8

IVY

MY heart pounded as Adrian and I met Maeve and Hawk in her office. They stopped speaking as soon as we entered, wary eyes falling on us. It was late evening, the city outside the windows bright with colour, the sky an endless grey, but it felt different here—like we were in an entirely different world.

I swallowed thickly as I took in the second team leader; he looked out of place in Maeve’s office, more rugged than regal, like the space reflected. His hair was out today, falling around his sharp jawline, and his dark eyes pierced through me as I came to a halt in front of the desk. As usual, he was dressed in tactical gear, which hugged his broad form, outlining his toned muscles.

Only unlike usual, he had a pair of glossy black wings folded behind his back.

“What the…” I stared at the feathered angel-shaped wings sprouting from his broad back in awe. “Wings?”

A smirk twisted across his lips. “Never seen a pair before?”

I rolled my eyes, the curiosity disappearing immediately. “Of course not, Hawk. Last I checked, I was still new to all this.”

The overgrown owl snorted and crossed his arms. “You can admit you’re into it, Princess. No one will judge you.”

“Maybe into plucking them and stuffing my pillows,” I replied, giving them another dramatic once over. “They’d make great padding”

Hawk’s eyes narrowed slightly before darting away from me. From my side, Adrian chuckled softly and took my hand, giving it a squeeze.

He’s going to be a real pain in the ass now, Adrian murmured through the bond, you’ve bruised his ego.

I couldn’t help but snort. Then he should stop being annoying.

Before Adrian could respond, Maeve rose from behind her desk. There was a strain in her eyes that hadn’t been there earlier, and even from where I stood, I could make out the barely tangible ring of red surrounding her iris.

I thought back to the last time I’d seen the red, when she hadn’t fed for some time, and swallowed thickly. Our eyes met briefly before she looked to Hawk, still standing beside her.

“Tomorrow morning, we make the trip to the ferry. We’ve been given clearance by Queen Greer and her people to move,” Hawk announced, all the arrogance and ego disappearing from his face. “It won’t be easy. Based on contacts within this city, there have been sightings of hellhounds, so they know we’re here.”

A shiver raced down my spine as Maeve sighed. “We’re going to need you to enhance the protections we already have.”

My stomach clenched and I twisted my hands in front of me. “I don’t know. A ring is one thing, but—”

“I know it’s a risk,” Maeve replied softly, “but one we may need to take. Adrian can do it, of course, but your power is stronger because of Nyx. And it may be the safest way we get you out of this city.”

It’ll be okay , Adrian said, giving my hand another squeeze. I’ll be with you the entire time .

Despite the unease building in my chest, I nodded. “Okay, I’ll try.”

Maeve bowed her head in a simple nod before sitting. “The other group will be leaving today as their journey will take longer. They will also be waiting for us at the ferry.” Her careful mask slipped over her features and made me tense. “We will only have a limited timeframe to make it there. The passage will be open to us for only a few short hours during the full moon.”

Beside me, Adrian stiffened. “Why the time limit? Full moon lasts longer than a few hours.”

Hawk and Maeve shared a look, and my stomach dropped. “The Queen fears the enemy may try and take the ferry,” Hawk replied slowly. “If they do, we lose one of the few safe passages between the mortal realm and Avalon.”

“And that cannot be risked.” Maeve sighed heavily and leaned back in her chair. “If we miss it, we risk remaining here, targets, for several weeks while we await the next moon cycle.”

Bile rose in my throat, anxiety pooling in my gut. “If I miss the ferry, fine. But if the others get the chance to get on, then they can’t miss it. My sisters, Thea—they’ll be safer in Avalon, right?”

I looked to Maeve, but it was Hawk who spoke, his voice somewhat gentle. “They’d be safer at the palace than out in the open, yes.”

“Good.” I nodded stiffly and swallowed down the bile. “Make sure they’re already on the boat before we get there. Make sure they’re safe.”

Maeve’s eyes met mine, and when she nodded, my chest loosened. “Elias already has those orders. They’ll be protected.”

Even with the assurance they could safely make it to Avalon, I couldn’t stop the worry building within me, like a warning of something to come.

~

I followed the steps to form a protective ward around the darkened SUV. My blood pounded in my ears, drowning out Adrian’s instructions, as I tried to focus on wrapping the protection around the large vehicle.

As it turned out, cars were much, much harder to work with than rings. I now had a much higher appreciation for Adrian and his magic.

He’d already done his part of the wards, but I could admit I struggled. It threatened to topple me, the amount of power I tried to use in order to shield the car.

“Think about it in sections,” Adrian offered, his steady hands placed carefully on my hips. “The front of the vehicle, and the back of the vehicle. In your mind, break it in half.”

My teeth ground together as I attempted to do as he instructed. I took the image in my mind and split it in half down the centre, cutting the driver and passenger seats off from the back and trunk.

I brought my images of protection into the forefront of my mind.Protection looked like Elias carrying me from the massacred hellhounds. Protection felt like Adrian’s warmth as he held me, night after night, through my nightmares. It felt like Maeve, stoic and still, giving me the potion. Like Rowan sneaking into bed and holding me.

Each feeling formed a ball of energy in my mind, and I held onto it as I brought the car into the fold. The dark exterior and each moving part of the vehicle. The seats in the front, from the windows all the way down to the floor. I reshaped the ball of energy in my mind and layered it over the first half.

“Good, Ivy. Now the next half.”

