Page 172 of The Immortal’s Mark

His eyes slide to mine when I step out from behind Des’s shoulder, and he grins. “Darcie. You look…recovered.”

My cheeks heat, and I smooth down my wild hair.

“Shut up.” Des shoves Lome’s shoulder.

Lome stumbles back with a laugh. “Oh, this is going to be fun. I can already tell.”

“That’s enough, Lome.” Eshe steps into view, standing beside her husband.

Her dark eyes trail over me. “You’re all right?”

I shrug. “For the most part.”

Her shoulders fall. “Good. That’s…good.”

Lome places a hand on his wife’s back. “We should get back to Thane.”

She nods and joins Lome as they lead us down the hall.

Des reaches back and takes my hand in his, drawing me forward. My skin tingles.

“Where is Thane?” Des asks.

“The gardens,” Eshe answers. “With Alex and Jennifer.”

I stumble at the mention of my mother.

Des squeezes my hand, then asks, “And the rest of their task force?”

“Lucas and his daughter returned to their pack to relay what transpired,” Lome says. “And Mistress Lola is doing the same with the Nightsbane clan.”

“Was everyone there?” I ask. “In Italy?”

“Yes,” Des says.

We reach the staircase and begin to descend.

“How?”

“Your mother had a tracking spell on you.”

My brows rise. “Really?”

He nods. “When you and Gregory went missing, it took her a moment to locate you, but once she did, we all knew you had to be with Adir.”

Because there is no one else determined to kidnap me.

“How’s Gregory?”

“Recovering,” he answers, voice tight. “But fine.”

My eyes close in relief. “Good.”

We reach the ground floor and make our way to the balcony.

Alex and my mother stand next to the stone railing, heads tilted close, and based on the strain in my former boss’s face, it’s a tense conversation.

Our footfalls sound against the stone. Alex straightens and turns our way.