Page 33 of The Immortal's Trick
I blink and turn my attention to Des. “Yes.”
“Good. Lome should be back with our brother at any moment.”
“Thane?” I ask to fill the silence, even though I know more about the Original Nine immortals than I do most of the men and women who work our family farm. Lome didn’t shy away from details.
Des nods. “He’s the oldest. You might consider him our keeper,” he says, giving me an uncharacteristic wink. “Lome and I are always keeping him on his toes.”
I can’t help but smile. “You and my husband need a keeper?” I’m surprised how easily the title rolls off my tongue.
“Probably more than one,” he chuckles. “Lucky for Thane, the job fell to him.”
“Maybe I’ll offer him assistance,” I say. “I helped wrangle two brothers of my own, after all.”
“I’m positive Thane would be overjoyed by the offer.”
“What offer?” an unfamiliar voice questions from the far corner of the room.
Des and I turn to see Lome walk in behind a stranger. It takes me one second to conclude the newcomer is Thane. The brothers share enough features that a resemblance is easily seen, though Lome insists nothing as uninspiring as blood links them together.
“That’s my cue.” Des approaches and surprises me yet again when he places a small kiss on my right cheek. “Good luck, Eshe. And welcome to the family.”
Speechless, I can only watch him walk toward his brothers. Des gives each a firm pat on the back before vanishing through the doors behind them.
“You must be Eshe.” Thane steps forward and introduces himself, “I’m Thane. It is a pleasure to meet you. My brother is very lucky to have such a beautiful bride.”
I dip my knees slightly, lowering my head. When I rise, Lome is at my side.
He smiles down at me, overjoyed. “Ready?”
The nerves return full force. “What, exactly, should I be ready for?”
Lome takes my arm and loops it around his. We start walking toward the doors that Des used moments earlier. “A ritual to alter your mortality.”
I know it’s coming. I haven’t forgotten how Lome professed we would be together forever, but hearing him say it makes the reality hit me with full force. I stumble. My husband quickly steadies me.
“Do not worry. It will be over quickly.”
“Will it hurt?” I ask. Surely extending someone’s soul for an eternity would hurt?
His lips turn down. “I do not know,” he says with regret. “It has never been done before.”
My heart pounds. “But Des…” I trail off. Didn’t Des love someone?
Then it hits me. Lome said the woman Des loved was dead—an impossible state for an immortal.
I grip his arm with my other hand. Lome immediately covers it with his own.
“I will not let anything bad happen to you,” he says fervently. His eyes shine with truth. “I promise.”
Unable to doubt him, knowing I cannot escape what’s to come, I look forward to where Thane leads us into a different room.
The lighting is much the same, but I find myself blinking to take in the scene before me. Not because it’s bright, but because of the people standing inside it, staring at me. Their beauty and perfection are breathtaking. With what I know, I surmise the room’s occupants are immortals.
Lome tightens his hold and whispers in my ear, “Do not cower. You will be stronger than all of them. They know it.Youneed to know it.”
His words are strange. How could I be stronger than men? I’m thin from years of barely having enough to eat.
Lome continues to escort me past the group of immortals. Each one lowers their eyes in deference as we move. Some even bow or curtsy. I can’t help but observe each of them, taking in their striking features and skin that seems to glow. The women in the group are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. The men are just as good-looking. Though not as handsome as Lome.
