Page 38 of The Immortal’s Curse (Bound to the Immortals #2)

DARCIE

A knock rattles the door, soft but not tentative. Controlled. Measured.

I don’t have to guess who it is. Only one Immortal is polite and patient enough to wait to be welcomed in.

“Come in, Bella,” I call out from the bed, placing my phone screen on the comforter. I’ve been debating if I should call Dad for the last hour. With the Des’s Masking in place, I know he’s not worried. Still, I’ll need to talk to him eventually, but after the drama with Kayla, I’m spent.

Bella steps into the room carrying a tray loaded with food, just like she used to when I stayed here before. I slide off the bed and clear the table tucked against the wall so she can set everything down.

As she places the silver tray on the surface, she glances at me with a hollow smile. “I thought you might be hungry,” she says.

She lifts the lids from the dishes, releasing the mouthwatering scent of Italian food—garlic, tomato, and fresh herbs—into the air, then hands me an empty plate.

She’s right, I’m starving, but something about her expression makes me hesitate before reaching for one of the buttery breadsticks piled in the wicker basket.

“Are you alright?” I ask, taking the plate. I’m not sure I have the emotional bandwidth for another tough conversation today, but for Bella, I’ll try.

She won’t meet my eyes. “I’ve been better.”

Concern for my friend overrides my exhaustion. “Want to talk about it?”

“Let us eat first, shall we?”

It takes everything in me not to press.

We both fill our plates. Even though I know Immortals don’t need to eat, I frown at the tiny portion Bella serves herself.

We settle into the antique chairs and eat in silence. Every so often, one of us murmurs a comment about the food, but the quiet always creeps back in.

I glance at Bella. The light and infectious joy I’ve come to expect from her are gone. My bubbly, positive friend looks… tired and drained.

When I finish my lasagna, I reach for one of the dessert pastries, its sweet red glaze catching the light. I pick up a second and offer it to Bella with a smile. “Looks like the cook made your favorite.”

She glances at the pastry, then back to her plate. “Thank you, but I do not think my stomach can handle sweets today.”

Wait— what ?

Slowly, I lower the pastry.

Bella loves dessert. Especially French pastries that remind her of her parents. Something is definitely wrong.

I can’t keep quiet anymore. “What’s going on, Bella? You’re starting to scare me.”

She shakes her head. “Nothing.”

She grabs a pastry and holds it up. “You’re right. These are my favorite. ”

She takes a big bite and forces a smile. I watch her chew slowly and swallow with effort.

“Are you sick?” I don’t think Immortals can get sick, but what do I really know?

She exhales heavily. “No, I am not ill.”

“Then what is it?” I lean in, locking eyes with her. “You can trust me.”

“I know that,” she whispers. Her gaze shifts to the window and the purple hues of the sunset. “I just feel… horrible.”

“So, you are sick.”

She shakes her head more firmly but still won’t look at me. “No. I feel horrible about everything that is happening. About everything that has happened.”

My mind scrambles to catch up. “Are you talking about Portland? Because what happened was not your fault.”

Finally, she faces me, and tears threaten to spill from the corners of her brown eyes. “Yes, it is. I put your safety at risk. Eshe told me not to go, but I did anyway. She was right. We should have stayed away.”

“No,” I tell her, trying to meet her guilt with reason. “Bella, you’re not responsible for what the rebels did.”

“You’re wrong.” Her shoulders sag even more. “ I’m the one who wanted to go to Portland. I’m the one who was so obsessed with experiencing someone’s birthday celebration that I ignored the danger of leaving the ward around Brunswick.”

Her gaze darts to mine, wide and frantic. “Kayla could have been killed. You could have been captured. My actions were thoughtless. I’m ashamed of myself.”

“Stop it.” The words come out sharp. It’s hard seeing her like this, so sad and defeated. “This isn’t your fault. Eshe was with us. She didn’t think we’d run into trouble, either."

“Because I begged her to come.” Bella sniffles and wipes her cheek, still refusing to meet my eyes.

