Ivy
She slid out of bed and left the room, Ozias following behind her.
She sought clothes in Killian’s wardrobe and slipped into one of his black t-shirts.
The garment was far too big for her, but she was instantly enveloped by his scent, so she kept it on.
Ozias landed on her shoulder and together they made their way downstairs.
The apartment was ominously quiet, and due to its open-plan design, she saw enough of the space to realise that Killian was absent.
She called his name as she walked to either end of the apartment to be sure. She moved to the balcony door and opened it to step outside. Killian wasn’t there, either.
“Figured what out?”
“The Leseldh situation. I’m going to End him.”
Ivy was taken aback by the announcement and roadblocks began to pile up in her mind.
“How are you planning on doing that?” She hoped that her scepticism was evident on her expression.
“With this.” Killian clicked his fingers, and a flame rose from his hand. Ivy stepped back instinctively, and her eyes widened in surprise. “I need to master it, but I’m definitely getting the hang of it.”
He grinned at her, and worry rode a seesaw in her mind along with hope.
“But what about the Council? And the Order of Protection?”
“I can make it look like an accident. Burn Veldmoor to the ground.” Killian’s eyes brightened to a vibrant shade of red, and his positivity was palpable. But his next words set an alarm off in the back of Ivy’s mind.
“Once Leseldh is Ended, I can free Eryn.”
“Who’s Eryn?” Ivy tried to conceal the jealousy in her voice, but she wasn’t sure if she was successful.
Killian didn’t answer her question immediately. Instead, he walked towards the living area to sit on the couch. Ivy followed and they assumed the same seats they sat in the night before.
“There’s one more part of Drachen’s punishment that I didn’t tell you about. As a part of his bargain with the Council, he surrendered his right to a Fourth Creation in exchange for my life. He told the Council he would handle my punishment himself, so I was placed in the Living Death.
“While I was in there, he Created a Third. Shortly after I Ended my Fledglings, Drachen introduced me to his Creation. It was my Human sister, Eryn.”
Parts of the story started coming together for Ivy. She remembered his previous mention of a sister, and she worked to connect the fragments of information.
“Your Human sister became your Broodmate.”
Killian nodded, before replying, “At first, I thought it was a peace offering. I wasn’t myself after the Living Death and Eryn helped me scrape the pieces of myself back together. In return, I helped her with adjusting to life as a Vampire. I even watched over her during her Ascension.
“But Drachen enacted the final part of his punishment after she Ascended. He took us to the basement where we found a coffin, like the one you saw last night. He forced Eryn into the coffin and locked her inside.” Killian’s eyes met Ivy’s, and she gave him a look of horror mixed with sympathy.
“And she’s still in there now?”
“Yes. It was the final tool he needed to make me do his bidding as the Hunter. He’s held her imprisonment over my head for 113 years. Drachen wants Leseldh. If I can End him, he’ll release Eryn.”
Ivy couldn’t help but wonder why he’d kept this information from her until now. Last night he’d spoken of Maelani. But why didn’t he mention his Human sister?
“Are you doing this for me, or for Eryn?” This time, Ivy didn’t bother hiding the jealousy in her tone.
“Can’t it be for both of you?” A frown marred Killian’s forehead and there was an edge of irritation in his tone.
If Ivy hadn’t been so high-strung from waking up alone and allowing her panic to consume her in Killian’s absence, she may have been able to agree to his plan. Instead, she rose from her seat and stormed towards the loft.
“Where are you going?” Killian called to her, rising from his seat to follow.
Ivy found her clothes in the bathroom and changed into them instead of changing her mind. She was sick of being manipulated by the males in her life. She headed back down the stairs, pushing past Killian. He reached for her wrist, but she twisted away before he could grip her.
“I’m not going to be a pawn in your game.
If you want to End Leseldh, be my guest. But don’t try to use me as your justification when this clearly isn’t about me.
” Ivy spat the words as she headed for the apartment door.
She wrenched it open, and the last thing she saw before she slammed it behind her was the dumbstruck expression on Killian’s face.
Ivy exited the apartment building and looked up and down the street.
Autumn leaves blew on a light wind and stuck to the pavement, wet from recent rain.
It was a cool night. She wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the chill and periodically glanced back at the apartment building’s entrance doors.
She was torn between hoping Killian would push through the doors to convince her to go back upstairs, and hoping he’d let her go without a fight. She needed to sort through the turmoil that filled her mind, and she couldn’t do that when all she could think about was touching him. Tasting him.
Finare’s car pulled up a short time later. Her Broodmate got out of the car and rushed to her side, his hands finding hers.
“Ozias came to me. Are you okay?” Finare’s two-toned blue eyes shone with concern.
“Get me out of here, Fin.” Ivy’s face crumpled as her eyes met her Broodmate’s.
Finare pulled her into a hug and led her to the car. They were leaving the safe haven of Diarom moments later.
“What happened?” Finare glanced at Ivy.
Ivy recounted the night’s events but spared him the details of their sexual encounter. She outlined what he told her about Maelani, his resulting Punition, and Eryn’s Living Death. After what seemed like half of the journey spent explaining it, she heard Finare blow out a breath.
“Drachen, what a piece of work. Makes Leseldh seem like a teddy bear.”
Ivy nodded, and the conversation dissolved to silence.
“Is it really that bad that he wants to save his sister?” Finare asked tentatively, but Ivy threw an annoyed look at him anyway. Ivy considered her response and sighed.
“It’s not that. Why didn’t he tell me about her earlier? Especially when he’s mentioned a sister before. Why not be honest?”
“Have you told him about your sister?”
“No.” Ivy bit her bottom lip after her soft admission.
“Why?”
“Because it’s entirely different.” Ivy crossed her arms over her chest as she glared at Finare.
“Is it, though?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“You do realise she could still be out there, don’t you?”
Ivy’s heart stuttered. “What do you mean?”
“The Black Letter is the indication that Emer’s Human life span ended. But if she became something else, like a Vampire,”—he threw her a pointed look— “She could still be out there.”
Ivy’s mind raced, and a series of questions and responses jostled one another in her mouth, trying to get out first. But Finare continued before one could get past her tongue.
“Look, it’s an assumption. It’s just one possibility. But it’s something to consider.” Finare’s voice was soft, but the words he didn’t say felt sharp and abrasive.
Ivy’s family accepted the finality of the Black Letter without question, and not once did she consider an alternative—even after her own Creation. Did that mean her mother received a Black Letter for Ivy, too?
That’s why no one came looking for me! It’s for the best.
Sucking in a deep breath, she rubbed her sweaty palms along her jeans. The hurricane of thoughts in her mind became more violent. She needed a bath to sort through things.
But as they entered Veldmoor, it was evident that a bath would have to wait.