Page 43 of The Immortal’s Curse (Bound to the Immortals #2)

DARCIE

“You need to listen to me,” I say, standing firm in front of Thane’s massive mahogany desk, my voice sharp with urgency. “Adir is planning something awful. He means to hurt Eshe and Bella.”

The words echo in the opulent silence of Thane’s study, where polished artifacts gleam and dark-paneled walls gleam in the golden light of late afternoon. Everything about this room screams order and control, which only makes my panic feel louder and messier.

Des and Alexander flank me, quiet, but I feel their unspoken support.

After escaping the dungeon, I poured everything out to them on the walk here. They listened. Really listened. And Des didn’t hesitate. He looked me straight in the eye and said I needed to bring it to Thane directly.

So, I did. And now, with my fear gripping my chest and heart racing, Thane’s dismissive stare guts me. He leans in his high-backed chair, fingers steepled. His face, carved in calm restraint.

“Adir intends to cause panic,” he says, voice smooth and infuriatingly reasonable. “And I will not give in to his latest ploy.”

“You don’t understand,” I say, barely keeping the desperation from my voice. “I know he’s planning to hurt them. I can feel it.”

Thane opens his mouth to respond, but the heavy door slams open.

Eshe storms in like a hurricane in silk, her dark eyes blazing. Bella and Lome trail behind her, Bella’s expression pale and pinched with tension. Even Lome looks unsettled.

“My dear,” Thane greets his wife with an uneasy smile. “I thought you were preparing for this afternoon’s meeting.”

Eshe speaks before Bella can.

“There already seems to be a meeting taking place,” she says, each word edged with fury. “One you decided to exclude us from. Again .”

A tremor of discomfort ripples through the room. Thane doesn’t answer her directly. Instead, his gaze slides to Lome, eyes narrowing.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Lome says, arms folding. “I told Eshe I wouldn’t leave her out again.”

Wait—he what ?

Eshe shoots him a glance filled with surprise, and something warmer, before turning back to Thane. “Bella and I deserve to be included in conversations about our safety. About the war being waged outside these walls.”

“I only meant to spare you both the stress,” Thane says wearily, rubbing his temple like this is all just a burden.

Bella’s voice is a whisper, but it cuts the still air like glass. “You promised, Thane.” She steps forward, fingers twisting together, eyes glistening with the pain she’s trying to keep caged. “You said you wouldn’t shut me out anymore. You said I could help.”

Thane exhales and offers his hand. For a moment, Bella stands there, glaring at his palm with visceral pain. Then, she steps forward and slides her fingers through his.

He kisses her knuckles. “Forgive me. I struggle with the instinct to shield you.”

She squeezes his hand, voice soft but firm, “We’re not meant to bear our burdens alone.”

“You’re right, my love. As always.”

Eshe snorts. “Creator help me, what a lame fucking apology.”

Thane glares.

Before he can speak, Eshe turns to me and asks, “Adir threatened me and Bella?”

I nod. “He said he planned to get rid of you to weaken the brothers.”

She frowns. “Then why not order his lackeys to try to kill us in Portland?”

Des says, “Only an Original would be able to cause either of you significant harm. Those who attacked you were lesser Immortals and half-breeds.”

“Then why didn’t he kidnap us?” Eshe counters. “If we’re so important.”

Des shrugs. “I have no clue.”

But I do. At least, I think I do.

I clear my throat.

All eyes shift to me.

I shove down my nervousness and say, “I think Adir’s original plan was to kidnap me for ransom. But something changed after he attacked me in the dungeon… He said something was different about me.”

Bella gasps, a hand flying to her mouth. “He attacked you?”

“I’m fine,” I say quickly. “The moment he let go, the pain stopped. He wasn’t able to kill me.”

Both Eshe and Bella go rigid.

Bella rounds on her husband. “He tried to kill her? ”

Thane’s mouth is a thin line. Silent.

The memory crashes over me. The snap of bone, blinding pain, my screams echoing in that dark dungeon. I shiver.

Des lays a steadying hand on my arm. My breath catches, and I stare at him with wide eyes.

Is he trying to comfort me?

Oh, no... Not in this lifetime, buddy.

I lean to the side. His hand falls away, his fingers flexing and curling into a fist.

Lome’s voice cuts through the tension, yanking my attention off the unsettling Immortal at my side. “Could Adir know about the curse?”

Silence.

“What curse?” Bella whispers, eyes darting between them. “What are you talking about?”

Thane straightens. “I didn’t want to worry you.”

“You’re unbelievable !” I flinch as Bella’s fury erupts. Her voice rises, sharp and trembling. Betrayal radiates from every inch of her. The temperature in the room drops ten degrees, and an unnatural breeze swirls, whipping Bella’s hair across her face. She doesn’t brush it aside.

“How could you keep this from me?” she demands. “After everything… everything … You still don’t trust me.”

“It’s not about trust,” Thane insists. “Information is power. And our enemies have ears everywhere. I couldn’t risk speaking it aloud. Not even to you.”

It sounds like a lame ass excuse to me.

Bella feels the same way.

“You’re unbelievable.” She repeats with a scoff, shaking her head, looking at Thane like she doesn’t recognize him. “After all this time, all we’ve been through… you’re still so determined to keep me at bay.”

“That’s not what I’m?— ”

“Save it.” She snaps, eyes brimming with tears. “I’m done. I’m done , Thane.”

She stomps toward the exit, fury and heartbreak a storm in her wake. But just before she leaves, she stops and turns back.

Sad brown eyes find mine. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Darcie. Truly. I am.”

The door slams behind her like a final goodbye.

I turn slowly and find everyone watching me, but my eyes focus on Des.

“Tell me,” I demand. There’s no need to elaborate. He knows what I mean.

Des holds my gaze. His jaw flexes. But there’s a look in his eye… one that tells me he’s done withholding the truth from me.

About fucking time.

“The curse is altering your mortality,” he says.

My knees threaten to buckle.

No.

I will strength into my trembling limbs. I am strong. I can handle this.

“You mean it makes me heal faster than normal.” I swallow. “And it gives me visions?”

Several emotions flash across his face, but he conceals them before I can name them. “No. The visions are… something else.”

“What else?”

He doesn’t answer.

I step closer and repeat, “ What else, Des?”

Thane interjects. “What do you know about your mother?”

My hair whips across my cheek as I spin to face him, remembering Adir’s taunts, and frown. “Not much. She left when I was a kid.”

Thane nods, slow and deliberate, as though a long-held suspicion just snapped into place. “We believe her bloodline makes you susceptible to the Immortal’s Curse. That it’s reshaping you. ”

Across the room, Alex stiffens. Color drains from his face until he looks carved from marble, pale and stricken.

My pulse hammers in my ears. “What do you mean?” My hands tremble. I curl them into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palms. “What about my mother’s bloodline?”

“Thane.” Des’s tone is sharp, dripping with warning. “Now is not the time?—”

“She’s a witch.” Thane cuts him off, voice reverent, almost awed. His gaze locks on me, unsettling wonder sparking in the dark depths of his eyes, as though I’m something he never believed possible. “And so are you.”

The floor tilts beneath me. A witch? No… no. That can’t be.

“For the first time in history,” Thane continues, stepping closer, reverence hardening into conviction, “the Creator has blessed one of our soulmates.” His words hang heavy, final, as his intensity bears down on me. “And soon, Darcie… you’ll be Immortal.”