Page 158 of The Immortal’s Mark

Not even if he gains access to my power.

I will never stop fighting him. I will never give in.

For Bella, I will be the end of him⁠—

CRASH!

A force blasts behind me.

Adir and I fly forward.

I don’t have time to brace myself.

My head strikes the corner of the concrete slab, and stars explode across my vision.

My shoulder hits the ground. I face away from the altar, toward the entrance.

And my slow beating heart jolts.

White power flies across the room, originating from the broad, furious form filling the destroyed doorway.

Des.

38

DARCIE

Time keeps its brutal, agonizing pace, but a wave of calm washes over me. My eyes flutter closed.

“Stay awake,” Des’s voice booms in my mind.

My eyelids fly open.

Des remains in the doorway. His burning stare focuses on something behind me.

I tilt my chin up and rear back at the vitriol waiting for me in Adir’s enraged glare.

“Finish it!” he shouts at the Elder before releasing an arc of red light to deflect Des’s incoming attack.

But it costs him.

Adir clenches his jaw and staggers back from the force of Des’s power.

And yet, through all of this, the Elder continues to chant.

Not even his tone has changed.

It’s like he’s in a trance, and nothing short of lack of oxygen will cease what he’s begun.

“Faine?” Lome calls out.

I turn and watch the Immortal race into the room. Green flames lick his arm, and his jaw drops. “You?”

I’d forgotten about the quiet Original.

I try to sit up to see her, but my head spins. Warmth flows down the side of my face.

I lift a shaky hand and wince when I touch my temple. My fingers come away red.