Page 34 of The Immortal’s Curse (Bound to the Immortals #2)

DARCIE

Ominous silence crashes in my ears like waves on the Eastern coast.

“I said,” Des’s growl slices through the air, “Let. Her. Go.”

The weight of Kevin’s fear fills the room, but he holds his ground. “Who the fuck are you? Leave before I call the police.”

A dangerous smirk pulls the corner of Des’s lips. “Good luck reaching your phone when I rip your hand off.”

“Des!” His name rips from my throat, sharp and unsteady. “Stop it!”

His gaze slides to me, and I suck in a sharp breath at the crazed look in his eye. His pupils are blown wide. His nostrils are flared. He looks like a wild animal. He’s acting like a wild animal.

Kevin slides his feet so he stands in front of me. “Do you know this guy, Darcie?”

Des’s glare snaps back to Kevin. He growls low in his throat.

“It’s alright.” I grab Kevin’s elbow, earning another growl from Des, and draw him back. “This is just a misunderstanding. Right, Des?”

The Immortal’s stare is unrelenting .

“Des!”

He grinds his jaw together, and the power flickering around his body fades as he grunts his acceptance.

Footsteps sound on the stairs. “Darcie? Everything alright down there?”

Oh, shit. Dad.

“You need to go,” I tell Des.

The muscle in his jaw flickers. His eyes snap to Kevin, then back to mine. “No.”

“Seriously, Des.” I glance at the stairs. “My dad is here. He can’t?—”

I jump back when Des lifts his hand. A flicker of hurt crosses his features before it's concealed behind a stony expression.

He waves his palm in a wide circle. White light flares out, flying in two different directions. One soars upstairs. The other strikes Kevin in the forehead.

“What the fuck, Des!” I clutch Kevin’s arm, ready to catch him if he falls.

Only… he doesn’t fall.

Kevin straightens. Fear fades from his expression as he turns and looks me dead in the eye. “I’ll see you around. Enjoy Greece.”

Without so much as a backward glance, he walks across the living room, right by Des. The front door opens and shuts, ringing in my ears.

Horrified, I whirl on Des. “What did you just do?”

“A Masking.” He curls his hands into fists.

Dread clenches my heart. “On my dad, too?”

He dips his chin.

My bottom lip wobbles. “Wh-what did you make him believe?”

Am I about to be taken away to Greece again? I’m not ready to leave.

But you have to .

Maine isn’t safe. That became clear last night.

“Who?” Des’s eyes narrow. “Your father or your boyfriend.”

The curt response makes me frown. “My dad.”

He ignores my tone. “We have a meeting. And we need to leave now. Before we’re late.”

I blink in surprise. “A meeting? With who?”

“The Council.”

“They want to see me?”

“No.” He pivots on his heel and strides to the door. “But you’re coming anyway.”

I hurry after him, momentarily forgetting all about his rude, aggressive behavior for the moment, too intrigued to question if this is a good idea. “Why?”

Without turning around, he says, “Because it’s about time you get answers direct from the source. Don’t you think?”

My heart thumps in my chest. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. So why am I so nervous?

Des walks out the front door and stops in the middle of the driveway. He turns to me and holds out his hand.

I eye it warily. “What are you doing?”

He doesn’t lower his hand. “We need to touch for me to take you through a rip.”

“Why couldn’t you just do it inside the house?” I look up and down the street. No one is out. It’s too cold. Still, it seems risky to do this out in the open.

“Because there is a protection ward on your home, preventing anyone from travelling directly inside,” he reveals.

I gape. “What? Really?”

“Yes. Really. Now.” He flexes the fingers on his outstretched hand. “Come. We don’t want to be late.”

I stare at his palm. For a moment, I wonder if this is a mistake. I want information. I’ve wanted it for a long time. But my gut twists with unease .

Something tells me whatever I’m about to hear isn’t going to make things better for me. Rather, things will only get worse.

And not just for me, but for everyone I care about. And that includes the broody Immortal in front of me.

I meet his gaze.

Memories from hours ago, when he rejected me for what felt like the tenth time, squeeze my chest with embarrassment and hurt. I shove them aside.

You are a fortress.

I promised myself I would wall off my emotions, that I wouldn’t let Des hurt me anymore. He’s here for a reason, and it’s not because I’m his One. Whatever he wants me to hear must be important.

I reach out and place my hand in his, ignoring the sparks that shoot through my limb.

Des leads me through the rip, back to Greece….

Back to where I always knew I’d return.