I lean back, uneasy. She’s determined to carry this guilt, but it doesn’t add up. Nothing happened to Kayla. Bella got her out in time. I wasn’t taken. The danger has passed.

So why does she look like something inside her is still breaking?

The silence stretches—my stomach knots. There’s something else, something she isn’t saying.

“Bella.” I keep my voice soft. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Her head jerks up too fast. “What?”

I hold her gaze now. “Is there another reason you feel this guilty? Something more than just planning my birthday party with Kayla?”

For a heartbeat, she doesn’t move. Doesn’t breathe. Her hands begin to tremble. She folds them tightly in her lap, as if she can stop whatever truth wants to claw its way out.

“ I-I felt so alone,” she finally whispers, still avoiding my gaze. “I didn’t know what I was doing.”

The hairs on my arms stand on end. I sit straighter.

“I thought it was over,” she murmurs, staring down at her lap. “I didn’t think my choices would still haunt me after so many years.” She places her hands on the table, leaning forward and closing her eyes tight. “I…I just want it to be over.”

I reach out and place my hand on hers. She flinches, her eyes flying open. I pull back instinctively.

She winces. “I’m sorry. I’ve been jumpy lately.”

I can see that.

Gently, I say, “Tell me what’s going on. Please.”

Her lips quiver as she lowers her chin and chokes out, “A long time ago… I was struggling with this life and?—”

The soft click of the knob turning cuts her off.

My head whips to the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Bella and I shoot to our feet and face the door just before it swings open. Blue power flows over the Immortal’s hands, but it flickers out like an extinguished candle when a dark head of hair pokes around the door.

Alex.

“Good evening, ladies. May I come in?”

Tension eases from my shoulders, but I still snap, “That would’ve been better to ask before opening the door.”

“You’re right. I apologize.” He steps inside and lowers into a slight bow. “Lady Bella.”

“Alexander,” she replies calmly, all evidence of her earlier turmoil gone in a blink.

“What are you doing here?” I try to keep my tone even, but anger seeps through the cracks.

Alex straightens, hands folding neatly behind his back like some well-trained soldier. “I wanted to discuss your strategy for speaking with Adir tomorrow. My sire is notoriously skilled with words, and I thought it best to prepare you.”

“So I will speak to Adir tomorrow?” I was sure Des’s antics would delay it.

He nods. “The wards are nearly complete.”

Great. I want to get this over with. But something besides anticipation claws at me. Louder. Sharper. And it has nothing to do with Adir.

“Okay,” I say, crossing my arms. “Let’s hear it. How should I handle a supernatural being who’s an expert at twisting truths and hiding motives behind a handsome face and kind eyes?”

Adir’s eyes aren’t kind. Both Alex and I know that. Just like we know I’m not talking about Adir.

Alex holds my stare. The ache in my chest tightens.

Bella clears her throat. “You know what, Darcie? I just realized you don’t have any of your belongings.”

I drag my glare off Alex. “That’s okay, Bella. I don’t?—”

“Nonsense,” she cuts me off with false brightness. “It’s no problem at all. I’ll see to it that someone retrieves the necessities for you. ”

“Bella, really?—”

She’s already halfway to the door. The moment her hand touches the knob, she practically bolts, the door slamming shut behind her with a solid thud .

I stare at the space she left behind, frowning. That wasn’t just a convenient exit. That was escape .

“I have that effect,” Alex murmurs.

My eyes snap back to him, and I flinch. He’s in Bella’s chair now. I never saw him move.

Right… vampire.

“What?” I ask.

“Vampires tend to make people uncomfortable,” he says, glancing at the door. Even Immortals.”

That’s… interesting.

I draw a slow breath through my nose, then exhale quietly as I sink back into the chair, muscles taut beneath my skin.

Alex’s confident smile wavers. “You don’t need to be afraid of me.”

“I’m not.”

“Your heartbeat says otherwise,” he counters smoothly. “And I can smell the adrenaline pumping through your veins.”

I tighten my grip on the chair’s armrest. “You can smell that?”

