Page 47 of The Immortal's One
“No.” She laughs lightly. “Thane is my husband.”
I rear back. “You’re married?”
She looks younger than me, maybe by a couple of years.
“Yes.” Bella brightens. “Happily married.”
“That’s… great.” I bite the inside of my cheek. Was Thane wearing a wedding ring when we hung out? I have no idea. It wasn’t something I thought to look for. “So, uh… where is your house located, exactly?”
Her features dim. “I’m sorry, Darcie. I’m not sure I should tell you that.”
My stomach drops. “How do you know my name?”
She pinches her lips together, her eyes flicking nervously. “I’m not sure I should tell you that, either.”
Alarm bells ring in my head. They've been going off since Evetta trapped me in that grocery store bathroom, but they dulled during the disorienting walk through the grassy field and when I admired the fancy mansion around me. But now… they’re deafening.
“None of this makes sense,” I say to myself, shaking my head in disbelief.
“I’m sorry,” she murmurs, lifting her chin and offering meanother kind smile. “You must be tired. Come, let’s go to my rooms to rest while we wait for the others.”
There’s no point in arguing. It sucks, but I’m at the mercy of these people. I can only hope that complying means they’ll be more likely to take me back home as soon as possible.
I dip my chin in reluctant acceptance.
“This way.” Bella leads me down the hallway, her footsteps light and quick on the polished floors.
We soon reach a wide staircase. As I climb, my fingers graze the intricate carvings along the dark wood banister. The design is a maze of roses and thorns that twist around a delicate vine, each detail painstakingly etched with remarkable precision.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Bella glances back at me with a knowing smile as my fingers trace the carvings.
I tuck my hand to my side, suddenly self-conscious. “Very.”
“It’s one of the finest pieces of woodwork in the house.” Pride fills her voice. She resumes climbing the stairs with ease. “Des was very dedicated to his carpentry phase.”
Des?
I freeze mid-step, my foot hovering in the air as awareness crashes through me like a tidal wave. My heart skips a beat, then picks up speed as I process the name.
“Darcie?” Bella's brow furrows as she comes to a stop. “Is everything alright?”
I swallow hard, nausea crawling up my throat. “Who is Des?”
She tilts her head. “You… you don’t know Des?”
I shake my head. The knot in my stomach tightens.
Hesitation flickers in her eyes. She sighs. “You’ll have to forgive him. He often forgets his manners.”
The words carry a weight that isn’t lost on me. There’s something Bella isn’t telling me.
She continues, her voice softer now, “Des is the name of the man you arrived with.”
I knew that’s what she was going to say…
“Oh…” I look down at the carved banister.
Where have I heard that name before?
