Page 4 of The Immortal’s Curse (Bound to the Immortals #2)

DES

Greece

“We cannot wait any longer.” My voice booms through the stillness of the study, as loud as the storm surging in my chest. I pace, each step echoing off stone floors, my fury barely leashed. “We need to act now. Hunt down every last one of Adir’s supporters before they have a chance to regroup.”

Thane’s eyes narrow as they track me. Calculating. “And how exactly do you propose we do that without proving the rebellion? Without becoming the tyrants they claim we already are?”

Lome leans forward from his seat near the cold hearth. “The Immortals who defended Adir’s stronghold can’t be allowed to walk free. If we don’t crush them now, they’ll regroup and strike again.”

I nod to him, grateful. “Swift, decisive action. That’s the only way.”

Thane’s mouth draws into a tight line. “You’re ignoring the fallout. If we strike without care, we’ll ignite the very war we’re trying to prevent. We need to be patient.”

“I’ve been patient!” The words explode from my mouth, bitter and raw.

“I’ve stayed away from Adir because you said you’d extract what we need from him.

But it’s been two weeks, Thane, and we have learned nothing while rumors of an uprising from the surviving rebels travel throughout our community like wildfire. ”

Thane’s hands lace together. “Adir is… resilient. My methods haven’t worked. Not yet.”

“Because you’re too soft,” I growl. “Give me an hour with him and I’ll get us what we need.”

Thane’s voice drops, “Is that before or after you kill him for what he did to Darcie?”

Her name strikes me like a blade.

Lome whistles low.

My chest tightens. Rage claws against my ribs. “What are you implying?”

“You know damn well what I’m implying.”

I step forward, jaw clenched. “Darcie was in danger because of you .”

His eyes flare. “Careful, Des.”

“No.” I advance slowly, fury barely contained. “You left her vulnerable. And now you sit behind this desk while Adir mocks us from behind enchanted bars.”

“And what would you have me do?” he demands.

I slam both hands onto the desk. The impact topples the picture of Thane and Bella smiling in front of the Eiffel Tower. “Let. Me. Interrogate. Adir.”

Thane leans back, face unreadable. “I’ve already said no. It’s unwise.”

“Unwise?” I push off the desk, fists clenched. “So you’re giving me orders now? ”

“If it keeps you from making reckless decisions, then yes .” His voice is clipped, cold.

We lock eyes. The room tightens with tension, dangerous and heavy.

“Enough,” Lome mutters. “Both of you.”

Thane doesn’t look away from my challenging stare. “Something to add, little brother?”

Lome rises, brushing invisible dust from his trousers. “Reports are coming in from all corners. Talk of open rebellion is spreading faster than we can contain it. Lesser Immortals are emboldened. Some are even recruiting half-breeds to their cause.”

Fuck.

We can’t afford for half-breeds to get involved. Their power is too volatile, unpredictable. It would be a disaster.

Thane’s expression darkens. “What do you suggest?”

“We let Des speak to Adir.”

Thane stiffens while I grin, a flicker of satisfaction rising in my chest.

Before Thane can object, Lome adds, “We need answers. And Adir’s been asking for Des. This might be our only shot to get valuable intel.”

His words wipe the grin off my face.

I whip my head to Thane and snarl, “Adir asked for me?”

Thane scowls. “Because he wants to provoke you. Which is exactly why I didn’t tell you.”

My blood boils. “That’s not your call.”

“This affects all of us,” he snaps.

“I’m fucking aware,” I shout, stepping forward. “So why are you making unilateral decisions? What are you so afraid of?”

Thane’s calm facade cracks. “I fear something we never thought would happen is happening right under our noses. Our enemies have found a way to unite and threaten everything we’ve built. I’m afraid of what will happen if they succeed, to Immortals and humans alike.

“But more importantly, Des,” he continues, his voice dropping to a chilling degree, “why aren’t you afraid?”

He’s wrong. I am afraid. I just can’t afford to show it.

The memory of Adir’s fortress, of Darcie cowered in my arms, debris raining all around us, rises to my thoughts, unbidden. We nearly didn’t make it out of there. If reinforcements hadn’t arrived in time…

I shake the violent image away.

Never before had so many lesser Immortals dared to rise against the Original Nine. There have always been whispers, of course. Dissatisfaction. Envy. But that battle? That was something new.

Still, my brothers and I held the line. For centuries, we’ve kept Immortals from interfering with the human world, for their safety, and ours.

But now… the line is fraying.

“We need to crush this rebellion before it spreads,” I say, steady and sharp despite the agonizing memory of Darcie in danger still lurking in my mind. “We have their leader. Now is the time to strike.”

Lome nods. “He’s right, Thane. The clock is ticking.”

Before Thane can speak, a voice cuts cleanly through the tension, “You know, Eshe’s going to be furious when she finds out you three held another meeting without us.”

Bella strides into the study, eyes sweeping over the room. She moves to Thane’s side and places a hand on his shoulder.

“What’s going on?” she asks, voice deceptively light.

“Nothing.” Thane sighs, covering her hand with his. “Just discussing Adir.”

Her expression hardens. “That’s not nothing. Why weren’t Eshe and I brought in?”

I don’t hesitate to answer, “Thane insisted we exclude you. ”

Her head whips to the side, and her eyes narrow on her husband. “Is that true?”

Thane looks from me to Bella, frustration burning in his gaze. “Yes.”

Her hand slips from his shoulder, curling into a small fist at her side. “And what brilliant logic led to that decision?”

Thane leans back in his chair. “The rebellion is targeting Council leadership. Our struggles with them don’t concern you.”

“You’re out of your mind!” She snaps, crossing her arms over her chest. “What affects you affects me and Eshe, or have you forgotten that?”

Thane shifts in his chair. His confident expression slips as he mutters, “I didn’t want you to worry.”

She scoffs. “Well, you’ve failed spectacularly.”

Uninterested in enduring their bickering, I interrupt, “Thane, do you stand by your decision? Are we not going to push Adir to get more information?”

The muscle in Thane’s jaw flickers. “We will not conduct additional interrogations at this time.”

My rage roars like a caged beast, eager to break free from my chest.

I grit my teeth, turn on my heel, and stomp for the door before I say or do something I can’t take back.

But before I cross the threshold, something in my gut clenches. I grind to a halt, gripping the door handle with white knuckles.

If I leave now and let Thane win, we stand to lose everything .

I glance over my shoulder, my voice low but laced with steel, “Know this, Thane, I will break Adir. With or without your blessing.”

And with that, I walk out, the door slamming shut behind me.

This rebellion isn’t over.

And I swear on everything I am—they won’t touch Darcie again.

Not while I still draw breath.