58

HAWK

A YEARNING ache pulsated in my chest, one I tried hard to ignore—to forget. Duty had to come first, I reminded myself. Everything I’d done, everything I’d worked towards, was coming to a head. And I couldn’t let Ivy distract me from that.

It wasn’t time. And I couldn’t let myself hope for more.

I knew it would be useless, though. Once a mate bond was recognised, there was nothing out there to stop it. I doubted even Nyx would be able to keep me from Ivy now that I’d felt the claim.

But that didn’t mean I couldn’t hold it back. At least for now, I pushed it aside to focus on my job.

And that was securing the palace for the Nyx Ball.

A sense of peace washed over me as I went through the motions with my team. Despite all the changes happening around me, having them by my side again eased some of that guilt over not being by her side. It was like returning to a part of myself I’d slowly lost, a part of me that’d been my life for decades. It terrified me how easily I could slip out of my role as team leader, how quickly I could fall into line where it concerned Ivy.

Yet, despite terrifying me, it didn’t surprise me.

She’d had me wrapped around her little finger from the moment I laid eyes on her. The fierce way she protected her young sisters, how she stood up to me for her friend.

It was hard to stay away from such a loyal, protective creature.

Konrad clapped me on the shoulder as he passed me, drawing me out of my thoughts. “So, you’ve been released from princess duties?” he asked, quirking a brow as he set down wards in a corner of the ballroom.

I pressed my lips together and shook my head. “Not quite.”

“What? You enjoy being one of Grey’s agents now, Nash?” Zeph teased, stretching his arms over his head as he surveyed the large hall. Try as he might, he couldn’t hide his disdain.

And I couldn’t help the swell of protectiveness I felt for my bond mates. I might not like most of them, barely tolerated them at best, but we shared a mate. And that was a powerful thing.

Sighing, I turned to the great hall. The ballroom could hold nearly three hundred of Nyx’s creatures. I’d already caught whispers of who was supposed to be in attendance tonight, and the knowledge that Ivy was going to be announced as the Daughter of Nyx made my stomach twist.

Not over the potential of her finding other mates. That was going to be a given.

But rather, over whether or not he was going to be in attendance.

And somehow, I was more certain of the latter.

I returned to my assessment of the wards, making sure the charms Sir Theon had created were put down accurately. “I was doing a job, Zephyr. Something you should consider.”

The vamp snorted, but he joined me by the back corner without another word and helped me piece together the rest of the wards for our sector. The other security teams stationed around the room all moved as one, and we stepped back from the walls as the wards sprung to life, connecting to one another and snapping into place. A web of magic knitted together to form a blanket over the ballroom, brushing over my skin with how powerful it was. I suppressed a shiver as I crossed my arms.

Despite the power within the wards, something about them didn’t feel right. I couldn’t put my finger on why, though. Sir Theon always worked with Sir Ya’Dahir on protective charms for events. Never had there been an issue.

But you don’t normally work security, I thought. They were likely fine, and I was worried over nothing.

Worried about Ivy, which frustrated me. My power yearned for her, more than how Fae magic reacted to more powerful creatures. It wanted to connect with her. And my body…

My body betrayed me. Every time I thought about her, my heart pounded harder in my chest. I missed her painfully; I still dreamed of her, though it wasn’t lustful anymore. It was dreams of holding her in my arms, of waking up to her in the morning with her head on my chest, of nights amongst the trees and showing her places like the abandoned temple because I thought she’d find them interesting.

There was no way I could give her what she needed, no matter how badly I wanted to. Not right now.

I spied a familiar, short figure in the crowd of security walking directly towards me. I tried to hold back from rolling my eyes, but I was sure the Seer had contacted me more in the last month than she had in the last several years. What was another time during preparations for the most important ball of the century?

Her violet eyes found mine and she motioned towards a quiet spot by the raised dais where Queen Greer’s throne sat. There were dark red curtains behind it that we moved towards, which would give us a semblance of privacy, and block us from view of the other teams.

The Seer met me by the stairs leading up to the throne, her brows furrowed. I cast a quick glance around us to be sure no shifters or vamps were close by.

“This is probably the worst time to meet, Sable,” I murmured.

She snorted. Today, her hair was pinned back beneath a silk scarf, one the colour of Ivy’s magic when it manifested itself outside of her.

Fucking hell . I needed to stop thinking about her. Needed to push her from my mind entirely.

“You really think anyone actually cares about you meeting with me? Please.” She waved a hand flippantly, like she wasn’t one of the most powerful people in the room. “We have far more important things to discuss.”

“Then please,” I gritted out, “get on with it.”

Her eyes shined with mirth, a smile twisting her lips. “I’ve moved and toyed with many pieces in preparation, Hawk Nash. The board is set. Be ready,” she said, lowering her voice, “because I fear tonight will mark the beginning of war.”

