the others? Is the entire Immortal family about to know about the sexiest kiss of my life from the most emotionally unavailable being on the planet?

Seems like it.

“I understand,” I force myself to say, swallowing my embarrassment. “I…I appreciate you helping me.”

“Of course, Darcie.” He reaches out and takes my once-injured hand in his, squeezing it once. “We’ll get this sorted. Trust me.”

The bells above the door chime when Lome walks out of the cafe. Around me, the buzz of conversation fades beneath the rush of blood in my ears.

Lome says to sit tight, but sitting tight has never gotten me answers.

I slide out of the booth, grab my bag, and fire off a quick text to Claire .

Skipping lecture today. Can I borrow your notes later?

Her thumbs-up comes back instantly.

I tuck the phone away and move, sparing a quick wave to Alex and my coworkers behind the counter before I push against the door and leave the café.

If the Immortals won’t give me answers, I’ll find them myself. Even if it means dragging a vision out of my mind and facing the truth alone. Even if I don’t like what I find.

Because I’m done waiting.

I have a plan—risky, reckless, but mine.

All I can do now is hope my plan works…and that I can live with what I learn.