52

IVY

TENSION weighed heavily in the air, thickening it with dark reminders of what was at stake.

Maeve knelt behind me while I soaked in the tub, my head in her hands as she helped me wash away the remnants of the attack. Spending three days still coated in dust and smoke really hadn’t sat well on my skin, but I was still too weak to get in the shower and clean myself off.

“I never realised I would hate not having impressions of your thoughts,” Maeve said, tipping my head back just enough so our eyes could meet. “The bond is too quiet, a mhuirnín .”

I shivered. “I know.” I hadn’t realised just how used to it I was until it was gone. It would come back in time, apparently. Once I had more time with my mates, it would return to normal strength. The explosion of magic, paired with whatever the usurper had done, had scared it away.

“And I don’t like the idea of you returning to the academy. Not just because of your magic, but because of him .”

I tensed at the venom in her voice, slowly turning so we were facing one another. “I need to, Maeve. I don’t have a choice. I need to find—”

“Mystery mate.” She pursed her lips and shook her head. Anxiety rolled off her in waves, tightening her shoulders. I took her hands, still sudsy from the soap, and entwined our fingers.

“It terrifies me. I don’t like the idea of returning, either,” I admitted quietly. “But it needs to be done. I need to find him before the usurper does. He ’s the missing link.”

Maeve pressed her lips into a firm line, her darkening eyes straying to our joined hands. “The bond at least gave me a sense of your safety. It connected us. I don’t like this, Ivy. It doesn’t feel right.”

“I understand. But it’ll be okay.” I hoped.

She grunted, bringing our joined hands up between us and kissed my knuckles. “We won’t be leaving your side again after this. You know that, right? The bonds are too fragile, and as your mates, we need to be with you. We need to make sure you are protected at all times.”

I swallowed thickly and nodded. “I know, but the kids…”

“We’ll find a way to make this work,” Maeve promised, lowering my hands to the side of the tub. “Let’s finish getting you cleaned up. I’m sure the others are getting antsy.”

I couldn’t help but smile while I finished washing up. It was a wonder they’d given us this much time alone, but we were all exhausted from the effects of the magic. The explosion hadn’t just taken me out.

“How bad was it?” I asked as Maeve helped me out of the tub. “The magic? How much damage did it do?”

My mate pressed her lips into a firm line as she towelled me off. “It almost destroyed the gymnasium,” she replied, briefly meeting my eye before helping me into a new set of pyjamas. “The building is closed and will remain so for the rest of the semester.”

I shuddered, wrapping my arms around myself. “Was anyone else seriously hurt?”

“No.” Maeve shook her head and cupped my cheeks. “Most of the damage came from the room you were in. Some were injured, yes, but no more than normal in the arena. They all survived. You were hurt the most.”

My eyes closed, and I dropped my head to her shoulder. “Thank the Goddess.”

Maeve smoothed a hand over my hair. “The academy and students were told that someone had sabotaged the rooms and made it so any magic performed within the circle would explode. No one knows that you are the Daughter of Nyx.”

It hadn’t been something I was worried about, but our bases were covered. At least I could return to the academy without anyone looking at me differently. But the worry clamping around my lungs didn’t subside. “He knows who I am. He has to.”

“I don’t disagree,” Maeve murmured. “That’s why you need us with you, now more than ever.”

Pulling back, I tried to put on a brave face, but it felt just as fragile as my bonds. “I love you.”

Maeve’s eyes brightened; despite how weak our bond was, I felt the impression of happiness, of love. “I love you, too, a mhuirnín .”

I sucked in a breath and released it slowly as the door to the bathroom opened. My other three mates stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame like kicked puppies—one kind of was, because Elias still refused to shift.

The wolf trotted over, almost too big to be in the bathroom despite how large the space was and nudged his big head into my side. “It would be a whole lot easier if you shifted,” I murmured, kissing the top of his head. “Please.”

The only response I got from that plea was a whine. I released a heavy breath and pulled back. “I miss human man you.”

Another whine. I sighed. “Fine.”

I turned my stare on the other two. The vague impression I got from Adrian was worry. But I didn’t need the bond to confirm that. Both men looked tired; Adrian more-so because of the drain our bond put on him. But even Rowan had a similar appearance; exhaustion weighed heavily on his shoulders, and his hazel-eyes seemed more distant despite the promise of finally completing our bond soon.

I held out a hand to both of them, and without a word, they stepped into the bathroom. “You two okay?” I asked, leaning into Adrian as he wrapped his arms around me.

“I’m better now that you’re awake,” my prince murmured, resting his chin on the top of my head. “I’ll be better once all of this is over.”

There was no point in responding, because I knew we all felt the same. The desire to finally be done with this False King overwhelmed me.

Adrian pulled away, which gave Rowan a chance to slide in and pull me to his chest. “I’m really fucking glad you’re okay,” he murmured. “That was the scariest moment of my life. Other than when you were kidnapped. That was also pretty bad.”

I snorted, half laughing, half choking from surprise. “You really know how to make a moment special.”

“Like a total asshole,” Adrian said. “But I will say, I completely agree.”

I closed my eyes, wanting to stay in the moment longer, but a throat cleared somewhere behind us. Elias the wolf growled, but as I pulled away from Rowan, it wasn’t a threat standing in the doorway of the bathroom.

It was Hawk and Sable.

I swallowed thickly as I took in the half-Fae male. He’d washed away the remnants of the explosion and wore clean gear. Like the others, exhaustion and stress played across his features and slumped his shoulders. He wasn’t the sure, arrogant male I’d met with that day. Honestly, he seemed like an entirely different person. One that wouldn’t even look at me.

I buried the disappointment quickly and offered Sable a smile. “I suppose you want to chat about…everything.”

