Page 8 of The Immortal’s Curse (Bound to the Immortals #2)

DARCIE

Warm, humid air curls the ends of my hair and tickles my bare arms as I move through darkness. My steps are quiet on the stone floor. Aside from breathing, I make no noise. Every step is careful and deliberate as I head toward an unknown yet somehow familiar destination.

I’ve been here before. Where is here? I don’t know. But my feet carry me with confidence, stopping the moment I reach the top of the staircase that curves down into more darkness below.

My heart thumps a steady rhythm as I press my back against the rough wall and slowly descend. After two turns, voices reach my ears. I stop, knowing the importance of remaining unseen.

I’m here to listen and learn. I’m here for the truth .

A loud crash vibrates against the stone walls. I jolt, pressing my palms flat against the wall to keep balance. Shouts fill the air, but I’m too far to make out the words before silence falls once more.

With a deep breath, I continue my slow descent, walking until the soft glow of candlelight rises to meet me from the end of the stairs.

A torch flickers on the wall directly in front of me—the source of the light. I drop into a crouch. Judging by the brightness beyond, more torches spread throughout the room.

I creep forward, all too aware of the silence beyond the staircase, fearful of what it would mean if I’m heard.

When I reach the final step, I suck in a breath. Aged stone walls and metal bars greet me. I’ve been on enough historical tours with Dad to recognize a dungeon when I see one.

A shiver runs down my spine.

What am I doing here?

“I will not ask you again.” A sharp, angry voice pierces the air with pointed precision.

My heart flips.

I recognize that voice.

Des.

My pulse quickens. I inch closer until I can peer around the corner.

Des stands at the far end of a row of cells. A lone occupant sits on a rickety wooden chair, staring back. The prisoner jerks his chin, revealing his profile, and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.

Adir.

A fresh wave of fear crashes through me. My hands shake. I try to steady my breathing but can’t squelch the panic rising in my chest.

“I do not recall you asking me anything,” Adir replies, haughty as ever, even though glowing metal shackles wrap around his wrists.

Des growls. “Do not play games with me. You will not enjoy the outcome.”

“What games?” he snorts. “All you’ve done is demand information. I have no idea what it is you want me to say.”

Des clenches his fists. “You asked Thane to speak to me. Why? ”

“Come now.” Adir chuckles. “It's no secret you are the brother with the most influence.”

“Hardly.”

I lean forward, balancing on the balls of my feet, eager to catch every word.

“You are the brother all lesser Immortals fear,” Adir continues, undeterred. “That makes you the brother the rebellion needs to negotiate with.”

No shit.

Now that I know the death of mortals fuels Des’s power, I’d be scared of him, too.

Then why aren’t you?

I shove the unsettling question aside as I listen to Des’s response.

“The time for negotiation passed when you and your rebel army attacked my family and our allies.”

“We defended my home,” Adir states matter-of-factly. “We did not initiate the attack.”

“Bull shit.” Des’s lip curls. “You risked the lives of the Immortals who follow you for a lost cause. You should be ashamed.”

Crumbling stone and charred furniture flash in my mind. Ash floats through the air. My eyes burn with the same sting they had the day Des rescued me from Adir’s stronghold.

How many died that day?

The wooden chair creaks when Adir leans back with an air of indifference. “Leaders must make sacrifices.”

“True leaders do not demand pointless sacrifices,” Des snaps. “You’ve lost, Adir. The rebellion is lost. The only way to save yourself is to give up your accomplices.”

“You scold me for risking their lives one minute, and the next you demand I give them up to you?” He tsks and shakes his head. “Very misleading, my friend.”

“I am not your friend. ”

“No?” Adir hums. “Did you not seek my assistance with Darcie?”

My gut twists.

White lightning streaks above Des’s head. A crack of thunder follows, rattling my skull.

“Do not speak her name.” Des takes a menacing step toward the metal bars. “She almost died because of you.”

“Please.” Adir scoffs. “Darcie was never in any danger.”

“Liar,” he snarls.

“And let’s not forget.” Adir lifts a shackled hand, pointing a finger. “ You dragged me into the mess between you and your brothers. I would never have thought of using the girl if you had not brought her to my attention?—”

The room brightens, blinding, unnatural. White orbs swirl around Des’s hands, wrapping his forearms in crackling light. Raw and alive.

