Page 52 of The Immortal’s One (Bound to the Immortals #1)

Power pushes and pulls me in one direction, then another. Des’s arms wrap around my back, holding me tight, lessening the worst of the disorienting sensations. His woodsy, masculine scent helps calm my racing heart and steadies my breathing.

Hair whips my cheeks. I tilt my head forward, resting against his shoulder, praying I don’t vomit.

Seconds later, it all stops.

Fresh air kisses my cheeks. Cold nips at my nose.

I lift my head and crack an eyelid. Dizzy, it takes a moment for me to register what I’m seeing. But when I do, my eyes fly wide and I gasp.

A pair of white rocking chairs sit under the porch light on the patio. Fresh snow blankets the lawn where Kayla and I played freeze tag with the neighborhood kids back in the day. The blueberry bush Dad rarely trims blocks the bottom half of the living room window.

Emotion burns the back of my eyes.

I’m home .

After all this time, all the danger, secrets, and drama… I’m finally home. I’ve wanted this for so long.

So why do I feel so conflicted?

Des’s arms shift against my back.

I tear my eyes off my childhood home and tilt my head up to look at the Immortal.

My breath hitches. His face rests inches away as his eyes trace my features—his green eyes.

“We’re here,” he murmurs. His arms remain around me.

I shove down reservations and doubts. Emboldened by his touch and the emotion swirling in his eyes, I whisper, “I have a question.”

He doesn’t look away from me. “What is it?”

This is it.

I don’t know what I want Des to say, or if I’m even ready to hear it, but I have to know. I deserve to know.

I press my lips together and stare into his eyes, silently begging him to be honest with me before I ask, “Will you finally tell me why your eyes turn green when you touch me?”

Am I actually your One ? Did you lie before? Why do I feel sparks every time we touch?

His expression softens. His gaze turns thoughtful.

For a moment, I think he will answer.

I’m finally going to hear the truth from the Immortal’s lips—lips that devoured mine with so much passion that no matter what happens next, I’ll dream of them for the rest of my life.

Along with his glowing green eyes.

I hold my breath, waiting for him to speak.

It happens so fast.

One minute, he’s gazing at me with something I can only describe as affection, holding me like he doesn’t want to let go. The next, his arms fall away, and he takes a step back.

His features harden.

My body grows cold.

Still, I hold out hope that he will say something.

He doesn’t.

“Des?” I wrap my arms around my torso to fight off the chill in the air. “Did you hear me?”

“You should go inside. It’s cold.”

“What?” Disbelief and anger flare. “No. Why won’t you answer me?”

Why are you still shutting me out?

He tucks his hands into his pockets. Still, he doesn’t speak.

I see red.

Rejection sucks, but I won’t let my anger distract me from pushing for answers… even if he doesn’t want to give them.

I take a deep breath, aware that the longer we stand out here under the streetlight, the greater the chances someone will see us. Des is right—it’s cold. I don’t want to freeze. But the truth might be worth the risk of a bit of frostbite.

“Des,” I begin in a low, cautious voice, licking my lips, nervous. “What happened between us… in the closet?—”

“Was a necessity. Nothing more.”

His words are a punch to the gut. The air is knocked out of my lungs.

My eyes search his, desperate to find proof that he doesn’t mean what he says. But his face is tight. Determined. There’s not a flicker of uncertainty in his once-again hazel eyes.

“You’re lying,” I murmur, then clear my throat and demand, “Why?”

“I am not lying. ”

“You are !” My chest heaves with rapid breaths. I lose my composure.

Memories of our kiss burn through me, dousing me with a fresh wave of desire—desire I don’t want to resist. There are so many things I need to figure out. I need to know what really happened to Des’s past soulmates; if the rebellion was really behind their deaths.

I need to know what it will mean if I accept there’s a connection between us, and what being linked to an Immortal means for my future…

I’m not ready to make any decisions. I just want to know the truth.

I want to know how Des expects me to resist the string that’s wrapped around my chest, pulling me towards him with irresistible intensity ever since the moment his lips touched mine.

“You’ve experienced trauma,” Des says with no emotion, his eyes distant. “It’s messing with your judgment.”

A surge of irritation rips through me, followed by pain. My arms fall to my sides.

“Why are you doing this?” I blink back angry tears and clench my hands into fists. “Why won’t you just talk to me?”

“Because there’s nothing to say.” He jerks his chin toward my house across the street. “You’re back where you belong, Darcie. You’ve wanted this since I brought you to Greece. Go inside. Enjoy your freedom. Don't stand out here saying something that will embarrass us both.”

I suck in a sharp breath, the sting of his words stabs harder than I expect.

Wow.

Just… wow.

I was wrong. So wrong .

I don’t feel anything for this man, this Immortal whose mood swings leave me with emotional whiplash. The same guy who can barely look me in the eye when it matters.

You’re lying , my subconscious accuses me.

I scoff. I don’t really care.

“You’re right, Des.” My eyes narrow, annoyed when my voice wavers. I take a breath and continue, “Forget I said anything. It doesn’t matter anyway.”

The muscle in his jaw ticks, but he nods once. “Agreed.”

I don’t deserve this.

Anger gives way to fatigue as energy seeps out of my body. All I want to do is walk into my house, wrap myself in a warm blanket, and forget all this happened.

I unclench my hands and force myself to say, “Thank you for saving me.”

“Of course.”

I wait for him to say more. I don’t know why. You’d think I would’ve learned by now.

When people tell you who they are, believe them. Des has said I’m not his One —that he’s not interested in a connection. He doesn’t care.

It’s time I believe it and move on.

I let go. “Goodbye, Des.”

“Goodbye, Darcie.”

I turn on my heel, ignoring the piercing pain in my chest as I cross the street. The urge to look back is suffocating, but I force air in and out of my lungs and keep my eyes trained on the front door.

I climb the icy driveway to my childhood home, fighting against the tether trying to yank me back into Des’s arms.

A gust of wind rushes past my head when I step onto the porch. With it, whispered words flow into my ears, driving the knife deeper into my chest—words I suspect I’m not meant to hear.

“I wish things could be different…”

My hand reaching for the doorknob stills. Hope flares. Maybe I can convince Des to?—

No! my subconscious shouts. Don’t be an idiot.

The hope fades, and I steel my heart against the stoic Immortal who chooses deceit and avoidance rather than honesty and trust.

I’m back in Maine. I have a future to build. I have Dad and Kayla.

Don’t forget Kevin.

That’s right. Kevin.

The guy I’ve been crazy about for half my life is finally interested in me. I shouldn't lose the chance to be with him because of an Immortal who wants nothing to do with me.

I can do better.

I will do better.

My fingers grip the doorknob, and with a deep breath, I turn it and step inside.

The ache in my chest feels like a wound that will never fully heal, but I don't look back. Not even when the world shifts as a bright white light flashes, and I sense the void left behind in Des's absence.

It’ll be okay, Darcie. It will all be okay.

Soon, I’ll realize that’s just another lie.

A new problem lurks on the horizon, a problem no one, not even the Immortals, saw coming—a problem no one is prepared for .

A problem that changes everything.

Continue Darcie’s story in The Immortal’s Curse , Bound to the Immortals Book Two.