The Immortal Bond (The Immortal Mark Book 3) Read online

  “Hey,” she says, letting herself into my room where Theo and I are watching a movie on my huge television. We’re cuddled up at the head of my bed, our backs against a wall of pillows. Riley plops down at the bottom, below our feet.

  “What is it with you and Jennifer Lopez movies?” she asks. She sounds more alive than she looks, which is good, I guess.

  “I like them,” I say, ignoring the look she gives me while I turn my attention back to Maid in Manhattan. It’s probably my favorite JLo movie of all time. I mean, who doesn’t love a rags to riches story?

  “Don’t look at me,” Theo says when Riley turns an accusing gaze on him. “I tried to talk her into watching something that hasn’t been in perpetual reruns on cable television for the last decade.”

  “It’s a good movie,” I say, turning up the volume on the remote.

  Riley sits up, purposely blocking my view. “Let’s go do something tonight. I think I’ve reached my limit on how long I can stay indoors.”

  There are dark circles under her eyes and she looks like she could use a good nap, but it doesn’t seem to bother her. “What do you want to do?” I ask. I quickly follow it up with, “It can’t be anything fun like mani/pedis because Theo will insist on coming with us.”

  “Hey, I can hang out while you go to the salon,” Theo says. “Just pretend I’m not there.”

  Riley shakes her head. “No, I want to go out and have fun. Like see a movie. Get some dinner.”

  “Sounds like you want to go on a date with me,” I say, placing a hand to my chest. “I accept.”

  “Sweet!” Riley grins. “Let’s go somewhere with fried pickles, and let’s see a movie with kickass fight scenes.” She rubs her hands together, and even though her eyes are bloodshot and she kind of smells like stale coffee, she’s getting more excited by the moment. “Since Theo is coming, I’ll invite Kyle. Is that cool with you?” she asks him.

  “Sure,” he says.

  “So it’s a double date?” I say, giving Rylie a knowing wiggle of my eyebrows.

  “Oh, please,” she says. She pulls a strand of my long blonde hair off my comforter and tosses it on the floor. “Kyle is my buddy, and that’s all. We don’t think of each other like that.”

  “Okay, maybe you don’t, but does he like you? You shouldn’t lead him on.”

  “I’m not leading him on,” she says, standing. She smacks my thigh as she walks back to my bedroom door. “Let’s meet up in an hour?”

  “Is that enough time for you to shower and fix that rat’s nest you call a ponytail?” I ask. Theo covers his smile with his hand.

  Riley pretends to pop her collar. “Baby, you know it.”

  ***

  The local movie theater is packed, and I can tell it puts Theo on high alert. Kyle is being his usual normal self though, and I feel relieved when I see him talking a mile a minute about something he found hilarious on a TV show. We’re waiting in line to buy tickets behind some girl and her boyfriend. The girl won’t stop bitching to the guy about how if they’d bought tickets online, they wouldn’t be in this mess of waiting in line. He keeps glancing off, particularly to stare at other women, and I want to grab the girl by the shirt and tell her to shut up and also that she’s most definitely going to be single soon.

  I don’t mind waiting in line. It’s something normal people do, and if only for a little while, it makes me feel normal, too. But Theo is unable to relax. He holds my hand tightly, pretending to nod along to Kyle’s story, but really, he’s surveying the area. There’s nothing but teens on dates and old people on dates, and pretty much a lot of people on dates here at the movies.

  Occasionally you’ll see a group of friends walking in together, but there’s so many couples here tonight, you’d think it was Valentine’s day.

  I’m on high alert too, but for a different reason. I keep checking Kyle for signs that he might be crushing on Riley. After all, they spend a lot of time together when Riley’s not with me, and she’s been known to break a heart or two in the past because she didn’t like a guy who likes her back.

  In our case, I guess it doesn’t really matter if he is crushing on her—we’ll probably all be gone soon anyhow. But I’m nosey, and a little protective over Kyle. He did try to save Jayla’s life after all. I don’t want him to be hurt.

