Page 52 of The Immortal's One
“Good.” He nods. “That makes the cleanup easier. Where is Evetta now?”
“I sent her to the Underworld.”
Bella gasps. Lome lets out a groan. Thane’s expression never shifts. As for me? I worry I’m losing my grip on reality—that my imagination is taking over.
Immortals… Underworld?
This isn’t real. It can’t be. I’m hallucinating. I squeeze my eyes closed, willing myself to wake up from this confusing nightmare. But when my eyelids part, I’m in the same fancy room surrounded by strangers discussing things that occur in fantasy novels, not real life.
“I wish you hadn’t done that.” Thane exhales. “The other Nine will take offense to your actions.”
Des snorts. “Let them. It’s not like Evetta’s gone forever. She’ll be crawling out of that miserable pit soon enough.”
I shudder. The image his words create is brutal.
“Des,” Lome groans. “Come on. The others are already a big enough headache. You couldn’t have controlled your temper?”
“What would you have me do? Not protect the girl?” Des scoffs.
“Of course not,” Bella tries to defuse the tension building between the men. “But… I think it's pertinent to ask… why wereyou there to help Darcie in the first place?” She raises a curious eyebrow.
Thane and Lome share a look before turning to Des. They’re acting like they’re about to catch him in a lie or something, but the stoic man who rescued me doesn’t miss a beat.
“One of my sources tipped me off. The rebellion had been discussing the girl. They were planning to extract her. I didn’t know Evetta would be involved until I showed up to intervene.”
Lome and Thane’s loaded expressions deflate.
Thane asks, “Are you saying Evetta is involved in the rebellion?”
“I’m saying Evetta was in a location my source said the rebels planned to be,” Des says with a shrug. “We’ll know more after her trial.”
“And yet, you delivered judgment before a trial?” Thane’s words ooze disapproval.
Des snaps, “I did what needed to be done to protect the girlyouput at risk.”
I’ve had enough of listening to them argue. It’s time I get answers—real answers. Before I go crazy. “Excuse me?” I try to speak up.
No one seems to hear me.
Thane scowls at Des. “If you weren’t so stubborn, Darcie would’ve beenhereand not in that food market to be attacked.”
The muscle in Des’s jaw ticks. “If you weren’t so damn stubborn, you wouldn’t have gone to see her today and made her an even bigger target.”
“Excuse me!” I shout.
Four pairs of eyes swing to me. I lift my chin but can’t hide how my bottom lip quivers.
“Yes, Darcie?” Thane prompts, his voice softer now.
I clear my throat. “That woman—Eshe—she said you were… immortals?” Saying the word out loud makes me feel silly. This can’t be real. Still, I have to ask, “What does that mean, exactly?”
Thane’s expression is carefully blank. “It means exactly what you think it means.”
The floor tilts beneath me. “But that’s—that’s not possible.”
“It is,” Thane insists. “We are Immortals. And you, Darcie, are one of us.”
“No.” Fury heats Des’s words. “She is not.”