My brows furrowed, sweat forming on my upper lip as I took another ball of protective energy and followed the same movements, rolling it out like pizza dough and wrapping the back half of the vehicle in it.

Adrian’s breath tickled my ear as he gave my hips a soft squeeze. “You’re done,” he murmured. “Good work, Sweetheart.”

My eyes opened and I stared tiredly at the SUV. I could just make out what was my power, and what was Adrian’s; his glowed almost golden, like him, while mine was violet, and they wove together in an intricate pattern as they settled into the dark body of the SUV.

I slumped into Adrian’s waiting arms. “That was hard,” I admitted, yawning. “I’ll stick to small items next time.”

Adrian chuckled and wrapped himself around me. “You did great today. Excellent control over your magic, and you showed great restraint. I’m very impressed.”

“Hmm.” I closed my eyes and leaned my head against his chest. “Yep. Overachiever right here.”

His lips whispered against my ear before landing on my cheek. “Come on. We have some last-minute preparations to do before we leave.”

I groaned as his arms disappeared. My limbs were heavy with the drain of power, but I still felt it under my skin. Not as bad as it had been before mating Adrian. But it lifted the hairs on my arms, like lightning during a storm.

My mate tucked his hand into mine and guided me to the hidden elevator. The doors to the private entrance locked behind us with a spell Adrian had described to me when we’d first arrived, one that secured the space from anyone without authorisation.

It fascinated me, the kinds of spells and magic they could weave. Adrian had told me there were so many different kinds of affinities, that his mother could wield three different forms because of her bonds. There were mages competent in potions, others in necromancy. Some used a magic that stemmed from their bloodlines, while others could use the elements.

Maybe going to the magical academy wouldn’t be so bad if I got to see all of that in person.

Thea was going to love it, and I had a feeling Eloise would too.

My stomach twisted at the thought of them, but I tampered down on the worry swelling in my gut. Elias had already reached out to me through the bond to warn me he might be quiet for the rest of the day. His team was set to leave in the next few hours, and he was making sure the kids and Thea were ready to go.

I worried for them, but I also trusted my mate. And I would be seeing them all soon, which alleviated some of my anxiety.

The elevator opened on our floor with a quiet ding , and I escaped the confines with my hand still tucked into Adrian’s. Maeve and Hawk were waiting for us in the main hall, both stiff and unusually quiet as we joined them.

“Ivy successfully warded the SUV,” Adrian announced, pulling me to a stop in front of them. “We should be protected and ready for any possible assault.”

Maeve ran her eyes over me, like she could see my exhaustion. “No issues?”

I shook my head. “None. It was a little harder than the ring, but Adrian helped me through it.”

“Good.” Maeve gave a single nod of her head before turning towards Hawk. “We have less than eight hours before we need to be out of here and on the road,” Maeve stated, rolling her shoulders back. “With the SUV warded, we just need to restock weapons and pack.”

“We didn’t bring much with us, so that second part should be easy,” Hawk replied, stiffly. “A weapons check has been done on my end, but I’ll do a second one now that the wards are in place.”

Maeve bowed her head, and Hawk took that as his chance to leave, stalking to the elevator without a second glance at us.

Maybe it was because he wasn’t with his team. But it humanised him a bit, made him seem less annoying. Although, the fact he seemed to be in gear 24/7 didn’t really help.

Does he live in his gear all day every day? I wondered, frowning.

Why does it matter, Sweetheart?

Oops. Didn’t mean to share that .

At that, Adrian tugged me sharply into his side, releasing my hand and sliding his arm around my waist. Careful, or I might think you like him .

I coughed and sent him a glare. I didn’t deign him with an answer, and instead focused on Maeve. “Anything else we can do?”

“Rest,” she answered, stepping towards me. The blank mask slipped, and her eyes softened, though she seemed stiff with tension. “You expelled a lot of magic, I can sense it. We’ll be leaving at four, and you need sleep and to recharge. Protecting yourself by any means necessary is crucial.”

My mind went back to the kidnapping, to the soldiers I’d killed, to their blood soaking my hands, and their final words echoing in my ears. ‘ Any means necessary’ meant more death, more blood on my hands, and I wasn’t sure if I was capable of anymore.

Maeve and Adrian shared a glance, one that spoke volumes.

“I’ll make sure you’re never in a position to do that again,” Adrian promised, his arm tightening around me. “We both will.”

“I’m sorry,” Maeve murmured. “I didn’t mean to bring up those memories.”

I looked at her and tried to offer her a reassuring smile. The words ‘ it isn’t your fault’ felt heavy on my tongue. I breathed in her perfume, Adrian’s familiar minty scent, and tried to find comfort in both as my heart thumped loudly with my anxiety.

After a moment of pulling in breaths, I offered Maeve a smile. “It’s okay. I know what you meant,” I said, leaning into Adrian’s embrace. “I’ll get over it.”

Maeve shook her head, worry creasing her brow, but she pressed her lips together, gaze flickering up to Adrian’s.

“No, you won’t,” he murmured, tightening his hold on me. “You aren’t supposed to. But we’ll be here to help you through the darkness, and we’ll protect you from even your own demons.”

I swallowed thickly, no response forming on my tongue.

“See that she’s taken care of,” Maeve said, turning to Adrian. “I’ll be finishing the preparations on my end.”

“Of course,” Adrian replied, and we watched silently as Maeve slipped into her office once more, and locked herself in.