Page 153 of The Immortal’s Mark

“Then we will create one.” Her chin lifts, and more of the woman I’ve come to know peeks through the fragile shell that’s surrounded her since she left Greece. “But I will not allow you to go against the Creator’s Will like this. We will reorganize the Council another way. But not like this.”

For a moment, I truly believe Adir will agree.

There’s a flicker of something in his gaze that I mistake for acceptance.

But I’m wrong.

“If you are not with me,” Adir begins, voice low, words slow. “Then you are against me.”

I stiffen.

Bella hisses. “Only fools deal in absolutes.”

“And only fools step back into cages simply because they are gilded.” Red light crawls over Adir’s arms, crackling and snapping like lightning.

Faine reaches the doorway. She catches my eye, shakes her head once, and then she is gone.

“There is another way to create equality in our world, Adir,” Bella says, trying desperately to reason with a man who is clearly unreasonable. “But it will not be this.”

“You’re wrong⁠—”

Bella throws her arm out, cutting off Adir’s retort. A beam of blue power slices through the air.

A viscous crack echoes through the room when the attack strikes a barrier surrounding Adir. The power bounces up, hitting the ceiling,

I throw my arms over my head as chunks of plaster rain down.

Bella keeps attacking, hands swiping back and forth. Her strikes aren’t the most powerful I’ve ever witnessed, but they’re enough to force Adir back.

He stands behind a now-shimmering shield, his power bracing against the power she shares with Thane, one of the most formidable Originals to exist.

“Get out of here, Darcie!” Bella pants between bursts. “Find the vampire and use his speed to escape. I’ll hold them off as long as I can.”

Panic clamps around my chest.

“How?” I shout.

Adir blocks the only exit.

“Go to the closet. There’s a trap⁠—”

Her words cut off when a red bolt of lightning slams into her left temple.

Bella’s eyes fly wide as the impact sends her spinning to face me.

Then, their light fades.

37

DARCIE

A scream tears from my throat. Bella’s legs buckle, and she crashes to the carpeted floor.

She doesn’t get back up.

“No!” I launch myself toward Bella. My knees slam the floor. Pain jolts down my shins, but I don’t feel it—not really. Not compared to the agony tearing my heart apart.

I grab her limp body and drag her onto my lap. “Wake up, Bella! Please wake up!”