Page 29 of The Immortal’s Curse (Bound to the Immortals #2)

DARCIE

Maine

Horror, dread, and disbelief are a dangerous cocktail, robbing me of the ability to think, to breathe. My throat constricts, but I fight to suck in a desperate breath.

Alex has fangs.

My boss has fangs!

I try to tear my gaze away, but I can’t look at anything but the monster holding me hostage.

Alex is a vampire. A freaking vampire has me in his clutches.

To think, I was scared of a warlock. I’d much rather take my chances with him than be at the mercy of someone who can rip my throat out with one bite. Someone I trusted.

Adrenaline pumps in my veins. I resume trying to kick or twist my way free of his grasp.

He’s unaffected by my efforts. “Stop, Darcie. I’m not going to hurt you.”

His command rolls over my shoulder, falling flat on the concrete underneath me. I continue thrashing as much as his immovable grip will allow.

He shakes me with a growl. “I mean it, Darcie. Stop moving this instant.”

My head snaps up. Irritation tinged with exasperation swirls in his pale blue eyes.

“You lied to me.” My words are barely above a whisper. The sound of the fight should drown them out, but Alex hears me perfectly.

“I didn’t lie to you.” A hint of regret flickers in his gaze. “I just didn’t tell you the truth.”

Anger burns my chest. “That’s the same thing!”

BOOM!

Alex pulls me to the ground, hovering over me as dirt and debris fall from the sky. After the dust settles, he releases me and straightens, looking at the alley's opening. Attacks continue to fly through the air. Most are still blue and green.

I stand and stumble back a step. My body hits a brick wall just as two figures step out of the shadows and flank Alex’s sides. The light catches on their elongated, white fangs.

I swallow down the blackened salmon threatening to make its reappearance.

“Stop.” I hold out a trembling hand. “Don’t come any closer.”

Alex frowns. “We aren’t going to hurt you, Darcie. I promise.”

His promises mean nothing.

Can I outrun a vampire? Would it be safer for me out on the street, dodging the Immortals fighting? Another glance at Alex’s elongated canines makes me lean towards, yes.

“I am not going to hurt you,” he says softly. “I know you’re afraid, but you need to stay in this alley, Darcie. The rebels are all over this area. If you run, they will catch you. ”

Unease curls in my chest. I lower my hand. “H-how is this possible? How are you here? ”

“I will tell you everything, I swear. But right now, I need to help Eshe and Bella. And I can only do that if you swear to stay put.”

Hearing the Immortals’ names roll off his lips makes my stomach clench. I might be terrified of this man—this… vampire , but I’ll do anything to help Bella and Eshe.

“Okay,” I croak.

“You won’t run?” He cocks his head to the side. The move is almost bird-like. I shudder. Has he always moved like that?

“I won’t.” I swallow down bile. “I promise.”

I flinch when Alex lifts his hand, beckoning his companions forward. Before I can take a breath, the three creatures zoom past me. Masculine shouts and cries of pain follow quickly after.

My heart beats like I’ve run a marathon. I lean against the brick wall and turn my head to watch the opening where the vampires ran. The streetlights that once illuminated the street are dark, likely destroyed.

My legs shake. I lower myself to the ground before they give out.

Angry and fearful cries fill the air, along with the distinct crack I now associate with Bella’s electric power. Gurgled screams are abruptly cut off every few seconds. I squeeze my eyes shut and breathe through the horrific images filling my head.

“Please,” I mumble a prayer to the Creator. “Don’t let anything happen to Eshe or Bella.”

The only reason they’re here is because of me, because Bella is kind and thoughtful and wanted to see me and celebrate my birthday. I’ll never forgive myself if they’re hurt because of me.

My heart continues to race, and my stomach rolls. I'm a coward for hiding out here, but what can I do? The rebels are here to take me, and with no way to defend myself, I’m a sitting duck.

Still, I hate leaving my friends to face the attackers alone. I wish there were some way I could help. If only having visions was useful in a fight, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Agonizing pain or not.

The crunch of gravel reaches my ears.

The memory of the parking lot all those weeks ago slams into me, and my hands shake. I lean forward on the balls of my feet, palms against the wall at my back, ready to bolt.

An Immortal’s orb of power rounds the corner. I gasp and drop to the ground. The power collides with the wall. Sparks of light rain down on me. I throw my arms over my head to shield myself from their sharp stings.

The Immortal rounds the corner. Before I can react, the muscular man reaches down and grabs me by the back of the neck. He shoves me against the wall. Air flies out of my lungs. I don’t get the chance to take a breath before he squeezes my neck.

My vision darkens.

Evetta performing the same attack flashes across my mind. The traumatic sound of heels clicking on tile presses against my eardrums.

“Damnit,” the man growls, pulling me back to the present. “Damn that warlock and his stupid spell.”

Through my disorienting panic, I process his words. He must not be able to pull me through a rip, either.

My relief is brief as his grip tightens. His sinister smile promises nothing but pain. “Lucky for you, Adir wants you alive.”

