Page 4 of The Immortal’s Mark

Despite every vow I have made to avoid this exact situation, I cannot stop myself.

My past is filled with the tragic deaths of women whose only crime was being my One.

I swore I would never pursue another.

Yet, now that she is before me, I cannot walk away.

My soul won’t allow it.

I will give myself one day…

I won’t even speak to her.

I just want one day to be near the woman the Creator has deemed my equal in every way.

The same one Fate is determined to never allow me to have as my own.

1

DARCIE

The Grecian sun blasts down from the cloudless sky, and the typically reliable Mediterranean breeze is nowhere to be found as I stand in the middle of the immense field of grass outside the brother’s mansion.

Using the back of my hand, I wipe away the beads of sweat gathering just over my brows, but I don’t dare glance away from my opponent.

Not for a second.

“You can do this,” Alex calls out. “Focus and get out of your own head!”

The meant-to-be-friendly advice only grates my nerves. I want to throw a clump of dirt at the vampire standing on the sidelines.

Concentrating on the athletically clad warlock across from me, I eye Henry’s posture and attempt to gauge when his next strike will come. I shift my feet to the right, seeing him trace the movement with his cunning gaze.

I move left. He tracks it again.

“Stop dancing around, Darcie,” Alex commands. “Advance!”

I huff.

Stop interrupting me every five seconds, and I actually might be able to make some progress!

Unable to let his incessant nagging go, I keep my eyes forward but throw my words to the side. “I’m trying.”

“Try harder,” he replies with zero empathy. “Do you think Adir is going to let you take breaks in between his attempt to abduct you?”

He doesn’t wait for me to answer the question. “No, he will not.”

“Henry,” Alex addresses my opponent, “stop holding back.”

Henry tilts his auburn head forward in acknowledgment before his eyes lock on me. He didn’t look particularly friendly before, but after Alex’s order, his determined expression makes him look even less so.

Shit.

I bend my knees, lowering my center of gravity. Whatever spell Henry plans to throw at me, I need to stay on my feet. Only then can I worry about countering his attack.

Not that I have the magic to do that…

Henry extends his right arm and spins in a circle, looking like an Olympic shot putter. The purple flame from his palms forms a solid sphere just before he launches the attack. The spell moves quickly.