He leans back, crossing one ankle over the other. “Relax, Darcie. I’m not your enemy.”

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”

His expression hardens slightly. “I’m still the same man you knew.”

“Except you’re not a man.” I shake my head. “You’re a vampire.”

A shadow flickers across his face. “I’m still a man.”

I swallow my unkind retort and prompt, “You wanted to warn me about Adir?”

A flash of disapproval crosses his eyes, but he lets it go. “ Yes. I’m deeply suspicious that my sire has some hidden agenda behind wanting to speak with you.”

I snort. Obviously .

“Any clue what that agenda might be?”

He stares at the pastries on the table, brows furrowed. “None. Which bothers me more than I care to admit.”

“Maybe he just wants to get under Des’s skin,” I suggest, thinking back to that tense vision of the two locked in the dungeon. Adir definitely knows how to push the stoic Immortal’s buttons.

Alex’s voice flattens. “It’s possible. He does seem to enjoy antagonizing the brothers whenever he can.”

I narrow my eyes. “You and Adir aren’t close, then?"

His lips curl into a sneer. “We’re as close as can be expected given our... inconsistent history.”

“What does that mean?”

He waves the question away. “Perhaps I’ll explain another time. For now, we need to prepare you for the meeting.”

I open my mouth to push, but he cuts in. “When you’re in the dungeon, be sure not to let Adir touch you.”

My jaw clamps shut, and I purse my lips. “Adir’s in a cell. How could he touch me?”

His eyes flicker with warning. “I don’t know, but what I do know is that while the wards in the dungeon suppress his power, they won’t do shit if he gets his hands on you.”

A cold shiver races down my spine. “Got it. No touching. Anything else?”

“Plenty.” He cocks his head to the side. “But that’s the main one. With Des at your side, I’m sure you will be alright.”

My stomach twists. “Des will be at the meeting?”

“Of course. You didn’t think he’d let you go alone, did you?”

Honestly? I had no idea. One moment, he wants nothing to do with me. The next, he’s all protective, borderline possessive. The contradiction is frustrating .

And confusing.

I shake my head. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea for him to be there. Adir antagonizes him. He might lose it.”

Alex chuckles. “That’s a very real possibility, yes.”

I cross my arms. “I take it you and Des are friends.”

His smile flickers and fades. “Of a sort.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Just what I said,” he replies casually. “We aren’t close, but we aren’t enemies. I’d say we’re friends of a sort.”

“Hm.” I study his face, searching for any sign of deception. “Is he the reason you were in Brunswick?”

“No.” Sincerity shines from his eyes. “The Immortals had nothing to do with me living in Brunswick or hiring you at the Bean Bazaar.”

My brows knit. “They didn’t?”

“No. In fact, I don’t think they know it even now. I went to great lengths to avoid their notice whenever they showed up in town.”

Suddenly, I recall how quickly Alex vanished whenever Lome entered the café.

I exhale slowly. “Why didn’t you want them to know you were there?”

“Now that is not something I’m prepared to share at the moment.” He shifts in his seat. “Do your parents know the truth about your situation?”

“No way.” I shake my head. “My dad would freak out.”

Though, as a history professor who studies supernatural lore, maybe he wouldn’t.

“And your mother?” His tone softens. “You didn’t mention her.”

I frown. “Because I don’t know her.”

His lips press tight. “Not at all?”

I jerk my head once. “I mean, I know of her, but she left when I was young. I barely remember anything about her. ”

Not that I want to, really.

“Interesting.” Alex watches me with an odd expression. Is it knowing? Or curiosity?

“Well,” he clears his throat and stands. “I suppose I should let you rest.”

“What?” I jump to my feet. “That’s it? You don’t have any other advice for me?”

“Something tells me you’ll manage just fine.” He gives a reassuring smile, but my mind now adds bloody, elongated canines to the image.

I open my mouth to argue, but before I can, he’s gone in a blur and rush of wind. The bedroom door slams shut behind him.

And just like that, I’m alone with the slow, creeping certainty that I won't be ready for whatever will happen tomorrow.

And neither will Des.