Blackness creeps along the edges of my vision. I scratch at his wrist, but the Immortal only increases his grip. I take little solace in the fact that he said Adir wanted me alive. The pressure on my throat makes every heartbeat feel like my last.

The dim security light flooding the alley starts to fade. As complete and total darkness is moments from setting in, as if my mind is giving me a last-ditch effort to survive, Des’ face flashes behind my eyes.

Without the use of my vocal cords, I call out for him psychically. DES!

His image disappears. Darkness returns.

I no longer see the face of my attacker. I can only feel his unforgiving grip as it stamps a bruise against my tender flesh.

Resigned to my fate, I stop struggling against unconsciousness. My body grows limp. I’m seconds away from passing out when the fingers around my neck fall away.

No longer supported by the Immortal’s grip, my legs buckle.

My knees bang against the ground, but I’m incapable of crying out as I gasp for breath. I fall forward on my hands before collapsing onto my side. The sting of gravel digging into my hip jolts through my body.

The muffled sounds of struggle seep through the pounding in my skull, yet the shadows veiling my sight refuse to let go.

Crash!

Something slams against metal. A dumpster, maybe?

I drag in another desperate breath and turn my head a fraction toward the sound. At first, I don’t see anything. Then, a white bolt of power flashes through the dark.

I blink once, and my vision clears enough to see a familiar figure jab a bolt into my attacker’s body. The force shoves the Immortal against the dumpster before his body crumbles.

Des stares at my attacker, his shoulders rising and falling as hatred flows off him in palpable waves. And yet, I’ve never felt so… safe.

Seconds pass. I push myself to my hands and knees, wincing as gravel cuts into my palms.

Terrified screams and gurgling cries reach my ears. With each breath I take, my senses return with agonizing slowness.

I stare at Des’s back, admiring how the security light casts his form into sharp, firm lines. My throat aches too much to speak, but something in my gut guides me to once again mentally call out… Des.

His gaze snaps to mine.

The fiery hatred dominating his features should terrify me, but my pulse finally begins to slow.

Des is here. He came for me. I’m going to be okay.

The formidable Immortal crosses the alley and crouches down. His cool fingers brush against my throat. Warmth seeps into my skin.

I exhale a soft sigh.

The ache in my throat fades enough for me to choke out, “Y-your enemies… need a new way to… hurt me. Ch-choking is getting old.”

I’m rewarded with a quirk of his lips before his features harden once more. He pulls his hand away, and with it, the ache returns. Though it’s much better than before.

“Where are Eshe and Bella?” he asks.

I lift a shaking hand and point to the street, toward the sound of fighting.

Des’s nostrils flare. He stands. “Can you walk?”

I nod.

He offers a hand and helps me up.

I open my mouth to speak, but he presses a firm finger against my lips. I gasp when tiny sparks flicker over my flesh.

“Do not try to speak again,” he instructs, lowering his hand. “Your larynx is damaged, and doing so might make it worse.”

Again, I nod. I can’t believe this is happening to me… again.

Only in my crazy life could an innocent girls’ night out turn into a fight for my freedom. I thought Adir’s minions wouldn’t be able to find me. I believed I could go back to my normal life. I was supposed to be safe .

Angry and frustrated tears form behind my eyes. I drop my chin to keep Des from seeing my ill-timed breakdown .

Too late.

“Hey.” Des places a hand on either side of my head and forces me to look up. Concerned green eyes fill my vision.

“You are safe,” he murmurs, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “I’m here. No one will be able to touch you. Do you understand?”

I blink, and a tear slips free. Des doesn’t react when the salty water hits his thumb.

“Do you understand?” he repeats.

Slowly, I nod. His tense shoulders relax, but he doesn’t step away.

“I need to go help Eshe and Bella.” Hesitation tugs at his voice. “Will you be okay here alone? I swear, no one will get anywhere near this alley while I’m gone.”

I believe him.

Immediately, I curse myself for keeping him from helping Bella and Eshe for a single moment.

I place my hands on his chest, choosing to ignore the way he sucks in a breath at my touch, and croak, “ Go .”

With one last lingering look, his power surrounds him. He steps into the rip and disappears from the alley.

One Mississippi…

Two Mississippi…

Three—

An ear-piercing scream shreds the night air.

A second later, a blinding surge of white light explodes overhead—so bright it swallows the stars and bleeds across the sky like a supernova ripping open the heavens.

I gasp, stumbling back a step. The brilliance isn’t just light, it’s force , pure and raw, pouring into the world like a dam has burst. It slams into me like a tidal wave, ripping the breath from my lungs. I can’t look away. I can’t move .

The power, it’s Des…

And it’s unholy .

Energy crackles through the air, thick and vibrating, like the earth itself is holding its breath. My skin tingles, and my chest constricts. I feel Des’s power in my bones… in my blood, in the farthest reaches of my soul…

Sound vanishes, swallowed by the pressure in my ears. The world narrows to white. My knees buckle. The pavement quakes beneath my feet as Des’s power crashes back to the Earth like lightning made flesh.

Then, everything goes black.

I hit the ground before I even realize I’m falling.