Page 35 of The Immortal’s Curse (Bound to the Immortals #2)

DARCIE

Greece

Des moves fast, too fast.

The moment we appeared on the mansion’s terrace, Des dropped my hand as if it burned. I had to lean against the stone banister to avoid falling. The feel of the rough surface reminded me of the night Adir abducted me, sending a shudder through my body.

Now, I’m racing after him, feet catching on the plush carpet covering the mansion's third floor. Bella must’ve redecorated.

Unfamiliar artifacts and gilded oddities flashed past in a blur, each one begging for closer inspection, but I don’t dare slow down.

One hesitation, and I’ll lose sight of my Immortal guide.

I’ve almost caught up to him when he takes a sharp turn down a dim, undecorated hall. My hand flies out and grabs the corner of the wall. I pivot and hurry after him with all the grace of a newborn giraffe.

“Is there a reason you’re moving at the speed of light?” I pant, taking in the drab gray walls around me .

Is this a servant’s hall or something? How have I never seen it before?

Des doesn’t slow. “I don’t want to be late, and I still need to drop you off with Eshe.”

“Eshe?”

“Yes?” The dark-haired beauty stands at the end of the bare hallway, half-lit by a single wall sconce.

She’s dressed in her usual flowy pants and loose blouse, serene, effortless.

My hoodie and leggings feel jarringly out of place here, but for the first time since arriving in this mansion, I’m wearing something that’s mine. And that feels like a small victory.

I rush forward, brushing past Des and throwing my arms around the Immortal.

Eshe stiffens and exhales in surprise. “What is this?”

I hug her tighter, just for a second, then pull back.

“I’m just glad to see you after last night—” The words catch. I swallow the lump rising in my throat.

I know Eshe and Bella made it through the attack. I know that. But replaying the night and how they stood between me and the rebels has haunted me. Who knows what would have happened if the rebels had brought more fighters or the vampires hadn’t shown up?

Eshe studies me, and her sharp gaze softens. “I see.”

Des clears his throat.

I turn to face him. His expression is unreadable, his tone clipped. “Stay with Eshe. No matter what you see or hear, don’t draw attention to yourself. Understand?”

I raise an eyebrow. “I understand.”

He gives a tight nod and throws Eshe a look I can’t decipher before disappearing down the corridor.

I wait until he’s out of sight to ask, “What was that about?”

“You’ll see.” Eshe places a steady hand on my shoulder and squeezes gently. “Ready?”

As I’ll ever be .

She leads me down another dim hallway, this one lined with photographs. Faces blur in the low light, shapes distorted by shadow. I glance at them as we pass, but nothing is clear.

Eshe opens a door to the right, and we step into pitch blackness. The shift is immediate and disorienting. There are no windows, no lamps, just the scrape of our footsteps against the floor.

Eshe reaches back, her fingers finding mine. She conjures a small green orb that flickers to life in her palm, casting eerie shadows along the narrow path ahead.

“This way,” she murmurs.

The floor slopes. I watch my feet as we veer right, round and round in a spiral.

“Are we going down?”

“Yes,” Eshe murmurs. “Now, no more talking. Some of the individuals at the meeting have impeccable hearing.”

I snap my mouth shut. I knew Immortals had heightened senses, but hearing through walls is new. Unless… she’s not talking about Immortals.

Eventually, the spiral ends in a dim chamber. A foggy pane of glass overlooks a grand room far below.

Eshe presses a finger to her lips and glides forward. With a wave of her glowing hand, the glass vanishes. The low rumble of indistinct conversation floats into the chamber.

I creep up beside her and peer over the edge.

Thane, Lome, and Des stand on a low platform. Eros, Julisanna, Faine, and Charmian flank them, arranged like living statues, much like they’d been during Evetta’s trial.

Around the room, dozens of well-dressed figures mill about, conversing in hushed tones. But I don’t think they’re all Immortals. Among the sea of flawless faces, a handful seem unmistakably… human.

Curiosity bubbling up, I lean toward Eshe to ask, but one firm shake of her head renders me silent .

Right. No talking.

I bite my tongue and turn back to the room just as the doors slam open.

Alex.

No... Alexander.

