Page 23 of The Immortal’s One (Bound to the Immortals #1)

One nice thing about being held captive in a mansion? At least I have plenty of room to explore.

I stroll through the library on the second floor, my fingers brushing over the leatherbound spines that caught my eye when I first peeked inside. Sunlight pours through the windows, casting warm glows over the heavy wooden furniture and velvet fabrics.

I finished lunch with Bella an hour ago. She excused herself to run errands, and the idea of rich Immortals doing such a thing is weird to me. Whatever tasks she has on her plate could undoubtedly be handled by one of their employees.

I’ve only caught glimpses of the men and women who work here. Maybe I’m imagining things, but I can’t shake the feeling that they’re avoiding me. Every time I walk into a room and find someone there, they hurry out as if their hair is on fire.

I’d be offended if I weren’t so intrigued.

I slide a green leather book off the bookshelf in front of me, turn over to the front cover, and trace the title. The words are in Greek, but I don’t get much beyond that. As I flip through the pages, I’m struck by the black-and-white illustrations depicting warriors, gods, and strange creatures.

One drawing, in particular, catches my attention. The well-drawn lines depict a man in Roman armor… a man who looks a little too much like Lome to be a coincidence.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I glance toward the open door.

Thane stands on the threshold, exuding authority, wearing a crisp button-down shirt and dark slacks. He acts as the leader among the Original Immortals. Not because his power surpasses Lome’s or Des’s, but because he’s the only one willing to do it.

From Bella, I've picked up that Lome doesn’t take things too seriously. He stays on top of his responsibilities, whatever those may be, but he’s too much of a jokester to step into a leadership role.

As for Des… well, it's pretty clear he’s too abrasive to be an effective leader.

“Hello, Darcie.” Thane lowers his hand from where it struck the door frame. “Do you have a minute?”

It’s your house .

“Sure.” I press the book to my chest. “What’s up?”

He scans the library around me, then zeroes in on the book in my arms. “What are you reading?”

“Nothing. I’m just looking.” I draw the book away from me and flip through the pages until I find the soldier's picture. I hold it open towards Thane. “Is this who I think it is?”

He leans forward and squints, then snorts. “Yes. Lome enjoys immortalizing himself in innocuous ways. There’s hardly a society on Earth where my brother hasn’t ensured his likeness appears somewhere in their historical records.”

My lips twitch. “Funny.”

Totally a jokester.

“A pest is what he is.” Thane shakes his head, then says, “Would you like to take a walk? There are matters I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Oh… um. Sure?”

Maybe it’s because Bella looks young, or maybe it’s because her personality makes her easy to talk to, but I’m comfortable around her. The other Immortals? Not so much.

Not that any of them have bothered to try and talk to me…

But even though I’m salty about being locked away and ignored, Thane holds the keys to my eventual freedom. If he wants to talk, I’ll talk.

I return the book to the empty spot on the shelf and join Thane at the doorway. My flowy pants swish as I follow him down the hall, toward the back staircase.

I’ve asked Bella if there’s a way for me to get my own clothes from Maine, but she always shoots down that request. She claims the guest room closet is stocked with plenty of clothes, all in my size. I don’t have the heart to tell her that designer clothes are too fancy for my taste.

My hand trails over the banister as I walk down the stairs. Like the grand staircase at the front of the mansion, elaborate carvings sit in the dark wood. I assume it’s Des’s work, as the design is almost an exact match, but I refrain from asking.

Fresh air greets me when Thane and I step through the back patio doors. The scent of lilacs and roses lingers from the bushes along the stone railing. I breathe in through my nostrils, soaking in the beauty.

The grounds are magnificent, with blooming flowers, sculpted hedges, and towering trees artfully placed around the lush green lawn.

The scene reminds me of a picture on a postcard; too perfect to be real.

A blur of movement catches my attention from the corner of my eye. It disappears before I can blink—another evasive employee, no doubt.

“Why do your employees run away whenever I enter a room?”

He glances in the direction I’m looking. “The Immortals who work here are trained to be unseen while they complete their duties.”

Sounds like Downton Abbey .

Thane strides down the stone steps leading toward the lawn while I hurry to catch up. “Do any humans work here?”

“No. Mortals aren’t usually allowed in our fortress.”

“Fortress?” I lift an eyebrow.

