Enraptured: Immortal Chronicles Book IV Read online

  “We are. I made sure to take all necessary precautions to conceal our location.” He shot her a reassuring glance. “Trust me.”

  All Darcie could do was nod. The only person she trusted with her safety more than Alex was Des. She knew her friend would do everything in his power to keep her away from harm. “I do,” she told him truthfully.

  He reached over to pat her leg before using both hands to turn the wheel of the car. They pulled into her driveway.

  Darcie soaked in the sight. The snow had begun to melt, leaving slender icicles hanging from the rain gutter. She made a note to knock them down before they left.

  Her eyes continued to assess her childhood home. Everything looked the same, yet so much had changed in the short time she’d been away. She sighed and moved to open the car door, eager to get out of the car and enter the comfortable home. She pulled back the handle, but froze when her gaze landed on the patio light. It just turned on.

  “Alex?” she whispered.

  “I saw it,” he returned. She glanced over and was surprised to see his posture was relaxed. Before she could question his reaction, movement distracted her as the front door swung open.

  Snapping her head back, Darcie released a disbelieving cry when a man stepped over the threshold carrying a bag of trash. He was wrapped from head to toe in warm clothing which concealed most of his features, but she would have recognized him no matter what he was wearing.

  “Dad?”

  5

  Darcie stared at her dad, stunned. He wasn’t supposed to be there. The last she heard, he was in Rome. She watched as he noticed the vehicle in his driveway. She didn’t waste another second; Darcie jumped out of the car and ran up to her father.

  “Dad!” She threw herself into him, wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight hug.

  “Darcie?” His voice was full of astonishment. He placed his comforting arms around his daughter’s back. “Are you alright?”

  She wanted to laugh. “I wasn’t expecting to see you,” she explained, moving her arms closer together. It had been too long since she’d seen her father.

  “You weren’t?” Professor John Abernathy asked, confused. “Your friend is the one who called and told me to head straight home. Didn’t they tell you?”

  Her confusion grew. Obviously, her father’s arrival had to do with the immortals, but she needed to be careful with what she said. She had no idea what story the powerful mind alter-ers had led him to believe.

  Before she could respond, her enhanced ears picked up the sound of Alex’s approach. She released her dad and turned to face the vampire. He stopped two feet away.

  “I believe you are talking about me,” he said, filling in the gaps of Darcie’s knowledge. “I’m Alex. I called you yesterday.”

  Darcie watched her friend hold out his hand to her father. “You called my dad?”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  Darcie longed to ask him more, but she knew the interrogation would have to wait until they were alone.

  “Ah, yes. Alex.” Her father reached out and took his hand. “It is nice to meet you.”

  “And I must say, it is truly an honor to meet you as well,” Alex returned with complete sincerity. Darcie shot him a questioning look.

  What was that about?

  Her father, also, found his statement odd. The professor’s left eyebrow rose. It was the same look he got when examining an artifact. He did not know what to think about the tall, handsome vampire who arrived with his daughter.

  Wanting nothing more than to dispel the awkwardness, Darcie turned to face her dad and gave him a warm smile. “I’m glad you’re home. It is good to see you.”

  John Abernathy’s expression instantly softened. He reached out and tugged a strand of his daughter’s hair. “It is good to see you too, sweetheart. Let’s go inside. I was thinking about ordering pizza for dinner. Thoughts?”

  Darcie quickly approved her father’s idea. She and Alex followed the professor into the warm, inviting home. She soaked in the familiar sights and scents, reveling in the familiarity. She was home.

  Once inside, her dad excused himself to go order the pizza. Darcie led Alex to the living room to wait for his return.

  The moment they were alone, she whirled on the vampire. She threw all of her bewilderment into her words. “What on Earth is going on? My dad is supposed to be in Italy. Why is he here?”

  With complete ease, Alex moved to the sofa and sat onto the soft cushions. “Your father will be safer here–far away from Adir and the rebellion.”

  “But Des convinced my father to stay in Rome,” she said, remembering how she requested the brothers intervene when her dad threatened to visit Maine for her birthday. She could not allow him to return to the state and expect to see her when she was living in Greece.

  “I am gifted with the same ability,” Alex replied nonchalantly. “Once I learned you were taken, I immediately reached out to your father.”

  Darcie could barely process what he was saying. “I thought it wasn’t a good idea for you to contact anyone. Won’t we lead Adir right to my dad if he is looking for me?”

  “It’s not an ‘if’,” Alex corrected her with a pointed look. “Adir is definitely searching for you, Darcie.”

  She tried to hide the fearful quiver. “Then shouldn’t you have left my dad alone? Seriously, Alex. What were you thinking?” All Darcie could think about was something horrible happening to her dad.

  If Adir suspected Alex’s involvement in any way, he could easily investigate his son and find the connection to John Abernathy. Her friend had potentially put her dad at great risk.

  “Adir went through the trouble of changing you into an immortal, Darcie,” he reminded her. “He wants to force the bond. He will not stop searching for you, and it will only be a matter of time before he starts looking for other ways to get to you.”

