Page 50 of The Immortal’s One (Bound to the Immortals #1)

Shock strikes me like a lightning bolt, crashing through my body, ripping through my cells, sending my heart soaring to new heights.

Des is kissing me.

His hands hold either side of my face, his fingers pressing against my temples as his lips move against mine.

Blood thunders in my ears.

For weeks, I’ve refused to admit to anyone, barely even myself, how attracted I am to Des. I didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea—to think that my attraction meant we are soulmates.

But the way his mouth moves against mine with gentle, expert precision makes the truth impossible to ignore.

I’ve been lying to everyone.

I am drawn to Des.

But as much as I want to shake off whatever power holds my body hostage and return Des’s kiss, my lips remain unmoving. Still, his touch makes me feel so… alive .

“Wake up,” Des whispers against my mouth, pleading and desperate. “Please, Darcie.” Another kiss. “Please wake up.”

I want to!

Desire burns in my core.

God, do I want to.

His lips brush mine once more before he draws back.

I try to protest, but I only manage a barely audible whimper.

“That’s it, Darcie.” His hands slip under my back, and he lifts me off the floor, shifting me to sit in his lap. “Wake up.”

He adjusts my head against his chest. A sigh of contentment slips past my lips.

“Good girl.” His hands rub up and down my sides. “You’re almost there.”

Warmth flows from his hands, seeping into my skin, burrowing in my bones. I’ve never felt this way before. I never want to leave Des’s arms. I was a fool for not rushing into them the moment we met.

I lose track of time, caught up in soaking in this heavenly feeling wrapping around me, diving deep into my soul. The ice freezing my limbs begins to thaw, melting and falling away as I rise from the half-conscious nightmare Adir put me under.

My lashes flutter.

Green eyes, wide with worry, fill my vision.

Not hazel eyes… green.

It’s all beginning to make sense.

“Darcie?” Des shifts, lifting my head closer to his, searching my face. “Can you hear me?”

“Yes,” I croak.

His forehead falls forward, resting against mine. “Thank the Creator. ”

“Where are we?” My throat burns with every word.

“Adir’s stronghold.” He leans back. His voice steadies. “We’re hiding in an empty closet.”

I glance around to avoid his loaded stare, then shrug. “At least it’s a big closet.”

He chuckles. “Indeed.”

My eyes slide back to his, and my cheeks heat at the memory of the unexpected kiss plays in my head.

He clears his throat. “How are you feeling?”

Eager for distraction, I test my limbs.

“I’m okay…” My fingers and toes move fine, so do my arms. But my legs are still weighed down. “I think I just need more time, and then I’ll be good as new.”

His lips turn down. “Do you know what Adir did?”

“No. It felt like I was in a coma, but I could hear everything.”

“Hm.” His eyes narrow. “Did you hear Bella?”

I nod.

His frown deepens.

I pinch my lips together, unsettled. “Do you know what he did? What magic he used?”

“No,” Des admits, gritting his teeth. “But he shouldn’t have been able to place you in a waking sleep. That… that’s not a skill Immortals have.”

Well, that’s not good news.

BANG!

A crash sounds on the other side of the door.

In a blink, Des places me back on the floor and jumps to his feet. He faces the door, his feet spread wide, power rippling off his broad back in coils of white light.

I use my arms to prop myself up, cursing my lead-filled legs. If I need to run, I’m screwed .

I stare, wide-eyed, heart pounding, waiting for Adir to break through the closet door.

It never happens.

The shouts and crashes of fighting move away, as if travelling down a hallway.

Slowly, Des’s shoulders relax, and his power flickers out of existence. He looks down at me and takes a deep breath. “Can you walk?”

I look at my offending legs. “I don’t know?—”

His hands dive into his hair. His eyes slam shut and he curses, “ Shit .”

“But I can try,” I quickly add.

“No…” His eyes snap open. He crouches down in front of me. Uncertainty covers his expression. “You don’t understand.” Turbulent, conflicted thoughts swirl behind his eyes. Seconds pass until one settles, and he dips his chin in resignation.

I stare at the dark hair curling around his temples, wondering what it would feel like to run my fingers through the strands.

“Whatever Adir did…” His features tighten. “Whatever he did, it hasn’t left your body. We need to get your strength back if we’re going to have any chance of escaping.”

I bob my head. “Alright. How do I do that?”

He exhales a ragged breath. “I don’t know what Adir did, but physical contact seems to help draw the spell or power out of your body.” He lifts his eyes, and air rushes out of my lungs when I see the heat burning in his gaze. “I’ll need to kiss you again.”

Every muscle clenches in delight.

“Oh.” I exhale and drop my gaze, my cheeks warming with the rest of my body .

It hadn’t occurred to me that Des’s kiss was responsible for pulling me out of my semi-coma. Now that it has, the timing makes sense.

I can think of worse ways to handle this situation…

“Believe me, Darcie.” His tone draws my eyes back to his. His desire is gone, replaced with… embarrassment? He continues, “I wouldn’t do this if it weren’t necessary. If we had more time, I’d let you regain your strength at your own pace.”

