Ivy
“Iwish I could party,” Ember says with a sigh as she whizzes around the room.
“Technically, you could,” Meadow confirms, earning another sigh from my sprite.
“Not in a cute dress, with lots of dancing and sex to finish off the night,” she grumbles, and Meadow laughs.
“Don't act like you haven't been sneaking in and out of the Land Protector dorms with Clay.”
Ember freezes with surprise, halted in the air before she quickly waves her off.
“How do you know it's me?” she says slyly, like she hasn't already exposed herself, and Meadow smirks, but before she can part her lips, Ember turns her back on us with a grumble.
“You guys are boring. I'm leaving now,” she declares, slipping straight through the door without a backward glance.
“She's insane,” I declare, staring after her as I pop my earrings in.
“She's fun,” Meadow clarifies. “Leith is timid in comparison.”
“Maybe she needs to spend some time with Ember so they can balance each other out,” I offer, and Meadow nods eagerly, moving to stand beside me in front of the mirror as we take in our reflection.
“Ready?” she asks, and I hum, staring at myself as I try to pinpoint what feels different.
My hair is pulled up into a high pony with loose curls falling around my face, and my makeup is subtle, keeping to the bare minimum in hopes of having some fun dancing. I don't want to have to worry about sweating it off.
I chose my dress from the very back of the closet; a cute, summery piece, zig-zagged with an array of colors. It hugs my figure perfectly.
Meadow’s hair is pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head, and she's opted for a cute striped pair of shorts and a matching t-shirt with the back cut out.
Sandals for both of us, and we're good to go.
Running my hands over the material of my dress, I pause, taking a deep breath before confirming I'm ready. I use the moment to glance over to the window to see the sun setting in the distance as it dips beneath the trees.
I clear my throat. “I can't let them ruin tonight like last time,” I breathe, and Meadow links her arm through mine, squeezing with support.
“Girl, why do you think we're here? Toby is meeting us with Dorian. You're on full lockdown tonight. We're taking no prisoners and having a good time. If they don't like it, then I'll just tell Greta,” she declares, making me laugh.
“I can't imagine how many of them would actually listen.”
“At least two, but Archer and Teddy are yet to be decided.”
Soaking up all the encouragement from my friend, we head out into the hallway, only to stumble straight into Toby and Dorian, who are both waiting just outside the door, dressed in chino shorts and polo tops, ready to enjoy the night down on the beach.
I dip my head and blush as I hear Toby praise Meadow, complimenting her so sweetly that it makes me yearn, reminding me of something else on my priority list.
Love so hard it hurts.
Struggling to breathe it in, I take off ahead, feeling Dorian's presence nearby.
By the time we make it outside, Toby’s desire for his mate has quieted, and we walk alongside one another, spying a few other students heading in the same direction.
“I’m sorry I missed your actual birthday, Toby,” I mutter, and he rolls his eyes.
“I’m pretty sure you've apologized for that already.”
I grin. “Did I apologize for the fact that Meadow refused to leave my bedside too?” I clarify with a wince, and he nods.
“I’m pretty sure you've done enough apologizing to last a lifetime,” he confirms, but it doesn't eradicate the feeling I have in my stomach. “Besides, we're making up for it now,” he adds, and Dorian nudges me with his elbow.
“Enough of that. What shots are we going to start with?” Dorian asks, and my eyes widen as uncertainty claws inside of me.
“I’m all for surprises right now. But really, anything sickly sweet is going to be my go-to,” I confirm, and Toby grimaces.
“That's so gross. Maybe a little bit spicy, but if it doesn’t have the burn of hard liquor, it's a hard pass,” he admits, and I shudder.
“I remember stealing a sip of my father's brandy once. I can still taste it,” Meadow admits, pressing her hand to her mouth as she squirms. “Yeah, that was gross.”
My mouth tilts down. “I remember the first time Hugo tried to slip me a glass of bourbon, I thought I was gonna die,” I muse, a light round of laughter swirling around us as Dorian shrugs.
“I think I’ll play it safe and drink beer,” he confirms.
“What about you, Meadow? What do you actually like to have?” I ask, and she shrugs.
“Sweet for me too,” she sings, linking her arm through mine, drawing the four of us even closer together, and I grin, walking in sync with three other people who seem to see me in a way nobody else has.
Once the angel, now a phoenix.
Sure, my hated mates see me in a way nobody else does, but there's also a layering under there, an expectation, a wariness that I can't shake. Whereas these guys are simply my friends, and that feels completely different from everyone else.