Thane doesn’t miss a beat. “In some sense, we are at war.” He stops and turns to face me. I draw up short, narrowly avoiding running into him. “I’ve been told you’ve shown interest in the Original Nine.”

I stiffen. “How did you?—?”

“Bella.”

Of course.

Thane is her husband. Why wouldn’t she tell him what we talk about?

Before I reply, Thane spins around and resumes walking the path leading to tall hedges. I quicken my steps to keep up with his long strides.

“Will you tell me more about them?” I’ve pressed Bella for details about the Original Nine immortals, but other than their names, she’s been hesitant to tell me anything else. Maybe Thane will be willing to spill their secrets.

“Yes.” He plucks a dead leaf off a bush and glances over his shoulder. “What do you already know?”

Not much.

“There are nine of you,” I state the obvious. “And you all sort of supervise the rest of the Immortals.”

The number of Immortals in the world remains a mystery, but from what Bella has told me, it's a lot.

“That is true.” Thane dips his head and turns back around. His voice carries back to me on the breeze. “Aside from me and my brothers, the other six Originals are the most powerful beings on this earth. Together, we form the Council of Immortals and keep Immortal influence on humankind in check.”

“You, Lome, and Des are the most powerful Originals?” Bella had alluded to as much, but I want confirmation.

“Yes,” he says, his tone modest. “Eros, Julisanna, and Adir are next. Then Faine, Charmian, and Evetta are after them.”

The last Immortal’s name sends a cold chill racing down my spine. I shudder. “Evetta is one of the weakest Immortals?” That’s hard to believe, especially since she choked me without lifting a finger.

If Evetta is weak, I’m nervous to learn what the other Originals can do.

“Evetta is weak for an Original .” Thane peers back to give me a pointed look. “But she is still more powerful than other Immortals.”

I swallow hard, staring at the ground as I follow him deeper into the maze, chewing my lip in thought. “If Evetta is already so powerful, why would she attack me and risk making you mad? ”

Evetta’s friends had tried to warn her that she was risking their lives, but the stunning immortal wouldn’t back down. Not until Des arrived.

Thane hums in thought. “I imagine it had something to do with her feelings for Des.”

“Feelings?” My stomach twists into a tight knot. I ignore it. “Did they, like… date or something?”

“No,” he scoffs. “Des would never.”

Relief floods through me, though I quickly push it down. I don’t care about Des, I remind myself, as the weight of Thane’s words settles over me.

Yet my forehead still furrows. "So… you don’t think Evetta’s involved with the rebellion?” I clarify.

“I don’t.” His tone darkens. “But I won’t know for certain until she crawls out of the Underworld, and we interrogate her.”

Dozens of questions flood my mind at the bone-chilling words, but I stay on topic. “You really think she attacked me because she was jealous?”

Thane turns left, passing a statue that resembles the Medici lions of Florence. The thought that it might be more than a replica piques my curiosity, but I don’t stop to investigate. Thane’s already made another turn, disappearing from view.

I break into a half-jog to catch up.

“Evetta’s always been obsessed with Des,” he says after glancing back to ensure I’m still behind him. “I imagine she was overwhelmed by the source of her power when she encountered you.”

Her power?

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Evetta’s power is fueled by human envy,” he says. “ When she draws on it, it bleeds into her psyche, twisting her emotions.”

I’d assumed an Immortal’s power was inherent, something they were born with. I never considered it could be tied to human emotions, let alone something as volatile as jealousy.

Thane continues, oblivious to how shocked I am by the new information, “I suspect she was jealous of the possibility that you might be with the man she’s coveted for as long as she’s existed.”

I cross my arms with a huff. “Well, she can have him. She didn’t have to try and kill me.”

“Indeed.” Amusement colors his voice before he clears his throat. “I tell you all this, Darcie, to explain why I call my home a fortress. The powers of the other Original Nine are influenced by humanity, but my brothers and I are different.”

I blink at the sudden change in subject but eagerly latch onto the opportunity to learn more information.

I’m definitely my father’s daughter.

“How are you three different?” I ask as the maze opens, the hedges forming a circle ahead. Elegant statues stand on pedestals along the perimeter, and a circular fountain rests at the center.

Thane continues walking until he stands beside the fountain. He stares into the rippling water. “My brothers and I possess powers that are not variable. Fleeting human emotions or desires don’t influence them. Our power is constant.”

No wonder other Immortals might resent them.