  Luckily, he’s not acting like he thinks this might be a double date. When we step forward to buy our movie tickets, Kyle and Riley pay separately. Theo buys my ticket, but he uses his clan credit card that Alexo gave to him because it still works, and any way to screw over Lady Em makes us happy.

  Since Riley wanted action, we get stuck watching a superhero movie that’s a little too gory for my taste. I spend most of the two hours snuggling against Theo’s arm and eating popcorn. It’s not as romantic as I want it to be, because Theo is so rigid and uptight all night. He keeps glancing around like he expects Lady Em to jump out of the aisle and stab us all to death. His cell phone is on vibrate, and tucked in his jacket pocket and I swear he must reach down to feel for it at least fifty times during the movie.

  “Chill out,” I whisper to him during a loud fight scene. “We have security guards keeping track of her.”

  “I know,” he says with a nod. “Sorry.”

  I slide my hand into his and rest my head on his shoulder for the remainder of the movie.

  When the movie is over, Kyle and Riley immediately work together to find the nearest restaurant with fried pickles on the menu. Apparently, it’s an inside joke between them, and they’ve had the chef try out several recipes for the perfect fried pickle, but he just hasn’t nailed it yet.

  “Okay, you’ve changed,” I tell her as we walk back to Kyle’s Camaro. “The Riley I know would never eat fried pickles.”

  She shrugs. “Kyle sold me on them. Now we need to find the perfect pickle. I’m thinking Red’s Burger Shack. They have a four star rating on Google.” She looks up at the boys. “Sound good?”

  “I’m down,” Theo says, throwing an arm around my shoulders. We climb into the backseat of the Camaro, which is the kind of seat that only lovers should ever share since it puts you right on top of each other. There’s hardly any leg room and I’d hate to be back here with a guy I didn’t like. Luckily, I’m with Theo and I don’t mind the close quarters at all.

  “I have a feeling this might be the place,” Kyle says as he starts up his car. “Red’s Burger Shack sounds like the kind of joint that would have the perfect crispy fried pickle with just a hint of seasoning.”

  “And homemade ranch dip, not that bottled shit,” Riley says.

  They grin knowingly at each other. Who would have thought two people could bond over freaking pickles?

  “Red’s?” Theo says. “Isn’t that the Hooters wanna be restaurant that Russell loves because the waitresses dress like sluts?”

  “I think so, now that you mention it,” Riley says.

  “Yeah, it is,” Kyle says with a laugh. “Slutty waitresses and fried pickles. What could be better?”

  “Slutty waiters and fried pickles,” Riley says. “That would be better.”

  Theo and I exchange a glance, and then we look back at our friends who are now deep into the fried pickle conversation again.

  Well, damn. I guess they are just friends after all.

  Chapter 16

  When I wake up in Theo’s bedroom, I’m a little disoriented at first. Sunlight filters in from the east window, casting a glow on the walls. I’m so used to my own bed in my own room that for a split second, I get panicky as thoughts of being trapped in Lady Em’s underground prison haunt me. Then I open my eyes fully and realize exactly where I am.

  I am safe in Theo’s bed. He’s sleeping beside me, his steady breathing a comforting sound. Usually he’ll stay over in my room, not the other way around, but we’d been watching a movie in his room last night and I guess I fell asleep. I roll onto my back and stare up at the wrought iron candelabra hanging from the ceiling. Last night was a lot of fun.
We had dinner and saw a movie and hung out with friends. I close my eyes and dream of a life where every Friday night is like that. Then the bracelet on my wrist gives me a gentle reminder that a dream like that can’t ever happen.

  Even if we find the stones Lady Em has stolen from immortals and bring them back to the Dover clan, they might not give me the way to remove the bracelet. And even if they did, Theo is still an immortal and there’s definitely no way to make him stop being one. He’d die, and I’d be no better off than I am right now.

  The only other solution is for me to become an immortal.

  My heart aches as I think the words, but it’s true. I’ve been trying to ignore it, shove aside the very idea every time it pops into my brain. Although the idea of living forever and having money, my love, and a life doing whatever we want sounds like heaven…the reality is hell.

