Page 71 of The Immortal's One
Eshe shifts, positioning herself between me and the stranger.
The faintest smirk tugs the corner of his mouth as his eyes meet mine over her head before he spins on his heel dismissively. “You were saying?”
I don’t know who he’s talking to, but I feel the weight of everyone’s attention. Lome and Thane exchange a glance while Des, whose eyes rest entirely on me, doesn’t so much asblink.
It’s been days since I last looked into his hazel eyes, and yet the intensity of the feelings they stir in me is as sharp as ever.
I shouldn't be reacting like this, not when I know the kind of man Des is. Cold, distant, and a key player in bringing me here to be imprisoned by his brothers. Yes, he saved me from Evetta, but that doesn’t absolve him of the role he played in my captivity.
So why do I feel like I might melt into a puddle on the floor whenever he looks at me?
I shake off my weird physical response and focus on what’s happening around me.
Lome breaks the loaded silence that follows the man’s question, his voice unwavering. “This woman is not Des’sOne.”
Relief crashes through me, only to be promptly replaced by confusion.
Despite Des's protests, Lome and Thane have been claiming—no, insisting—that I am Des’sOne. So why is he changing his story now?
I don’t trust it for a second.
But I keep quiet, resolved to watch this scene unfold. For once, I have front-row seats to figure out what’s going on in real time.
“She is not Des’sOne,” the blond stranger repeats, doubt lacing his words as he eyes me up and down. “And yet… she is in your home.”
Thane steps forward. “Our enemies have mistakenDarcie’s identity and are attempting to harm her. It is our duty to protect her.”
“Since when is it your duty to protect humans?” A tall, willowy woman with dark hair snorts, her voice cold and dangerous, like a knife being drawn. “As I recall, you three thrive on their suffering.”
I suck in a sharp breath.What the hell doesthatmean?
A dark-haired man, one with eyes that could drown a person in their ocean-blue depths, speaks up. His tone is smooth as honey, distracting me from my inner turmoil. “Now, Julisanna, be fair. You know our siblings have a soft spot for humans. Can you blame them for opening their home to such a beautiful creature?”
His voice caresses my skin, smooth and seductive, making my body heat. My pulse quickens as he takes my hand in his.
"Charmed to make your acquaintance, Darcie.” He bends at the waist, kissing my hand with a flourish. “I’m Eros.”
The fire inside me grows. I fight to stay upright as every nerve in my body lights up in response to his touch, weakening my knees.
Des growls. “Enough.”
Eros drops my hand. The fire extinguishes in a flash. His eyes glint with amusement as he straightens. “Forgive me. I didn't mean to overstep.” He shoots me a wink, and I don’t doubt for a second that overstepping isexactlywhat he meant to do.
I resist the urge to look at Des, though I can feel his angry gaze like a tangible thing. He doesn’t want me here, and neither do Lome and Thane.
I start to put pieces of the puzzle together.
Eshe led me into a meeting of the Original Nine on purpose.
Julisanna and Eros have been identified, but the others… the blond man must be Adir. I guess the auburn-haired woman with flowers woven into her hair is Charmian. That leaves the white-haired woman with the thick braid as Faine.
I want to stay, to listen and learn, to understand the power these Immortals hold and their role in shaping the world. I want to ask them about the Creator and their plans for humanity.
But the air in the room is so thick with tension that it’s suffocating. Common sense tells me I should leave—as soon as possible.
I inch back toward the door, but Adir speaks again, halting my steps.
“Say what you will, Thane, but the resemblance is uncanny.” His words drip with a mix of contempt and calculation as he once again looks me up and down. “Even if you say she is not Desmond’sOne, the overwhelming majority of lesser Immortals will believe she is. There’s no way around that.”