The Seer shrugged. “More or less. Thought I’d update you on the happenings of the last few days. Come. I don’t think having these conversations in the bathroom is appropriate.”

Rowan groaned, and when I met his stare with a raised brow, he shook his head. “She always has perfect timing.”

“But she’s right,” Maeve replied. “We’ve been out for days. We have no idea what happened after. It’s best we know what we’re about to get ourselves into now that the False King’s most recent plan failed.”

My stomach dropped, and any response I could muster died on my tongue. Part of me believed Maeve’s statement, and yet, I knew he wasn’t about to give up that easily. He got something out of the attack. I was certain of it, and was sure the Goddess believed the same.

And it had something to do with taking my claim to Her magic.

I held onto those thoughts as we followed Sable and Hawk out of the bedroom and into the living room. She dropped onto one of the sofas with a sigh, while Hawk took up position to the side, standing with his hands behind his back. My heart yearned for him, though my magic didn’t make an appearance.

It hadn’t since the dream with Nyx. I’d never realised I would miss it so much, but it remained dormant, sleeping and rebuilding its energy. It wasn’t gone; the thread of ancient power was still there, weak and dark, but I knew if I followed it, I would find the well of magic buried deep within me. But for now, I let it rest until I needed it again.

Rowan planted me on one of the sofas across from his mother and sat beside me, keeping my hand clutched in his, while Adrian took my other side. Hesitantly, Maeve positioned herself between me and the Seer as Elias lowered himself onto his belly at my feet.

Sable raised a brow as she took us in and shook her head, the beads in her hair twinkling. “I am no threat, and you all know that.”

“I won’t take any risks, Seer. You know that, ” Maeve replied. “I won’t ever ignore your warning again.”

I traced my eyes over my vampire mate as she sat stiffly on the edge of the other sofa. But I didn’t question her. I had a feeling Sable had been dipping her fingers into all our lives longer than we knew.

“There was another attack,” Sable started, clasping her hands together. “At the temple of Nyx in Aster.”

A chill rolled down my spine as I turned to the others. “That’s the city near the academy, isn’t it?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Rowan replied darkly. “It is. What else happened, Mother?”

When I turned back to the Seer, she grimaced. “You make it out like it’s my fault,” she said, waving her hand flippantly. “I only report.”

“Did something else happen?” I squeezed Rowan’s hand to keep him from snapping at her. I didn’t need a mate bond to feel the irritation radiating from him.

Sable sighed, and her expression shifted into one of sadness. “One of the temple priestesses, Inga, was attacked. To do it in Her place of worship…” She trailed off, and my heart sank. “Inga lives, but she hurts. Her young daughter witnessed it all.”

“Is she okay?” I asked quietly, pressure building in my chest. “Did they—”

“No.” She shook her head. “At least we can be thankful of that. They didn’t know the girl was there, thank the Goddess. At the request of her mother, she is being sent away. She’s a Divination Witch, and we fear she was their target. There was also an attack on one of the human realm towns. Information about a young Poison Witch was stolen. Thankfully, the girl hadn’t been home at the time.”

My stomach sank, and I sat back. “Why?” I whispered, my hands trembling as I pulled them free and wrapped my arms around myself. “Why do all of this?”

“If they get their hands on a divination witch, they have the power of sight,” Hawk said, speaking up for the first time in days. “And if they get a poison witch, then they could have her create weapons.”

“They had a poison mage in their control,” Adrian replied. “Ivy managed to stop him during the last attack.”

I barely remembered what happened after the accident, other than accidentally mating with Maeve. I couldn’t remember what I’d done to stop the mage. I only remembered it feeling wrong.

Shaking my head, I met Sable’s eye. “What happens next?”

“You already know what,” she replied. “You find your missing link. Complete the rest of your bonds. There are other powerful mates in your future, and you’ll need them. I told you the academy would change things.”

“You did.” I had to get over the worry of other mates. Like everyone said, the more I had, the more powerful I was. And if I had any chance of surviving this, then I would need as many by my side as possible.

Sable rose to her feet. “The ball is next week.” Her eyes darkened when I met them, and another shiver rolled down my spine. “Unfortunately, you are still expected to attend. And you will be named Daughter of Nyx.”

“We can’t hold that back?” Adrian asked.

The Seer shook her head. “The ball is set. Whether we like it or not, Ivy will be named the future Queen of Nyx’s Domain. Only time will tell if it ends in our success—or doom.”

~

“You’re hovering,” I said, looking pointedly at Rowan, who merely shook his head.

“I am not.” Rather than stepping back like he should, he slid in behind me and wrapped his arms around me. “I’m just not interested in leaving your side.”

I rolled my eyes and picked up my coffee. He wasn’t the only one hovering—but at least he made it obvious. Maeve remained in the sitting room with Hawk, so they were both within earshot. Elias, the wolf, was by the balcony doors. And Adrian leaned against the doorway.

Okay, so they all made it more than obvious.

Sighing, I brought the cup to my lips. “Maybe a better word would be clingy then,” I replied, setting the cup down, though I definitely didn’t hate it. I covered his hands with my own and leaned into him.

“I’m not letting you return to that academy without our bond being completed,” he murmured. “I can’t go through that again. And I’m not letting you go back without that certainty. You need the bond, and I need to know you’re always okay.”

I sucked in a sharp breath as his grip on me tightened. My heart fluttered, and his words awoke something within me. A need that was hard to ignore.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

“Of course I am, Ivy. I am yours. Have been since we ran into each other. And I want it to be official. Now, before you go back to that hellscape. And especially before the ball.” His hands trembled where they pressed into my sides. “So, will you accept me?”

“Always,” I whispered.

Rowan released a shuddering breath. “Then you’re mine tonight, my love.”