I suck in a sharp breath, equally awed and afraid of the manifestation of Des’s power.

“Now, now…” Adir opens his fists in surrender. “Let’s not get carried away. I meant no offense.”

“Didn’t you?” Des asks, his glare unwavering as he stares down the Immortal behind the bars. The glow around his hands remains steady. “Isn’t this exactly what you want? To rile me up? To get me to attack you?”

Adir says nothing.

“For what purpose?” Des continues, voice icy yet controlled. “So I break the ward around your cell? So I let your powers loose? Brilliant idea. If only I were as hot-headed as you think I am, your plan might have worked.”

“I’d reserve that description for Thane.” Adir smirks, lowering his hands, holding Des’s stare. “Thane is too weak to lead. But you , Des, are the ideal balance of action and patience.”

Chains rustle as Adir moves closer to the bars.

Des holds his ground .

Adir stops just short of pressing his body against the metal. I squint, but there's no sign of the ward Des mentioned.

Back at Adir’s stronghold, the Immortals said a ward prevented them from creating a rip to escape. I’d been too overwhelmed to ask questions then, but now... I make a mental note to get answers about the strange magic the next time Lome visits. If he visits.

Adir lowers his voice. “Aren’t you tired of Thane calling the shots?”

“My brothers and I make decisions together.”

“Really?” Adir flashes a cold smile. “So, you’re here with his blessing?”

Des doesn’t reply.

Adir chuckles and takes a step back. “I didn’t think so. I’ve been asking to speak with you for weeks.”

“Why?”

Adir turns and paces the small cell as much as the chains bolted to the floor allow. He’s trying to draw out the moment. Build the anticipation.

Des, however, remains unfazed.

He’s so… impressive.

Adir plants his foot and spins back around, a manic edge to his next words, “The rebellion needs you, Des. I offer you our allegiance.”

My jaw drops.

Is he serious?

Des would never join him. He would never betray his brothers.

Would he?

I hold my breath, waiting to hear what Des has to say.

Only, he doesn’t say anything.

In fact, he laughs.

Des’s laughter echoes through the dungeon walls, loud, unapologetic .

I exhale and stare, dumbfounded. I’ve… I’ve never seen Des laugh, not like that.

Adir’s features twist into a menacing scowl. “Care to share what’s so amusing?”

Des shakes his head, his chuckles dying down, but he smirks. “This plan of yours… were you counting on my lack of loyalty? Or my lack of sense? I can’t believe you thought it would work.”

“Your loyalty and good sense are exactly why the rebellion needs you,” Adir insists through gritted teeth. “The Council exists for the good of all Immortals, but it must change how it views… certain things.”

“Things like using humans as pawns for your own selfish gain?” Des spits back.

Adir presses his lips together, then says, “There are those who would misuse the freedom to interact with humans again. That’s why the Council must remain, and that’s why you must lead us, Des. You’re the only one who can change things.”

Des’s laugh this time is cold, devoid of humor. “You forget, my strength is tied to my brothers.”

“That may be true,” he concedes. “But every one of the Original Nine knows you possess the strongest power. Human pain and destruction vary, but death … death is a guarantee for every mortal.”

Des’s power pulses in the air. A chill races down my spine.

Des growls, “You are mad if you believe I’d ever trust you or the rebellion. You are nothing but villains eager to take advantage of defenseless humans.”

Adir’s facade finally drops. His charm flutters away, revealing something furious and cruel underneath.

The imprisoned Immortal sneers, stalking toward the bars. Blue and orange sparks crackle at his fists when he grips them, like the metal itself resists him.

“And you are mad if you believe your brothers do not suck every ounce of power they can from you,” he grunts, clearly in pain. Still, he doesn’t release the bars. “You are stronger than them, Des. They abuse the connection between you for their own selfish gains.”

“You are wrong.”

“You are a fool!” Adir shakes the bars.

I flinch. My foot shifts back, causing a small pile of stones tucked against the wall to scatter.

Des’s head snaps my direction. I lean back and hold my breath.

