Page 149 of The Immortal’s Mark

“You’re awake,” Bella says softly, closing the door behind her with a soft click that echoes through the air. “You should be resting.”

“What is going on?” I cross the room and stand in front of my friend, eyes pleading for answers. “What is Adir planning?”

Her pale pink lips press together. “I don’t know.”

“Please don’t lie to me. I already know you two have been working⁠—”

“You don’t understand,” she interrupts me. Her brown eyes flash. “I truly do not know. Adir has…he has deviated from our plan.”

“Deviated?” I search her gaze. “What plan?”

“Come.” She looks over her shoulder at the door, then moves in the opposite direction, towards the oversized window.

The window turns out not to be a window, but a well-concealed door to the narrow balcony extending off the room.

Bella leads me onto the stone, shutting the glass door behind us.

I wait for her to turn around before asking again, “What has changed about Adir’s plan?”

In my gut, I already know. But I need her to say it.

I need her to realize she’s on the wrong side and help me escape.

The shadows marring her face darken as her skin pales. “I believe Adir intends to force a bond with you.”

My certainty grows, but I hang on to the last threads of hope that what I think is going to happen is wrong.

“What kind of bond?”

“The kind Eshe and I have with Lome and Thane.” Her haunted eyes meet mine. “He intends to bind your soul to his.”

“But he can’t do that!” I shake my head, my eyes are wide, begging her to tell me I’m right. “I’m not his One.”

He’s not Des.

“I know.” She wrings her hands. “But he’s certain he can make it work. That he can overcome the natural connection between you and Des.”

“No.” I continue to shake my head. “No.”

“I’m so sorry, Darcie.”

I hate how defeated she sounds. She’s accepted that this will happen.

But I don’t.

“Why would he even want that? What in the world could Adir possibly gain from that?”

Sure, denying Des our connection limits the brothers’ power.

Is that all he’s after?

Thane, Lome, and Des are still more powerful than Adir. And the alliance is strong. Denying them my power won’t be enough to defeat them.

What am I missing?

“If you and Adir bond, you share power.”

I blink, letting the words settle. “I will gain access to Adir’s power?”