Page 84 of The Immortal’s Mark

I suspect my descent has already begun.

My chin rests on my fist as I lean on the table, engrossed in Darcie’s amusing story about her childhood friend, Kayla, and a disastrously executed prank on her brother, when a faint prickle crawls along the back of my neck.

I stiffen.

It’s subtle. Barely there.

But wrong.

I straighten and let my gaze drift over the balcony, scanning the street below.

People pass by in clusters, laughter and conversation rising with the late-afternoon air. Nothing appears out of place.

And yet…

The sensation lingers. A quiet awareness pressing against my instincts. Like I’m being watched.

I force myself to relax, turning my attention back to Darcie.

“—and it completely backfired,” she finishes, laughing. “Kevin didn’t fall for it for a moment. He just stood there, staring at us like we were idiots.”

I chuckle, though my focus fractures.

Because the feeling doesn’t fade.

If anything… it sharpens.

Low. Persistent.

But I try to ignore it.

Because Darcie smiles at me, her eyes bright, and her guard lowered in a way that feels dangerously rare.

Because for the first time in longer than I care to admit, I feel something close to…peace.

And I am selfish enough to want one more moment of it.

Even as something unseen shifts beyond the edges of my awareness.

Even as the back of my neck continues to burn with warning.

22

DARCIE

“There they are. See? I told you they wouldn’t be late.” Alex’s voice greets us as Gregory and I step into the garage.

The mansion’s extension stretches across the back of the property, cavernous and cool, filled with vehicles ranging from sleek black sedans to oversized SUVs and a few motorcycles lined up with military precision. The scent of gasoline and cleaning supplies lingers in the air.

In the center of the space stand Thane, Alex, Des, and two strangers. Off to the side, Charmian stands with her three cloaked offspring, their heads lowered as they speak in soft voices.

Gregory and I fall in with the center group.

Thane’s eyes skim over me. “I trust you are prepared for your departure?”

I hike my smaller duffel bag higher on my shoulder. Gregory holds the other, along with a large bag of his own.

“Yes.” I will my voice not to betray the nerves twisting my stomach. My eyes shift to the man and woman standing with us. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Darcie.”