Page 101 of The Immortal's One
I open my eyes, but the image of him lingers.
Stop it, Darcie.
I think about Kevin. I’m excited to go on a date with him when I get back, but I can’t deny the nerves eating at me.
What if I mess it up?
What if Kevin and I go on a date and he decides we’d be better off as friends?
I exhale a shaky breath.
What happens, happens.
That’s been my mantra these past few days; it’s the only way to silence my growing doubts.
Argos’s breathing deepens, a rhythmic, steady sound. I let the soft noise pull me under, the warmth of his body against mine making it hard to stay awake.
My dreams are fragmented, filled with flashes of green eyes—those eyes that have haunted me for as long as I can remember. But now there’s something different. Something heavier in them.
Sadness.
And as the dream stretches on, the urge to alleviate that sadness grows. It’s a deep, visceral pull I can’t quite shake.
27
Gilded masks glitterbeneath the flicker of torchlight. Laughter dances through the air, chased by the strains of music that drift over the grand ballroom Silk skirts brush against marble. Brocade clings to every curve. The night is endless, perfumed, unreal. My escape.
Then, I see him.
A man in a crisp white shirt, sleeves cuffed just so. Black mask. Dark trousers. His hair—ink-dark and just unruly enough—curls at the nape of his neck.
Something in my chest stirs, aching. I don’t know his name.
But I want to.
Ineedto.
“Darcie?” A soft prod nudges my back. “Darcie?”
“Mmm?” I roll onto my back, still caught in the haze of sleep, clinging to the echo of him—the man my mind stitched from fantasy and longing. He’s already slipping away.
The ornate ceiling above me sharpens into view, allpainted scrollwork and faded elegance. For a moment, I can’t tell if I’ve woken in this world… or another.
Argos shifts against my legs, letting out a disgruntled huff.
Someone laughs, low and rich with amusement. “Sorry, boy, but it’s time for dinner.”
My heart skips a beat as I bolt upright. My gaze finds Des standing at the side of my bed, a smirk tugging at his lips as he watches me and his dog. “I see Argos has made himself comfortable.”
“Uh, yeah.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, checking for any embarrassing drool. “Sorry. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“I don’t.” He glances over his shoulder toward the open door. “Dinner was served ten minutes ago. When you didn’t show, I thought I’d come find you.”
Butterflies stir in my stomach, threatening to take flight. I try to pin them down, but they’re stubborn. Something about Des always manages to catch me off guard, spurring to life feelings I dare not give my attention.
“Wait.” I whip around, searching the bed for my phone. “What time is it?”
“Half past seven.”
