“So, they will do anything to ensure your safety, including accepting that their role as enforcers for the Council is over.”
I blink slowly.
Is he serious?
I’m not important enough to the brothers to make such a monumental decision.
No one has outright said it, but Des, Thane, and Lome are the key to keeping other Immortals in check. I saw how the powerful beings at the ball bowed to them. The lesser Immortals view them as their leaders.
The human race depends on Des, Lome, and Thane holding other Immortals accountable—keeping them from manipulating us for their selfish gain.
They wouldn’t abandon such an important role to save me.
How could Adir believe otherwise?
“Once the Immortal Three agree to stop persecuting us for interacting with mortals,” he continues with a manic gleam in his blue eyes, “members of the rebellion will make our move. With any luck, at least one brother will be removed from the world, making subsequent victories easier for us to obtain.”
“Removed?” Understanding dawns.“You’re… planning to kill them?” I whisper in horror.
“With fortune on our side, yes.”
My blood runs cold. “How is that even possible? You’re all Immortal. By definition, you can’t die.”
Please tell me the brothers can’t die.
“We don’t die from old age or illness, but we are susceptible to the power of other Immortals. How else do you think the brothers successfully control us? The threat of oblivion is a powerful motivation to conform.”
I can’t believe this.
For the one hundredth time since waking up after theattack at Robertson’s, I wonder how in the world I ended up involved in this ancient feud. And what else Thane and the others chose to keep from me.
Bella once alluded to the fact she could die, but she made the brothers seem invincible.
A hollow feeling sits in my stomach as I finally understand what Adir hopes to get from me. He’s using me as collateral. Blackmail.
He plans to use me to weaken and kill one of the brothers. As upset as I am that they hid the truth from me, I can’t bear the thought of being the reason any of them are hurt.
“What if you’re wrong?” I will my voice not to shake, hoping that if I sound confident, Adir will second-guess his plan. “What if Thane and Lome don’t care? What if Des finally convinces them I’m not hisOne?”
“Let’s just hope they do,” he replies coolly. “For your sake.”
I gulp.
“Are you thirsty?” Adir rises casually to his feet. “How about a glass of wine?”
“No, thank you.”
His features darken. “Whyever not?”
Because I have no interest in drinking alcohol in the presence of a manipulative villain.
“I’m not twenty-one,” I reply on instinct.
“Dear Darcie, that doesn’t matter.” Adir brightens, grinning. It’s meant to be charming, but the effort falls flat. “You’re in Europe. Besides, a little birdie told me your birthday is not far off.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, pushing down the nausea crawling up my throat. I don’t like that he knows my birthday. I don’t like him knowinganythingabout me.
And I really don’t like the way his eyes, once again, trail over me. Or the intrigued gleam in his gaze.