~

The Seer’s warning played through my head to the point where I forgot I was supposed to be working. Instead, my eyes were set on the large doors leading into the ballroom, impatiently waiting for Ivy to appear.

If war was coming, then I need to make sure she wasn’t caught in the middle more than she already was.

I’d worked too hard for it all to come crashing down now.

Music played off to the side, a full orchestra guiding the wealthy and powerful into the room. Queen Greer, weaker than I’d ever seen her, sat poised on her throne, crown of red crystal atop her silver-blonde hair. She wore a dress of the same colour, though the fabric clung to her frail frame, and when she moved, it looked like blood pooling around her.

The guests were enamoured by her, but they knew what her weakening state meant.

Tonight, they would meet their new Queen.

I spied a familiar face in the crowd and watched Ivy’s academy friend float through the guests with her pink hair pinned up, wearing a dress of silver and gold. She seemed almost lost, and I realised quickly it was because she must have been searching for Ivy.

But she would be the last to arrive, with her bonded mates around her.

All except one . The mystery mate they whispered about.

I wondered if he was here, already waiting for her. Would he reveal himself? Or would he stay in hiding?

I never expected to dislike someone so much, and yet here I was, imagining a male I had no reason to know, wondering what it would feel like to wring his neck.

Several more powerful families were announced, and then the Fae arrived. They attended these balls like they had guns to their heads. It was all a show for them, and tonight was no different.

The Seelie Court entered first, with the High Rulers and their Heirs leading, followed by their mates. They each wore the colours of their courts; Summer in yellows and blues like the sun and sea; Spring in pink and green, flowers in bloom; Autumn in orange and gold for the change of season; and Winter in grey and white for snow and storms.

I watched, teeth gritted, as they gave their respects to Queen Greer, kneeling at her feet with false regard. When they rose, a shiver rolled down my spine, but from what, I couldn’t tell.

Then came the Unseelie Court. I had to hold myself back from sinking into the shadows as they appeared. Aither with their wings on display entered, their High Lady at the head of their group, followed by her Heir and mates. Abyss followed, though one of their princesses was missing, I realised. The one mated to Kingsley’s brother.

Dream appeared next, and I took in the inky black hair and violet eyes common with their court. Ivy had claimed her mystery mate could enter her dreams. I watched each male from their court carefully, but none felt like her . Not like the other mates in her circle did.

Finally, the Luna Court entered last. I recognised the Heir of High Lord Hyperion immediately as a male from the academy. The only reason he stood out was because I’d caught him staring at Ivy more than once.

Strangely enough, the High Lord’s mates were missing from the procession.

Why? I eyed their Court as they followed the same greeting as the Seelie Court, kneeling to Queen Greer before entering the crowds.

I tried to remember who, exactly, the High Lord was mated to. It was basic training for me to know the players of the council and their bonded mates.

But for whatever reason, I couldn’t recall who his were.

A chill ran down my spine as they moved into the crowd like the Seelie Court, disappearing from my sight.

The doors closed, and the music came to a stop, silencing the ballroom. All eyes fell on Queen Greer as she rose from her throne.

“Welcome, friends and children of Nyx!” Her voice carried throughout the ballroom clearly, and her mates all gathered around her. “Tonight, we celebrate. We thank Nyx for all she has given us, for every new blessing and each old one. We welcome change, hope, and power as we enter a new stage of life.”

A roar of applause boomed throughout the room. Excitement rippled through the air, changing the atmosphere entirely. Despite standing in the shadows, not even I could ignore the way the atmosphere changed.

Queen Greer raised her hands, and the applause died down as we all waited for her to continue. “An era is coming to an end. And in these coming weeks, we welcome a new Queen. Our Daughter of Nyx has been found, and tonight, she joins us.”

Tension filled the ballroom, breaths catching, as the doors reopened. My heart stuttered to a stop in my chest when I caught sight of her.

Beautiful wasn’t enough to describe the woman standing above the crowd.

Ethereal .

She was the Goddess incarnate.

Whoever dressed her had leaned into that, clearly. The dress she wore was black with silver glitter dusting the skirt and bodice, though up close, I had to wonder if it replicated the night sky in Avalon. Her bodice cinched at the waist, accentuating her chest, while a slit in the skirt revealed her leg. Something beneath the fabric caught my eye, but it disappeared before I could see more.

Her dark hair fell in loose waves down her back, and a temporary crown sat atop her head.

It took all my power not to leave my station. I cursed whoever thought to place me here, close enough for me to see her, but far enough that I wouldn’t reach her, no matter how hard I tried.

“Welcome, Ivy Wilson, Daughter of Nyx.”