Page 120 of The Immortal’s Mark

I cross my arms and glare. “Are you two buddy-buddy again?”

Alex’s expression is stoic, but my mother frowns.

“I’ve already explained this to you, Darcie. It isn’t safe for you to leave the safehouse.”

“No one will know I’m there.”

“You don’t know what people will know,” she counters. “This situation is complicated. It is not always clear who we can trust.”

“And yet, you are all going?”

Her eyes narrow. “Who is to say Gregory’s contact for tonight wasn’t instructed to share the intel with him? Perhaps someone is hoping to draw us out. To draw you out.”

“You’re being paranoid.” I look at Gregory for backup. “The intel is genuine. Right?”

Gregory stays silent.

Of course he does.

He isn’t going to pick a side, not when Alex is here.

“Your mother is right, Darcie.” Alex shifts forward until he and Jennifer stand shoulder to shoulder. They’re a united front.

Against me.

“It is best for you to stay here where we know you will be safe,” Alex’s voice adopts a placating, belittling tone. “Until Adir is neutralized, you will be in danger no matter where you go.”

My blood begins to boil. My hands start to tingle.

Not just because of the words, but because of the image.

Alex stands beside my mother, backing her, like I’m a child throwing a tantrum instead of a person begging not to be left behind.

Begging to make a difference and help find her missing friend.

Begging for an ounce of control in her own life.

Something inside me breaks.

I don’t even realize I’m moving until my arm swings down, the tingling sensation in my hand zips through the limb.

A slash of bright-white light arcs from my arm and flies into the space between me and my mother.

The world stills. Time slows.

Horror grips my chest.

No!

Alex moves first. With his vampire speed, he grabs my mother and yanks her to the side.

At the same time, Gregory closes the distance between us in a blur. His strong hand clamps around my arms, pinning them to my sides.

Still, the power soars to my mother.

In slow motion, falling to the side from Alex’s pull, my mother’s palm faces the attack.

A bolt of purple power crashes into mine.