My boss, the vampire, enters, flanked by a pale, grim entourage. The same two vampires from the alley.

“Nice of you to join us, Alexander,” Des calls from the platform.

Alex flashes a smug smile. “Forgive us. We don’t travel as quickly in daylight.”

Des chuckles. “Indeed. I’m glad you made it in one piece.”

“As are we.”

Their casual tone needles at something inside me. The man who gave me a job and the Immortal who won’t even acknowledge our connection are talking like old friends. Have I been played somehow? And if so… why?

If the Immortals had Alex watching me all along, why keep it secret? Before I can follow that thought, the conversation below shifts.

Alex and his companions walk away from the platform, weaving through the crowd, whose occupants give them a wide berth until they reach a cluster of large, broad-shouldered men who don’t move.

One of them, a tall, tanned blond, bares his teeth in a snarl as the vampires pass.

Alex halts mid-step. Slowly, he turns, a broad smile curling on his lips. “Is there a problem, Lucas?”

“You reek of death,” the man spits.

The room goes still. Even from up here, I feel the shift in the air, tension humming.

Alex’s smile fades. “And you smell like a wet dog.”

A low chorus of growls rises behind Lucas .

The vampires at Alex’s sides stiffen, but he lifts a hand, calm, controlled.

“Is that how Were-beasts treat their allies?” he says, voice smooth but poisonous. “Growling and baring teeth like rabid dogs?”

A what now?

Lucas’s fists clench. His growl drowns out the avalanche of questions suddenly piling in my head. “I don’t know. Do vampires always insult those they call allies?”

Alex lifts an eyebrow. “You threw the first insult, Lucas. But in the interest of a successful alliance. I apologize.” He spreads his hands. “Feel better now?”

Lucas doesn’t answer, but he looks anything but appeased.

Thane’s voice rings out, commanding and cold. “Are you two finished? Or do you intend to continue wasting this assembly’s time?”

The tension breaks.

Lucas bows his head immediately. “Apologies, Lord Thane.”

Alex snorts. “What a good boy.”

Lucas snarls.

“Enough, Alex,” Des clips.

The vampire turns to the platform. He presses a hand over his heart and bows low. “Apologies, Lord Desmond.”

Des nods, his lips twitching. Thane jerks his head in acceptance while Lome stares, arms crossed, a troubled expression marring his face.

I scan the platform again and frown. “Where’s Bella?”

Eshe slaps a hand over my mouth, her gaze darting to the room below.

I follow her stare and suck in a breath. Alex’s head is tipped back. He’s looking right at us.

Eshe’s hand slips down to my forearm, her grip bruising. Alex’s glacial eyes narrow just before recognition flares.

Shit .

Luckily, Thane draws his focus. “Have you gained any intelligence on the rebels’ plans, Alexander?”

The vampire shifts his gaze. I exhale shakily as Eshe’s grip loosens.

“My coven and I are lying low following the Portland attack,” Alex replies. “We need to ensure our cover remains intact before we resume our work.”

Julisanna’s voice floats into the air like silver smoke. “I thought all those who attacked the girl were disposed of?”

A chill creeps down my spine. Eshe gives me a knowing look.

Alex nods. “That is true, but we intend to err on the side of caution to guarantee the rebels do not know of our deception.”

“Sounds to me like we might be the ones who are deceived.” All eyes turn to Lucas.

“Beg your pardon.” Alex drips with icy danger. “Do you have something to say?”

Lucas straightens and sneers. “Just that it might be in the alliance’s best interest to second-guess the words of the traitor’s son. After all, if you show no loyalty to your family, I’m not sure your loyalty can be entirely trusted.”

Silence detonates through the room. Even Lucas’s allies shrink back.

The traitor… Adir?

My breath catches. That would make Alex?—

Holy shit.

I study Alex with new eyes. Suddenly, his handsome features are eerily familiar.

Alex’s fury simmers beneath a still mask. His friends await his signal.

“You’re new to this, pup,” Alex says derisively. “So I’ll let your ignorant comment pass.”

A collective breath fills the room.

“But—” He flashes his fangs. “The next time you presume to speak on matters beyond you, keep it to yourself. You never know who might challenge a weak pack leader.”

