Page 99 of The Immortal’s Mark

That’s news to me.

But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

If Lucas has to be intense to rule over powerful were-beasts, I imagine a vampire king needs to be just as imposing, if not more.

Still, I shrug and say, “That may be their reputation, but they’re my friends.”

“I would be careful with that.” Her eyes dart toward the hall. “Vampires are fickle creatures. They express loyalty one minute, and then turn on you the next.”

I don’t believe that about Gregory or Alex for one moment, but I don’t want to argue with Paige.

“Thanks for the warning.”

She nods and pushes off the counter. “I need to go find my dad. I’ll see you later?”

“Definitely.”

She smiles softly before leaving the kitchen, and I’m alone.

Tension releases from my body, and I grab a spoon to eat my cereal. I lift the first bite to my lips just as a cloaked figure glides into the kitchen.

“There you are,” Mistress Lola greets me with a no-nonsense expression. “It’s time to train.”

I glance pointedly at my bowl. “Can I at least eat⁠—”

She snaps her fingers. The cereal disappears. In its place sits a granola bar.

“Eat while we walk. We don’t have time to waste.” With that, her cloak flares out behind her as she leaves the kitchen.

“Damnit.” I snatch the bar and rip open the wrapper, leaving my coffee on the counter, and follow the witch into the backyard with no idea what I’m in for.

25

DARCIE

Mistress Lola’s disapproving voice floats over my head. “Are you even trying?”

My fingers dig into the coarse sand. I kneel on the warm beach, gasping for breath after my latest attempt to jump into a vision.

“Of course I am,” I pant.

This is only my second training session with the no-nonsense Nightsbane witch. After spending our entire time together yesterday mediating, I had expected something similar today.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

When Alex, Paige, Lucas, and my mother went to search for Adir, Mistress Lola dragged me to this private beach.

Where, for the last two hours, I have strained my mental capacity to the brink, desperate to throw my mind to Italy to see Dad reading in a dusty library, to Eshe in Greece, or even to Kayla back in Brunswick, likely sitting in a college lecture hall.

But no matter how many different techniques Mistress Lola suggests, I cannot summon a vision at will.

I did it once, back in Maine. I’d thrown myself into the vision where Lome revealed to the others that I was succumbing to the Immortal’s Curse.

But since then?

Nada.

Zilch.