37. Chapter 36 #3
“That’s great, and all, but we shouldn’t wait until the next exam.
” Ivy shrugged, folding the pages of the cipher.
“We need to get in there without a time limit hanging over our heads.” She turned to Rhea and smiled gently.
“And all of us should be there. Not only us four. I have a feeling all of our skills will be needed.”
“No, we shouldn’t break in there,” Ezra said bluntly. “It’s too risky. We should have a better understanding of what we’re up against first.”
“And I don’t care about the risk,” Ivy argued, snapping her focus to him.
His jaw clenched. “Right, and I guess your opinion is the only one that matters here?”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” she scoffed.
“It’s exactly what you’re saying.” Ezra pushed his hands through his curls roughly. “I know Briar was taken, but that doesn’t mean everyone else wants to end up like her. You’re being reckless!”
Ivy quieted, looking around the room. The others shifted uncomfortably, and she sighed before pushing herself off the couch. “Fine. You win.”
She marched to her room, slamming the door shut before Ezra could finish calling out her name.
She paced around her bedroom, clenching her jaw so tight that her entire face ached.
Ezra was right. The logical part of her mind would agree with him if he wasn’t being such a dick.
And she should be more understanding after how he reacted earlier.
But what lay beneath the school confirmed something deeper must be at work, and they were closer than ever.
There was a soft thud against her door, and muffled voices on the other side. A moment later, Ezra opened her door slowly and stepped inside. He leaned his back against it, letting it shut with a soft click behind him.
Silence stretched between them for a moment, and Ezra frowned. He took a tentative step closer to her, as if he were testing whether he could close the distance between them.
“I’m sorr—”
“Don’t,” Ivy said quickly, crossing her arms. “You’re right.”
“I know I am.”
“Ever hear of humility?” She rolled her eyes. “Might make people less pissed off at you.”
“That’s not why I’m apologizing.” He ignored her last barb and took another step closer to her.
“I didn’t have to say it the way I did. I let my frustrations out, and…
I don’t want to treat you like that. Seeing what was down there and knowing you could be…
” He closed the distance between them. “You’re in danger, Ivy. ”
His gaze bore into hers, pleading with her to understand.
But she did. Danger followed her ever since she stepped foot onto the grounds. She’d been pulled into anomalies, stalked, and watched her best friend be kidnapped right in front of her.
“You don’t realize how much,” he choked out, taking her hand in his.
She stared at him as his confusion melted into something much sadder—grief. For something he lost? Or was it for something he didn’t want to lose? She cupped his cheek. “Then tell me.”
His lips parted, and shut a moment later. “Ivy, I—”
“Don’t say you can’t.” She interrupted, her thumb pressing gently on his chin as he tried to look away. “You’ve been different ever since you saw your brother. What did he say to you?”
“He threatened you,” Ezra muttered, his jaw clenching. “He knows I told you about my family, though not how much.”
“How can I be a threat to him?”
“Not to him, but to us. My family. Its reputation.” His thumb brushed over the scar on her hand. “He thinks you’re distracting me from what my father wants.”
Power. He’d told her before that his father desired more of it. And whatever his reasons were was why Ezra came to Arcania, and that was a question she was too afraid to ask.
“So what?” she asked, trying to mask her fear. “I’ve been in danger since I got here. What’s a little more?”
“Because I don’t want to see your face on a bulletin board.” The words tumbled out as if he’d been dying to say them. “I’m sorry. It’s all been weighing on me and I…I’m not sure how much more I can handle.”
“Me too,” Ivy whispered. “I get that you’re worried, and maybe a little scared. That’s why we continue to rely on each other. And I know you haven’t had many people in your life you could trust. But I…I hope you can trust me. And if you don’t, then I trust you. Even when we get into little fights.”
“I do.” He exhaled slowly, inching closer to her. His hand slid up the back of her arm, sending shivers through her body. “I trust you, Ivy.”
His magic brushed against hers, and she inhaled sharply.
She dropped her gaze to his lips. God, she desperately wanted to know how they’d feel against hers.
Or how he would kiss her. Maybe gentle at first, to see how she’d react.
Once she’d melt into his touch, he’d overwhelm her and take over every one of her senses until all she knew was him.
He gave her a small grin, but took a step back from her. “You must be exhausted after today,” he murmured, his hand letting go of her arm to rub the back of his neck. “I’ll let you get some rest.”
And before she could protest, he turned around and left.