Disappointment, swift and agonizing, chills my desire.

I look away, unable to meet his eyes again, my face burning for an entirely different reason. “It’s fine.”

He exhales. With his free hand, he grabs my chin and gently turns my face towards him. I close my eyes, unwilling to let him see my hurt.

Then, he leans in.

His lips press against mine.

I don’t move. I don’t even breathe.

I don’t want Des to get the impression I like kissing him. This is a necessity—nothing more. He’s made that clear.

He cradles my face, his lips moving expertly, urging mine to part. Our breath mingles. I don’t know what to do. Every part of me wants to throw myself into this kiss, but this isn’t romantic.

Des didn’t know how else to give me back strength. He doesn’t want this. He doesn’t want to kiss me.

Keep telling yourself that.

With each passing second, the passion in the kiss grows. Des’s breathing increases. One hand slides to my back, pressing me into him.

I ache with want.

Desire coils in my core. I can’t resist .

I don’t want to.

So… don’t.

My hand curls around the back of his neck, and I tilt my head to the side. Des growls with approval, and his self-control snaps.

Fingers dig into my back. The pressure sends pleasant shivers up and down my spine. There’s not an inch of space between us. Our hearts beat wildly in our chests.

Every brush of Des’s tongue against mine, every moan that passes his lips, ignites a fire in me that I’ve never felt before.

I swing my legs behind me to rise up on my knees, vaguely acknowledging I’ve regained control of my legs.

Des rises with me. His hand tangles in my hair, holding firm, melding our lips together.

I want to feel his electric touch all over my body. I want it to penetrate my skin and burrow into my bones.

I want… him.

A sharp noise cuts through the air, but I don’t let it distract me. My attention is completely on the man in front of me, his grip on me almost desperate, like he can’t get enough. Like he wants me as much as I want him.

I nip at his bottom lip, and the growl that rumbles through his chest sends heat straight to my core.

"Look what we have here."

Des and I freeze mid-kiss. Before I can blink, he draws back and pulls me to my feet, stepping in front of me as we turn to face the door.

Adir stands there. His smug grin sends chills down my spine. His clothes are a mess. Black smudges streak across his skin, and his shirt is torn.

“Stand down, Adir.” Des’s voice is low and commanding. The sexy tone sends another wave of desire crashing through me.

So not the time, girl.

Adir laughs, the sound cold and manic. “I do not answer to you, Desmond.” His grin grows wider, creepier. “Nor do I answer to the Council. Not anymore.”

“That is treason,” Des says in warning. “Don’t make me fight you, Adir. Stand down.”

“No.” With a flick of his wrist, a flash of red light explodes from Adir’s hand.

I scream in warning.

Des blocks the attack with his forearm, but the impact sends him reeling back into me. I hit the wall, the force knocking the air out of my lungs.

Des launches himself at Adir. They tumble out of the closet, crashing into the room beyond.

I stumble forward, gasping for breath. My head’s spinning. I grip the door frame to steady myself and take in the scene in front of me.

Horror clenches my stomach.

The room is destroyed—walls crumbled, debris scattered everywhere. It’s like a warzone inside a freaking mansion.

Des and Adir blast their power at each other, hatred for one another so thick I can taste it. Red and white power in varying forms zip through the air like some messed-up light show. I blink, but the scene stays the same.

I never knew the Immortals could shoot power from their bodies.

More secrets.

My shaky trust in the Immortals is rattled a little more.

But Des… Des came to rescue me.

That means something. No matter what deceit or omissions they fed me during my time in Greece, at least they came to save me.

A deafening boom shakes the door frame. I lose my grip, falling to my knees. My hands scramble for purchase as dust and debris rain down on me, bits of plaster and shattered glass cutting into my skin. My heart hammers in my chest, but my mind races even faster.

I need to get out of here before this place crashes down on me.

I glance up. Through the cloud of dust, Des and Adir continue fighting.

I push myself to my feet, shaky but desperate. I need to get to Des. I can’t get out of here on my own.

Adir’s red light whips through the air, lighting up the room like a violent storm. Des dances around the power, dodging, deflecting, countering with blinding bursts of white light. His movements are fluid, violent, and graceful—he’s in his element, but so is Adir.

One huge burst from Des sends Adir flying back, crashing through the wall into another room. Des charges after the rebel Immortal like some kind of avenging angel.

I can’t tell who has the upper hand. Des lands another hit, but Adir doesn’t back down. He pushes forward, relentless.

I thought Des was the strongest Immortal. How is Adir holding his own here?

Is it because Des hasn’t bonded with his One ?

That thought barely registers before a voice manages to penetrate the chaos. "Des! Des, where are you?"

The ground shakes again.

My hands slap against the jagged debris scattered across the floor. A sharp pain shoots up my palms.

"Des?" The voice comes closer, frantic now. "Darcie? "

"Over here!" I scream to be heard over the booms and crashes of the fight in front of me.

"No!" Des’s shout, raw with pain, makes my heart stop.

I whip around. Fear claws my chest.

Adir’s lips curl in a sickening grin as a red bolt flies through the air, zipping past Des, careening right toward me.