Page 10 of The Immortal's One
“Where are you guys from?” Kayla asks, seemingly unaffected by the presence of the two imposing, attractive men. Either that or she’s an even better actress than I thought.
“Europe,” Thane replies.
“Oh, wow.” Kayla’s eyes brighten. “I never would have guessed. I don’t hear an accent.”
“Thank you.” He gives an award-winning smile. “We practice.”
I clear my throat. “Where in Europe are you from?”
Thane turns to me. “Around the Mediterranean. Our family is spread out, so it is difficult to pinpoint one place.”
The bass thumps from the speakers overhead, raising the hair on my arms.
“What a coincidence! Darcie was just in Greece.” Kaylashoots me a pointed look, her smile tight. “Isn’t that right, Darcie?”
“Yeah.” I keep my gaze locked on Kayla, ignoring the urge to look at Des. “Athens, mainly.”
“Really?” Thane’s voice takes on a note of interest. “Did you have a chance to visit any smaller towns while you were there?”
“A few. I went wherever my dad needed to go for his research.” I add, almost automatically, “He’s a professor of ancient cultures at the university in Brunswick.”
“Is that so?” His eyes glimmer with curiosity. “How fascinating.”
Before I can ask what exactly he finds so fascinating, Des clears his throat—a sharp, deliberate sound that manages to cut through loud, music-filled air.
My thoughts snap back into focus, zeroing in on the figure standing silently beside his brother.
Des doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t need to. His stern expression speaks volumes.
“Alright, alright.” Amusement laces Thane’s voice as he casts a sidelong glance at Des before shifting his focus back to me and Kayla. He offers an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid we’ll have to cut this short. My brother and I have… an engagement to attend to.”
“So soon?” Kayla frowns, clearly disappointed. “But the night is still young!”
“Yes, but unfortunately, my brother and I are not,” Thane replies with a self-deprecating chuckle. The sound fades as his attention lingers on me. “It’s been a pleasure seeing you both. I do hope we’ll cross paths again.”
“Same here.” Kayla leans forward with a mischievousglint in her eye. Thane returns her smile, though it’s noticeably less flirtatious than hers.
I nod and force an awkward grin. Then, driven by some impulse I’ll never understand, I turn my body to face Des and take a deep breath. “And it was nice to meet?—”
Before I finish, Des turns abruptly, his back ramrod straight as he strides back into the dancing crowd without a backward glance.
“You…” I trail off.
That was rude.
Thane watches his brother walk away, shaking his head. “Forgive Des. He’s… always in a hurry.”
I grit my teeth, hating how my cheeks heat. “No problem.”
Thane dips his head, the gesture sincere but hinting at something more guarded. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, Darcie. Kayla.”
He follows his brother’s path and joins the sea of dancers bouncing and shimmying to the upbeat music.
Kayla waits three seconds before turning to me, her eyes narrowing.
“Darcie Abernathy.” She plants her hands on her hips. The purple strobe light above flashes over her stern face, casting sharp shadows across her features before flicking away. “You’ve got some explaining to do.”
I blink. “What are you talking about?”
