7. Ivy

7

IVY

Pulling my hair up into a messy bun as I stare into my bloodshot eyes, I cringe. The holy water has gone from my system but has left its mark. My hands tremble slightly as I pucker up and apply a light shade of pink lipstick. Nothing too glaring.

Ramsey knocks and enters without me telling him to. I don't mind. We have no secrets. Okay, except for the aggressive sexual escapades with Torin and his crew. Ramsey would probably go on a suicide mission if he knew, and that's why he doesn't.

"Hey, Ives. How's things?"

I shrug. "Fine. Contemplating running away, but you know, all good."

"Don't fucking joke," he whispers.

I turn to face Ramsey, taking in his worried expression. "I'm not joking, Rams. This assignment is suicide."

He runs a hand through his messy blonde hair. "I know. But we don't have a choice. You know what happens to people who refuse jobs from the Syndicate."

"Yeah, I know. That doesn't mean I have to like it."

"No one's asking you to like it," Ramsey says softly. "Just to survive it."

"Hmm, well, I have to survive Runic Objects and their Uses lecture first. So, I'd better get going."

"It's a bit early, isn't it?" He frowns at this watch.

"Meeting someone before," I say vaguely. I don't want to get into it with Ramsey about Vex again, but Vex needs to remove this deactivated rune from my lower back sooner rather than later.

Ramsey narrows his eyes. "Meeting who?"

I sigh, knowing he won't let this go. "Vex. I need him to remove this rune."

"Ivy," Ramsey groans. "I told you dealing with Vex was a bad idea."

"I know, I know. But it's done now, and I need it gone before anyone else sees it and decides to use it against me."

He shakes his head. "Fine. But be careful. That warlock is bad news."

"Trust me, I know," I mutter, grabbing my bag. "I'll see you later."

I hurry out of the house before Ramsey can lecture me further. The crisp morning air hits my face as I make my way across campus. Students mill about, heading to early classes or grabbing coffee. I keep my head down, not wanting to draw attention .

The library looms ahead, its gothic architecture a gorgeous sight on this autumn morning. I love the old buildings of this Academy. It's hundreds of years old, educating the very finest of supernaturals over the centuries. I'm surprised Aunt Cathy enrolled me here, but I guess she wanted a nice place for me to go where I wasn't under her feet. Like I said, she never neglected me.

I slip inside the building, the musty smell of old books filling my nose. Vex is waiting in our usual spot, tucked away in a back corner.

"Well, well. If it isn't my favourite little shifter," he drawls as I approach. "You are way prettier this way."

I roll my eyes. "Can we stop with the creepiness and just get this over with?"

He grins, his black eyes flashing dangerously. "So eager. Turn around and bend over, sweetheart."

I grit my teeth but do as he says, lifting my tee and pushing my joggers down a bit to expose the rune on my lower back. Vex's fingers are cold when he touches me, and it sends a thrill through me. Not for the first time, I shake my head at myself. I'm a complete sucker for a bad boy. He presses his body closer to me and rests his hand on my arse.

"Get on with it," I growl.

"Patience, little flytrap," he murmurs, his fingertips skating over the rune.

I suppress a shiver as Vex's fingers trace the rune on my lower back. "Just hurry up and remove it before someone sees," I hiss .

"So impatient," he tuts. "Don't you know good things come to those who wait?"

"Yeah, well, bad things happen to arsehole warlocks who don't get on with it," I snap.

Vex chuckles darkly. "Feisty. I like that in a female."

Before I can retort, a searing pain shoots through my back. I bite my lip to keep from crying out as Vex begins the process of removing the rune. Admittedly, it doesn't hurt as much as when he etched it into my skin, so for that, I'm grateful.

"Almost done," he murmurs after what feels like an eternity.

The pain intensifies for a moment before abruptly stopping. I let out a shaky breath.

"There," Vex says, sounding far too pleased with himself. "All gone. Though I must say, I'll miss seeing my handiwork on that delectable skin of yours."

I quickly pull my shirt down and turn to face him, keeping my expression neutral despite the lingering pain. "Thanks. We're done here."

Vex grins, revealing unnaturally sharp teeth. "For now, perhaps. But I have a feeling you'll be back for more of my services soon enough."

I roll my eyes. "Don't hold your breath."

As I turn to leave, Vex grabs my hand, stopping me in my tracks. He pulls me closer. "Feeling you pull on my power when you made your kill made my dick hard," he whispers in my ear. "I jerked off and came in a stream of thick, hot cum at that wild raspberry taste in my mouth."

"Fuck off," I snarl, pulling to get away, but he is a lot stronger than me.

"Did you know it connected us," he murmurs. "Did you feel it, Poison?"

"I'm not her," I grit out. "And don't ever call me that again in public."

He chuckles and grips my arm tighter. "I like the taste of you, Ivy . I want to taste your pussy as I share magick with you."

"Let go of me," I snap and struggle in his grasp.

"You heard her," a familiar voice states mildly, making my blood turn to ice. "Get your hands off her, Vex."

Vex's wicked smile turns even more sinister. "Tate. Step back. This has nothing to do with you."

"I can't in good conscience stand here and let you sexually harass a poor innocent creature, now can I?"

Vex snorts. "Sure, you can't. I don't know who she should be more afraid of. Me or you."

Tate grins. "Me, obviously. And so should you. So let her go."

My stomach lurches as Tate approaches. His emerald green eyes flick between me and Vex, assessing the situation. I keep my face carefully blank, almost mesmerised by the less cruel expression on his face than I've usually seen of late.

"This is a private conversation," Vex growls, his grip on my arm tightening painfully .

Tate's lips curl into a vicious smile. "Doesn't look very private to me. In fact, it looks like the lady wants to leave."

"Yeah, that'd be good," I mutter, yanking on my arm, but Vex doesn't let me go. He faces off with Tate, and now I've inadvertently found myself slap-bang in the middle of a warlock-to-warlock showdown.

Way to fucking go, Ivy. Only you. Only fucking you.