All too quickly, we reach the tip of the cliff that leads down to the beach, and my steps falter.
“It's busier than I expected,” I admit, and Dorian sighs.
“News travels fast around these parts.”
I hum my agreement, but the sound is disguised by the whip of wind that travels around us, confirming a dragon's nearby. Tilting my head up to the night sky, I'm not surprised to find Alaric cutting across the air, his rider firmly in place as they settle on the ground ahead.
I love to see Alaric.
But I don't want to see his rider when I'm so close to having a good time.
As if sensing my uncertainty, Meadow squeezes my arm, but before she can speak, a shadow casts over me, and another familiar face appears.
“You look stunning, Fireball,” he declares, reaching for my arm and pulling me out of Meadow’s embrace, holding me while taking the trail down the side of the cliff.
Silas.
My lips purse as the desire to say hi and bye immediately after takes over, but there's not enough space to do much else other than walk beside them, so I suck it up and count my steps to the bottom.
“Silas,” I breathe when his gaze burns into the side of my head.
“Are you saving a dance for me tonight?” he asks, and despite the tight smile on my face, I keep to the truth.
“Probably not.”
He presses his hand against his heart, staggering with exaggeration. “You’re breaking my heart, Fireball.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m sure you'll get over it,” I smirk as he tries to put his arm around my shoulders, but I keep a foot ahead, desperate not to cause a scene.
“Did I do something wrong?” He sweeps his tongue along his bottom lip as I glance at him from the corner of my eye.
“No, but…” I exhale, my shoulders slumping slightly.
“The last time I tried to come down here to celebrate with everybody, you helped ruin my night, and I'm not looking for a repeat,” I admit as we reach the bottom, and the second I hit the sand, I find four pairs of eyes all staring in my direction. Baron included.
How did he get down here so fast?
Music swirls in the air as anticipation grows, and I stutter on my next breath, waiting for carnage to ensue from the direction of my fated mates, but nothing comes.
Panic continues to flutter in my veins as I tilt my head at Silas.
“Have a nice night,” I offer before slipping into the crowd, Meadow at my side a moment later, her arm back through mine, but it's not enough to turn my gaze from my hated mates as I take each of them in, one by one.
Archer sits in a deck chair, but he’s sandwiched between Sax and Teddy this time. A fitted black tee is sculpted across his chest, blending into the black shorts covering his thighs. Shaded aviator glasses hide his eyes, despite the sun having already set, but I know he’s watching me.
Teddy stares at me far more openly, winking as my gaze catches his, but I quickly avoid his eyes to take him in.
His blond hair is messy, ruffled so much with his fingers that it makes mine itch to do the same.
He’s wearing a pale-blue polo that matches his eyes, with a pair of gray shorts that somehow manage to scream old money.
Sax flanks Archer’s other side, a blue and white checked shirt bulging around his upper arms with the top buttoned up, and a pair of navy shorts that make him look almost angelic. If it wasn’t for his sheer size and cropped hair, I would believe it too.
Baron stands beside his brother, hands stuffed in his pockets. Opting against shorts, he’s wearing jeans with a deep-green t-shirt framing his chest, with brown boots finishing his look, but it’s his twisted man bun that makes me turn away quickly before I do something dumb.
I’m not speaking to Teddy, not after earlier. He apologized profusely, but it remained clear that he didn’t regret what he did. I don’t regret it either, deep down.
Apparently, I’m hellbent on murdering someone this week. Not that they don’t deserve it after murdering me.
I haven’t, though, and that deserves a medal if you ask me.
“Girl, I'm proud of you,” Meadow declares, and I gape at her in confusion, thankful for the distraction from my hated mates.
"Me?” I repeat, and she nods.
“You stood your ground with Silas. He needs it,” she says, squeezing my arm even more. “Besides, I can't see those fiery bitches here. I think we’re in for a good night. No offense,” she clarifies, and I frown, leaning in closer so she can hear me since the music seems to have turned up a notch.
“I don't know what you mean.”
“Francesca and Bonnie,” she says, louder than necessary, and Dorian stops us in our tracks, nodding toward my hated mates.
My eyebrows pinch as my gaze latches onto Teddy, amusement dancing at the corner of his lips as he offers me a wink.
“What does that mean?” I ask, glancing back at Dorian, who shrugs.
“Do you want to stress over it or enjoy your night?” he asks, talking in riddles, and I gulp.
He knows something I don't, but he's right. I want to enjoy my night and not waste it, especially since it hasn’t been ruined at the first sight of Silas.