  Darcie stilled. Her stomach started to roll. “You think he will come after my dad?” The idea shouldn’t be a surprise. Hadn’t Adir threatened to do just that after Henry abducted her?

  Alex gave a firm nod. “I do. That is why I arranged for his return to Brunswick. The town is still warded from when you were last here. Your father will remain safe and unseen if he remains in this region.”

  Darcie sighed and fell against the sofa. She’d forgotten Thane had protected the entire town when she insisted on returning to her normal life. While she roamed Brunswick, she received no outside threats from the immortal rebellion. But her experience in Portland taught her that the protective spell only reached so far.

  “We will need to keep my dad from taking any trips,” she stated solemnly. Once again, she could find no other way to protect her loved ones than by manipulating their minds. She detested the task.

  “I will see that he remains within the boundaries of the protective spell. I promise he will not come to any harm.”

  It seemed like a loaded promise, and one not entirely within the vampire’s control. Nevertheless, Darcie appreciated the gesture. “Thank you.”

  Their conversation ended with her father’s return. He sat beside Darcie and gently patted her knee, giving her a warm smile. “I have missed you, sweetheart.”

  Her chest tightened.

  Don’t cry, she commanded.

  Swallowing a lump in her throat, she did her best to return his smile. “I have missed you more.”

  The older man chuckled, giving her one last pat before turning to address Alex. As the pair started getting to know one another, Darcie took the opportunity to assure herself her father was unharmed.

  He looked thinner, but she suspected it was a result of a more active lifestyle in Rome. That, and the fact he did not have his daughter there to ensure he had something to eat at every meal. She shook her head and made a mental note to fill the pantry with groceries before she and Alex left.

  Moving her attention to his face, she noted a subtle tan highlighting his skin. His eyes crinkled at the corners from something Alex
said, and she noted that his eyes seemed to shine brighter than when he left. The trip had suited him.

  It felt weird to acknowledge, but she could see what her mom was talking about when she said John Abernathy was once an attractive young man. Darcie still doubted it at times, but looking at her father now, she began to see the hints of Eros shining through his descendant.

  But it’s still weird.

  “Darcie?”

  Looking up, she was met with two pairs of eyes, watching her expectantly.

  “Sorry. What did you say?”

  Her dad grinned. “Alex was telling me you two met in Greece when we were there. Why did you not mention it?”

  She floundered. She shot Alex a questioning glance before looking back at her father. “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

  “Ouch,” Alex said but followed it with a laugh. Her father joined in.

  When his amusement subsided, Alex offered an explanation. “Your father was asking me why I was here, and how I knew you would like for him to come home.” His eyes were full of hidden meaning.

  “Oh.” Darcie did not know what to say. She did not want to contradict anything Alex might’ve made the man believe, but she needed to say something reasonable.

  When Alex refused to dig her out, she shrugged. “I mentioned how I missed you, but I did not think Alex would call you and convince you to come home. I hope you aren’t losing out on any groundbreaking research.” It was the most realistic scenario she could come up with.

  “Well, I’m glad he did.” Her father moved forward and wrapped Darcie in a tight hug. “It is good to be back.”

  Tears pricked her eyes as she returned his embrace. She made sure not to grip him too tight; she wasn’t sure if her strength would be the same as an immortal. A whimper threatened to be released, but Darcie closed her lips to ensure it remained contained.

  The doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it.” Her father dropped his arms and stood. “Will you grab the plates, Darcie?”

  “Sure.” As her dad walked away, Darcie turned to say something to Alex, but the words died on her lips.

  The vampire king stared at her father’s retreating figure. His dark brows turned down in thought, and his red lips pressed into a thin line. Darcie did not know what to make of the reaction. It almost looked like Alex was… in pain?

  Feeling her attention, her friend turned to face her. Immediately, his expression smoothed into an unreadable mask. “Yes?”

  Darcie forced herself to turn toward the kitchen. “Nothing,” she called over her shoulder.

  At least… I hope it is nothing.

  * * *

  Dinner was an easygoing event. Instead of eating on the T.V. trays in the living room, John Abernathy insisted the trio move to the rarely-used dining room. Darcie had smirked at the suggestion but decided to go along with it. The Abernathy family rarely entertained guests, but it seemed like her dad had spruced up his hosting skills since their last visitor.

  In between bites of pizza, Darcie questioned her father on his time in Rome. She was happy to learn his research progressed well. The professor hoped to have enough material to write his next book on artifacts in the region within the year.

  “Congratulations,” Alex chimed in. “I look forward to reading your work.”

  The middle-aged man averted his gaze, embarrassed. Darcie tried to hide her smile behind a napkin.

  “That is amazing, Dad,” she added. “I’m so proud of you.”

  The back of his neck turned red. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

  “So, what is it you do, Alex?” he asked, expertly moving the spotlight off of himself.

  “Political science,” he replied. Darcie choked on her water.

  Her dad’s concerned eyes swung toward her. “Are you alright?”

  “Fine,” she managed to sputter. “Water went down the wrong tube.”

  He accepted the explanation. Returning his focus to Alex, he asked, “Political science, you say? Do you mean as an area of study, or do you currently work in the political arena?”