My hair stands on end. Pack leader?

Thane lifts a hand, silencing any retort Lucas prepares to spew.

Lucas obeys, though resentment rolls off him in waves.

I reach out to the wall next to me and prop my weight against it. Everything is growing more complicated by the second.

It only gets worse when Alex says, “Speaking of my unfavored sire, I did speak to him early this morning.”

Gasps echo. Wide eyes swing around the room. Des is the only person who doesn’t seem surprised.

Lome takes a step forward. “What did you learn?”

“Very little,” Alex replies, not without regret. His eyes slide back to where Eshe and I stand.

Des notices and follows his gaze. For the briefest moment, his eyes tighten. He drips his gaze and asks, “Did Adir share any information about the rebellion’s plans for the girl?”

The room’s occupants shift, a low murmur rippling through them at the mention. Lome’s brow furrows, surprise tugging at his features as he studies Des with a curious glance.

Alex clears his throat, and the noise dies at once. “He continues to try to convince others that the girl is your One. Though he admits his doubts.”

The information shocks the room, but not me. Adir told me as much when he held me captive. He admitted the rebellion would use me only to gain more supporters.

I thank whatever higher power pays attention to me that he doesn’t know the truth.

Thane presses, “What else did he tell you?”

“That he is open to negotiations.” Alex hesitates, his lips forming a grim line.

Des notices. “What else? ”

He exhales. “My sire is open to negotiations, but wishes for someone other than me to act on his behalf.”

“Who?” Lome asks.

Once again, the vampire casts a quick look at the window. “The girl. Darcie.”

I gasp.

A storm of voices drowns the reaction.

“Why on Earth would he desire to speak with the mortal?”

“This is a trap!”

“Adir is planning something. He must be.”

Des’s eyes lock onto Alex, not paying any attention to the various cries flying through the room. “ Why ?”

The vampire doesn’t falter. “I do not know.”

Lucas seizes the moment. “How can we trust the vampire is not working on his father’s behalf? Why would Adir request the girl if he believes she is of no importance? Something about the story does not make sense.”

I agree. But I’ve also witnessed Adir’s irrational behavior. I’ve listened to his crazed thoughts. I’m not entirely sure he’s not a little mad.

Des scowls at Lucas. Alex doesn’t speak again, but his posture remains steady. He’s not worried about the allegations.

Lome interjects, “Adir asks for Darcie to get under our skin. He knows we want to protect her. Revealing he will only negotiate with her puts us in a position where we have no choice but to involve her.”

“We do have a choice,” Des counters, “and we will not subject her to Adir’s games.”

“Do not be so hasty,” Eros voices from his position at the brothers’ side. The handsome Immortal’s lush lips press in a hard line as Des’s fiery gaze lands on him. “If we can arrange for Darcie to meet Adir, he may reveal valuable information to her.”

“You are a fool if you believe that power-hungry lunatic wants to negotiate.” Des sneers. “This is a distraction, nothing more. If we allow Adir to speak with Darcie, we will play right into his hands.”

“I agree,” says Julisanna, the pale pink ribbons twisted in her hair sway as she shakes her head. “I do not believe Adir plans to negotiate about anything.”

No one else speaks. The lesser Immortals and other supernatural beings seem resigned to allow the Originals to settle the issue.

Gentle Faine speaks up, “What do we risk by simply seeing if there is a peaceful resolution to the rebellion?”

Julisanna scoffs. “We risk falling into a well-laid trap.”

“By not investigating the opportunity,” Charmian counters, “we resign ourselves to more fighting and potential loss of life. We cannot, in good conscience, ignore the simple request. Can we, Thane?”

All eyes turn to the leader of the Original Nine.

I push off the wall and lean until I’m practically hanging out of the window. Eshe holds onto my elbow, both in warning and comfort. We focus on the platform, awaiting Thane’s reply.

The Immortal leader inhales deeply, scanning the faces of the crowd before turning to look at his fellow Originals. Each one’s expression reveals their opinion on the matter, and Thane takes them into consideration.

Finally, his regretful eyes land on Des. “There's no simpler option, Desmond. Go get the girl.”