The following seconds pass slowly. I brace myself, waiting for him to appear at the bottom of the stairs and demand to know what I’m doing here—a question I couldn’t answer even if I wanted to.

But God… the Creator… whoever must be looking out for me.

Des doesn’t confront me.

Adir speaks, continuing their conversation as if my fuck up never happened. “I thought your brothers’ incessant push for you to bond with the girl would be enough for you not to trust them.”

I bite my lip and lean forward again.

Des stares at Adir again but doesn’t respond to his latest accusation.

Adir sighs and rolls his eyes. “Are you really so loyal that it makes you blind?”

Again, Des doesn’t answer. He stands there, silent, letting the air grow thick with tension. And I can’t decide if it’s a relief or a curse that he’s not giving anything away.

I’m dying to know what he’s thinking.

Adir pushes himself away from the bars with a hiss. My stomach churns when the smell of burnt flesh reaches my nostrils.

“All Thane and Lome want from you is more power,” he snarls. “They don’t care if it costs a young woman her life, so long as there’s a chance Darcie can make them stronger. ”

I wince at the threat but keep my eyes on Des, watching for the smallest reaction. But nothing. Des is still as stone, his face unreadable.

Adir shakes his head slowly. “You keep telling them Darcie is not your One. But what do they do? Kidnap and flaunt her existence for everyone to see, including your enemies. Does that sound like someone worthy of your loyalty?”

“My brothers realized their mistake. The girl was returned to her life and remains unharmed by their actions.”

“So, you’re willingly naive?” He huffs a derisive laugh. “ Fine . If you won’t join the rebellion, we’ll find another way to achieve our goals. And believe me... we will succeed.”

Des turns his back to the cell, done with the conversation. I jolt back when I realize he’s heading straight for me.

I start to inch back up the curving stairs, but I’m too slow. I won’t be able to get away before he sees me.

Should I make a run for it?

Adir’s voice fills the dungeon. “If you have no use for her. I’m sure you won’t mind me taking a shot at her.”

My foot freezes on the step behind me.

The air temperature drops.

“Come again?” Des’s tone deepens with warning.

“Darcie. I must admit, having her with me for those few days was quite nice,” Adir says with sickening innuendo. “I should like to see her again.”

“That may be hard to accomplish in your current situation.”

“I won’t be down here forever. Once I’m free, I think I’ll make a trip to… Maine. Is that it?”

My heart stops.

“Careful, Adir,” Des growls.

The Immortal’s laughter rings out, dripping with false innocence. “What? I thought you didn’t want her. If you do, that’s my mistake. Please accept my apology.”

“She is under our protection. ”

“Maybe she wants someone else’s protection. I wouldn’t mind being the lucky Immortal to get a taste of those lips.” Adir pauses, letting the words hang in the air, before he adds, “But wait, you could tell me all about that, couldn’t you?”

Heat floods my cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and something else, something that has nothing to do with Adir.

That kiss... I dream about it almost every night.

Is that what this is? A twisted dream? It has to be.

Des’s voice is a low, dangerous snarl. “I will not warn you again. Darcie is off-limits.”

“Have you seen those legs?” Crude amusement laces Adir’s voice. My skin crawls. “I’d love to wrap them around me right before I?—”

A blinding white light silences his words.

I throw my arms up to shield my eyes, losing balance and falling back on the stairs. “ Oomph .”

A loud thump and the crackle of stone splitting mask my grunt.

I slide down the steps on my butt, drop my arms now that the light is gone, and peer into the dungeon.

A gasp slips from my lips, the sound sharp and loud in the stillness. I freeze, my pulse racing, but neither of the Immortals notices.

Adir lies sprawled on his back, motionless aside from the rise and fall of his chest. Des stands tall, breathing heavy, his body coiled like a wound spring. His hand trembles as he brushes the hair out of his eyes, a flicker of strain crossing his face.

“I will kill you,” he murmurs, his words sharp and unwavering, a cold promise to the unconscious Immortal. “If you touch her, I swear to the Creator, I will kill you.”

In the blink of an eye and a flash of light, Des disappears, leaving nothing behind but thick, oppressive silence and the unsettling feeling that whatever just happened was exactly what Adir was hoping for.