A chill creeps up my spine, distracting me from my twisting gut. “I’m guessing something went wrong?”
“Yes.” Her almond-shaped eyes flash. “And it happened each of the four additional times Des met hisOne.”
Time slows.Did she just sayfourtimes?
Six different women, all supposedly Des’s soulmate. But he never completed the bond?
“What happened?” My voice is tight, only slightly above a whisper. “Why didn’t Des ever complete the bond?”
Why am I caught up in this mess when he had six other opportunities to put this soulmate thing to rest?
You know why…
SHUT UP!
“The first time, we all believed the girl’s death was an accident.” Eshe’s lips turn down, deepening the frown that pulls on her face. “But when the next soulmate died, we started to wonder if something… or someone… worked to keep Des from completing his bond.”
My stomach lurches. Someone killed Des’s soulmates? Flashbacks from the attack in the parking lot assault me—memories of sudden, intense danger.
It can’t be…
“Someone is targeting them.” The terrified words come out before I can stop them.
Eshe nods, her features hard and unrelenting. “There’s no proof. But we think so.”
My knees wobble. I lean more weight against the wall to keep from falling. I squeeze my eyes shut, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of what they’ve just revealed.
“Des tried not to let grief stop him from searching for hisOne,” Bella says. I open my eyes and see she’s looking down at Des’s portrait. “But after the death of the woman who lived before you, the woman he commissioned that portrait for, he swore he would never search for hisOneagain.”
I can’t imagine what it would be like to deal with the death of someone you loved over and over again. The grief must be overwhelming. It made perfect sense why he’d closed off his heart to love.
Imagine if it was Dad…
Bella was right. Knowing Des’s past explains why he’s so aloof and grumpy now, and it also explains why everyone fears for my life.
If someone is out there targeting the strongest brother’s soulmate to keep him from accessing his full power, then I’m not safe. Not even if Des continues to deny I’mher.
I run my hands over my face in frustration, blinking the tears away at knowing I’ll probably never get to go home now.
I don’t believe I’m Des’s reincarnated soulmate. I don’t feel the all-encompassing pull to be with him like Bella claimed she felt with Thane. Other than attraction, my feelings for the broody Immortal are not kind.
No.I believe Des when he says I’m not hisOne.
There must be another explanation why Thane, Lome, and others think they recognize me. Doppelgangers exist. Thiscould all be the result of crazy coincidence and desperate, wishful thinking on their part.
Denial, my name is Darcie.
I told you to shut up.
“I need to talk to Des.” I straighten my spine, a plan already forming about what to do. “Where is he?”
“I don’t think?—”
“He’s walking the grounds with Argos,” Eshe interrupts Bella.
The petite Immortal frowns at her sister-in-law, but Eshe doesn’t seem to notice.
“Thank you.” I turn on my heel and make my way through the gallery. I don’t know who Argos is, but I don’t care. He can take a hike. I’m determined to speak with Des.