  I can’t take someone else’s life away from them quicker just to keep me alive. Theo has been doing it for decades, and he’s honorable about the whole thing by finding people who are already dying. I admire him for that, but I can’t see myself doing the same thing. I don’t think I could take someone’s life, especially when I have nothing to offer this world in return. Theo is fighting the good fight, sacrificing his lifebloods for the sake of his mission to defeat the leader of Rosewater.

  What would be my mission? Nothing.

  Just like all the other times I think of the future, I try to shove it all out of my mind and focus on the right now. But it’s not working today. All I know is that eventually I will die with this bracelet.

  And without it, I’ll die too, it’ll just take longer.

  And despite it all, Theo will live forever.

  Now my anxiety is so high I climb out of bed and walk to Theo’s bathroom where I turn on the shower. The hot water feels good, but it doesn’t erase my thoughts. Every day that goes by is another day I can’t stand to think about what the future holds for us. It’s hard to live in the moment when everything that comes after is a total nightmare.

  After my shower, I grab a towel and dry off as much as I can because Theo keeps his room very cold. I’ll have to cross the room to his closet to steal some of his clothes to wear and I’m not in the mood for being freezing and wet.

  There’s a hard knock on the door and I startle, my hands holding a towel over my hair. Then I realize the knock wasn’t on the bathroom door, but the door to Theo’s room.

  “Give me a minute,” Theo calls out.

  I open the bathroom door a crack. He sees me and smiles, then holds a finger to his lips, signaling for me to be quiet. I leave the door cracked open, knowing I can’t be seen from the bedroom door because it’s around the corner.

  “Morning, Henry,” Theo says.

  “Do you have a minute to talk?” Henry says, forgoing his usual friendly small talk.

  “Sure, man. What’s going on?” I can tell Theo is as concerned as I am by the tone of his voice.

  Henry sighs. “I can’t get ahold of Alexo. This is highly unusual because he always keeps in touch. It’s been a week, now.”

  “Why are you coming to me?” Theo asks.

  “Have you heard from him? Do you know where he might be?”

  Theo pauses. I grip the door, my ear pressed to the crack so I can hear everything. “How much do you trust Alexo?” Theo says finally.

  “Of course I trust him,” Henry says, sounding a little offended.

  “I know, but how much?” Theo asks again. “If I told you Alexo made me privy to a certain…benefactor of the clan…would you know who I’m talking about?”

  “I don’t understand,” Henry says. “Alexo has told me everything.”

  “Except about the benefactor?”

  “Who are you talking about? There is no one else.” Henry sounds defensive now.

  “I’m not trying to rile feathers,” Theo says calmly. “I’m just wondering if your loyalties are solidly with the man who kept information from you, or if you’d choose the right path, if given an option.”

  “Theo, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Henry says, his voice low. “But Alexo gave me the stone that saved my life. I owe him everything and I will always be loyal to him.”

  “Okay,” Theo says. “To answer your question, no I haven’t heard from him.” There’s a click of the door closing and then Theo exhales. I poke my head out the door and see him run his hands down his face. “This might be harder than I thought.”

  ***

  At lunch, Bethany sends out an invite to the girls to try the new chicken tacos she’s been perfecting from her own secret recipe. Riley and I figure we should probably go since we’ve stayed away from everyone lately. Theo comes too, because he’s still refusing to leave my side even though we’re only going to be in the kitchen downstairs, and not at a wild party full of threatening strangers.

  Riley is already there when Theo and I arrive, and she’s saving us two seats. I guess she knows by now to expect Theo wherever I go. At least until Lady Em is taken care of.

  “Wow, Bethany, this looks amazing,” I say as I settle onto the barstool Riley saved for me.

  “Thank you,” she beams. She’s wearing a pale yellow dress with white sandals, and her golden hair is pulled back in a bun. Her face is dewy with sweat, her cheeks pink and excited.