  “I am a negotiator for various parties,” Alex provided, choosing his words carefully. “Perhaps mediator is the more accurate word.”

  “Interesting. Do you enjoy it?”

  Alex made a noncommittal sound. “It has its benefits.”

  Darcie fought to control her amusement.

  The clock on the wall chimed the hour. Darcie yawned, her body feeling the exhaustion from recent events.

  “Tired?” her father asked, looking at his watch. It was still on the early side of the evening, but Darcie did not know how much longer she could stay awake.

  Thankfully, Alex came to the rescue. “I apologize, but I believe I will turn in for the night. I had a long day of travel.” He held out his hand to her father. “Thank you, again, for inviting me to stay in your home while I am in town.”

  “No problem,” he replied. “Friends are always welcome.”

  Dropping her father’s hand, Alex moved his gaze to Darcie. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She bobbed her head. “Good night.”

  Alex swiftly left, leaving the father and daughter in the dining room. Darcie heard each of his steps as he climbed the stairs and walked towards the room at the end of the hall.

  Her dad cleared his throat, drawing her attention.

  She watched him shift uncomfortably in his seat. “Alex seems nice.”

  “He is,” she replied slowly, noticing her dad’s awkward body-language.

  “Humph,” he sounded, looking towards the stairs. After a short pause, he asked, “Are you dating him?”

  Darcie nearly dropped her glass and choked on water again. She coughed roughly through her answer. “What?” She covered her mouth to catch the spraying liquid. “No way.”

  Her father sat back in his chair, relieved. “Good. He seems too old for you.”

  Darcie was mortified. She could picture Alex smothering his laughter in the guest bedroom. No doubt, his superior vampire ears picked up every word.

  Once she finally regulated her breath, Darcie worked to dissuade her dad of whatever thoughts motivated his question. “Alex is just a friend, Dad.”

  He appeared unconvinced. “Does he know that he is just a friend?”

  “Yes. Definitely.” She did not hesitate. Doing so would only give her dad reason to suspect she was lying.

  For a second, she thought her dad was going to persist. He did not seem convinced. Thankfully, however, he decided to let the subject drop. “Okay.”

  Searching to move the conversation further away from the uncomfortable topic, Darcie jumped on the first thing that came to mind. “You look good, by the way. I think Europe agrees with you.”

  He smiled. “Yes. It is amazing to actually be able to spend time outdoors during winter.” Then, he added, “I believe there is something different about you, as well.”

  She froze, afraid that her dad was able to pick up on her change in mortality.

  That is not to say she believed her father would be able to notice the change for what it was, just that he might be able to detect the supernatural in his daughter. After all, he was the descendant of an immortal, too.

  Her dad did her the favor of putting her out of her misery. “I think you are beginning to look more and more like your mother.”

  It wasn’t the worst thing she feared he might say, but it was hardly the best. She swallowed the growing lump in her throat. Now that he had brought her up, Darcie could not resist asking a question that had plagued her for weeks.

  “Are you still in love with her? My mom, I mean?” She was aware the questions seemed random. Based on her dad’s shocked expression, it was probably the last thing he had expected her to ask.

  They never talked about her mother.

  Ever.

  Impressively, he did not let his surprise keep him tongue tied. “Of course. I’ll always be in love with her. There is no one else like her.” Hi
s dedication was heart-warming and heart-wrenching at the same time.

  “But she left you,” Darcie reminded him pointlessly. “She left us.”

  Her father did not retract his statements. “I know Jennifer. Though I wish she would have explained her reasons for leaving, I know she wouldn’t have done it unless it was absolutely necessary.”

  Darcie was stunned. “How can you be so understanding?”

  “Your mother had always been secretive, Darcie,” he explained. “For years, she always looked over her shoulder, but I could never get her to confide in me. It was something I had to come to terms with before I decided to marry her.”

  He looked over at the pictures lining the far wall. In the center, there was one of very few family photographs the family of three had taken. Darcie couldn’t have been more than three, but she beamed at the camera as she sat on her father’s knee. Behind them stood her mother, looking like the happiest woman in the world.

  Her dad sighed heavily. “My only regret is that I did not have the chance to help her. Whatever caused Jennifer to leave, I regret that she decided to face it alone.”

  The desire to tell her dad everything was strong. Darcie did not want to keep secrets. She longed to reveal the incredible world of the immortals, and how her mother had been a part of it as a member of one of the most powerful witch clans.

  But she couldn’t, not without putting him in danger.

  Darcie knew there was no way her father would not insist on inserting himself into the world his daughter and ex-wife were a part of, and she could not let that happen.

  She refused to let it happen.

  Later that evening, when Darcie was finally able to escape to her room, sleep continued to elude her. She could not stop thinking about her dad.

  John Abernathy had no idea what had happened to his only child. He had no idea his wife was still alive, and that she was involved in a supernatural world he never could have imagined. Guilt pressed against Darcie’s chest. She hated keep things from her father.

  Darcie made a vow; she would tell her father the truth once the rebellion ended–once everyone was safe.