Everlasting (The Immortals #6)(60)
“Because now that Roman is gone, thanks to you I might add”—he pauses long enough to let that sink in—“the tree is my only hope left. Haven drank what was left of his supply, and since he assumed he’d live forever, he never bothered to share the recipe. Not to mention how he liked having control over us. Liked it almost as much as the party he threw every century and a half, always on the summer solstice, where he’d gather us together, wherever he was living at the time. We’d swap stories, share some good times, and drink a toast to each other, before we said our good-byes and moved on with our lives. Kind of like a high school reunion, but better, if you can imagine. No secondrate hotel bal room, no need to impress each other with bad plastic surgery and inflated job titles that don’t actual y mean anything…”
I don’t say a word. And I definitely don’t even try to imagine. I just stand there and let him continue.
“Funny thing was, even though your boyfriend Damen never showed—probably because he was never invited—but stil , he was always the most popular topic of conversation.” Rafe nods, gaze going inward now, as though he’s watching a scene that plays in his head. “For years he was like a legend to me. You should’ve heard the stories the orphans al told. The first among our kind, the one who turned six then disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again, or at least not intentional y. Do you realize he never even once thought to track them al down and let them drink again? He abandoned al down and let them drink again? He abandoned them, Ever—did you know that? He left them al to shrivel—to grow old and wither—while he stayed eternal y young.” He shakes his head and frowns in a way that encourages a whole new set of lines to race across his forehead. “Sorry, but if it sounds as though I don’t like him, wel , that’s because I don’t. Stil , that has nothing to do with why I can’t al ow you to reach that tree. It’s nothing personal, and I hope you’l understand when I say that the reason you can’t get your hands on that fruit is because it’s reserved just for me.”
I take a deep breath, dimming my flashlight a bit, realizing it’s better to try to ease his mind and put him off guard, to convince him to lower his defenses, than to put him on the defensive if I’ve any hope of regaining the advantage. Ful y aware that al it would take to be rid of him is one good shove that sends him over the edge. And as tempting as that might be, I won’t do it—and I’m pretty sure he won’t do it to me.
He needs me.
Only I can make the journey.
Only I can find the tree.
Which means he needs me to stay healthy, vital, and most importantly, in one piece, if he has any intention of my leading the way.
But what he doesn’t realize is that I’m more than happy to do so, as long as I arrive first. And when I do arrive, when I scale that tree and get to the fruit, I have every intention of sharing it. I have every intention of giving him, wel , maybe not the eternal life that he seeks, but certainly the one that he needs. The one that wil reverse the effects of the elixir, provide true immortality, and spare him from Lotus’s fate.
I look at him, lifting my shoulders casual y as I say, “No worries.” But if his arched brow and quirked mouth are any indication, he’s going to need a little more convincing. “Real y. It’s not a big deal. For reals.”
He looks me over, his gaze narrowed,
suspicious, practical y spitting the words when he says, “Oh yeah, and I’m supposed to believe that
— for reals?” He scoffs and shakes his head. “Okay then, so tel me, Ever, if you’re not interested in the fruit, then why even bother with this bloody miserable trek? Huh, can you tel me that? Why put yourself through al of this?”
“I’m curious.” I shrug. “I heard about the tree and thought I’d go see for myself—didn’t even realize it was time for the reaping ’til you just said so.” I tilt my head, try to look as though I mean it. “Despite your poor opinion of him, Damen’s always been extremely generous.
He would’ve gladly shared his elixir with you if you hadn’t already pledged your al egiance to Roman. And anyway, why would I even bother with the fruit when he gives me al the elixir I need?”
“Because the fruit is forever.” Rafe’s eyes begin to blaze until they resemble two dark flaming pits surrounded by white.
“Damen and I are forever.” I glare, knowing in my heart that it’s true even though he’s not here beside me to prove it. “And, as it so happens, I like the elixir. I like it so much I drink it several times a day. So, why would I want to replace that?”
Rafe continues to study me, his mind weighing, considering, then shaking his head he opens his mouth to speak, when someone else slinks out of the mist and decides to speak for him.
chapter thirty
“She’s lying.”
Rafe spins on his heel so he can see what I already see, know what I already know.
Marco is here.
Though, as always, Misa creeps up right alongside him with her exotic dark eyes, black spiky hair, and multipierced lobes.
My light spil s over them as I study them closely, trying to get a read, determine if their showing up is bad for me, bad for Rafe, or just bad in general. Knowing only two things for sure: No matter who it is that they’re after (though it’s probably safe to assume that it’s me) their intentions aren’t good. And, just like Rafe, they show signs of aging.