  The kitchen table is a bar-height wooden area that fits about ten bar stools. She’s covered it with a colorful tablecloth in reds and blues. It’s a make your own taco set up, with a huge tray of shredded seasoned chicken and bowls of several toppings.

  Olivia and Nia walk in last, still wearing their pajamas. After Jayla died, these two girls seemed to find comfort in each other. It does feel weird, even after a couple of weeks, to be missing one girl. It makes me remember how the guys had to get a new girl to wear Jayla’s stone. I wonder who it is, and why they don’t live here yet.

  Bethany puts some Spanish music on the radio and it really sets the mood for lunch. Her food is really good and it feels like we’re at a cool bistro instead of in our house.

  I make a couple of tacos and pile some chips and salsa on my plate. Even though it was a girl’s only thing, Kyle stops by and makes a plate as well.

  Riley handles the small talk way better than I do, and although I try to join in with talking about TV shows, and fashion, and what malls have the best food courts, I’m just really not feeling it. Every time I look at Bethany, Nia, or Olivia, all I can see is that they’re going to die. Soon. The world may see three pretty girls, but I see three caskets about to be nailed shut.

  We’re nearly finished eating when Malina walks in, her lips pursed into a frown. “Theo,” she says, like it’s a sentence.

  He sets down his Coke and looks back at her. “Your friend is here. He agreed to wait in the parlor for once.”

  Theo smiles. “Thanks, Malina. I’ll go see him.”

  I drop the chip in my hand and turn to Riley. “Don’t let anyone throw away my plate. I’m not done yet.”

  She laughs. “Like there’s not tons of food left.”

  In the parlor, Damien sits on a black leather chair. He stands when he sees us. “Can we talk here?” he asks.

  “Quietly,” Theo replies.

  “I’ll get right to the point,” Damien says, pausing to acknowledge me with a tip of his head. “She bought a plane ticket to Europe. A private car is on its way to take her to the airport.”

  “Perfect.”

  “I’ll set up a perimeter with some of the guys, you go inside and find the stones,” Damien says. “I brought the equipment that sends out sound pulses into walls to see where the hidden rooms are. If she’s got the stones locked way, we’ll find them. We need to act fast. It could take days to scour that place and when don’t know when she’s returning.”

  “We’ll go now,” Theo says. He looks at me. “Unless you’re not done eating?”

  “Screw eating,” I say as hope floods into my chest, and happiness fills me like never before. “Let’
s take back what isn’t hers.”

  Chapter 17

  Damien secures a private jet for us at the local airport. It belongs to the Embrook clan and ironically, it’s parked right next to the Rosewater jet in the hangar. It’s not as nice as the other one, but when it comes to private jets, they’re all pretty amazing, and anything beats sitting coach with a hundred strangers. We’re all pretty quiet on the flight to northern California where Lady Em’s private castle home is currently empty. I’d thought I would be nervous, maybe even a little scared when it came time to go back.

  But as we land on a runway in sunny California and pile into a rented Chevrolet truck, I realize I am not scared at all. I’m also not nervous. Maybe it’s because she’s not there and we won’t be locked up again. Or maybe I’m just getting used to the fact that I’ll probably die by the end of this anyway.

  I should leave a note for Uncle Will, thanking him once again for all that he’s done for me over the years.

  The castle looks different now that it’s not raining and the sky isn’t darkened by clouds. It doesn’t look as majestic or castle-like. It almost seems like it was built maybe fifty years ago, out of bricks like a normal house, but someone fancied up the outside to make it seem more like a castle. I’m not sure how to describe it, but it’s not really that cool at all. It seems below Lady Em’s style, especially knowing that she owns the mansion in Austin. Why not live there full time?

  Theo drives down the winding gravel driveway, parking to the left of the garage. There are two other guys here, dressed in all black. The security guards Damien hired. They nod at us as we get out of the truck.

  “You two go ahead,” Damien says as he walks to the bed of the truck where he’s laid out all of his equipment. “I’ll be searching the perimeter for hidden rooms and underground bunkers.”

  “You ready?” Theo asks me. He holds out his hand.