Page 70 of The Immortal’s Mark

My stomach twists.

Yes, but then you insisted on staying away from me.

I shake off the thought and the conflicting, confusing emotions that always come along with trying to figure out Des and his motivations.

“Right.” I clear my throat. “So, my mother is a witch from the Nightsbane clan. And, apparently, she’s powerful.”

“That she is.” Des releases my hand, only to gather the other and warm my cool fingers. “Which confirms you will be immensely powerful as well.”

I chew the inside of my cheek. “What do you know of the clan?”

“Not much. Charmian keeps a tight leash on her offspring. The clan fears and reveres the Council too much to break our laws and force our interference with their lives.”

He shifts in his seat.

I get the sense he’s not saying something.

I dip my chin to meet his vibrant green eyes. “What is it?”

He blows out a breath. “I dislike your mother’s condition for helping the alliance.”

“You don’t want her to train me?”

“I don’t want the Nightsbane clan influencing your magic,” he counters. “Or manipulating what you will do with it.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t trust them.”

I ask again, “Why not?”

He releases my hand and sits back in the chair. His eyes shift back to hazel. “Because I don’t know them. Neither do Thane, Lome, or any of the other Originals except Charmian. She has isolated her offspring from us. They are a mystery.”

“Why would she want that? I thought Immortals were allowed to interact with their offspring.”

“They are. I don’t know Charmian’s reasons. Perhaps she simply wished to protect them from being pulled into our conflicts.”

“She’s pulling them in now,” I point out.

“Because we are desperate. Thane weakens every day without Bella. We need the Nightsbane clan’s help to find her before Adir makes his next move.”

“Of course.”

I scold myself for worrying about such minor things when Bella is out there somewhere at the hands of a deranged Original Immortal.

Then, without warning, a gut-wrenching thought comes to mind. I wince.

“Darcie?” It’s Des’s turn to notice I’m holding back. “What’s wrong?”

I should lie.

I should dismiss the question now and forever. It’s none of my business.

But it hooks beneath my ribs, pulling tight. And I blurt, “Do you or your brothers have offspring?”

Adir, Julisanna, and Charmain do.

But the other six Originals are a mystery.