Page 6 of The Immortal’s Mark

“Lucky for me, I have you and your crazy vampire speed to save me.” I give him a weak grin.

He doesn’t share my amusement.

“Darcie.” He tilts his head back and stares at the sky, as if searching the clouds for answers. “What am I going to do with you?”

Sensing he doesn’t plan to let up on the lecture anytime soon, I push myself off the ground and into a sitting position, too woozy to stand.

“I’m sorry. I’ll try harder to stay focused. But you have to admit,” I add with a happy smile, “that was some pretty awesome progress.”

“Yes,” he allows. “But you can’t let such a thing distract you from the task at hand. Who is to say you won’t manifest a new spell in the middle of a conflict? Would you just stand there in awe over the achievement, or would you use it?”

“I would use it.”

Obviously.

“Then practice that way, Darcie. How you practice any task is how you will perform it in real life. Develop the habits now in this low-risk situation.”

He’s right, but I hate the way he’s speaking to me.

I’m not a dumb kid.

“I got it, Alex.” I grit my teeth. “It won’t happen again.”

Rocking back and forth, I use my body’s momentum to stand. From across the field, Henry raises a hand in apology. I lift one back and wave, assuring him I’m unharmed.

Wanting to be done for the day, I turn and walk back toward the mansion. Using his speed, Alex catches up and matches my stride.

We walk in silence, and I occupy myself with admiring the endless field of green before us.

“Don’t tell me you are mad at me,” he finally says.

“Nope.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” I won’t give him the satisfaction of more than one-word answers.

“Darcie.”

“What?” I stop walking. “I’m not mad at you. No way am I irritated with how you heckle me day in and day out while I train. Nope. It doesn’t frustrate me a bit. Happy now?”

Instead of spouting a stream of apology, he rolls his eyes. “I forgot how irksome mortals can be.”

I clench my jaw but resist the impulse to stomp my foot.

“Maybe you should do yourself a favor and appoint someone else to be my shadow?”

I swear, I can’t do anything without Alex’s constant disapproval hanging over me.

“It’s part of the deal, little one,” he replies, unaffected by my irritation. “Des and I agree that you need to be guarded at all times. And since Des finds himself preoccupied, that leaves you with…” he trails off and gestures to himself like he’s revealing a grand exhibit.

“Give me a break,” I mutter. Rather than continue standing in the sun, I resume my path to the air-conditioned home.

Alex keeps pace with me.

Only this time, he doesn’t let tense silence settle between us.

“Perhaps we should solicit another warlock or witch to assist Henry. He seems well-versed in protection charms, but appears to lack the ability to instruct you in attack spells.”