16
HOLDING HER OWN
HENRY
I ’ve teased Ivy for three days, and the poor thing is beside herself with frustration. She’s bothered. Fucking needy. Still trying to fight it and it’s exquisite to watch.
Even more satisfying is the fact that she’s trying. Genuinely trying to connect with me. She’s often unsure and hesitant, but we’re moving closer. She still doubts her feelings and wonders if this is because I’ve emotionally manipulated her by locking her in the dungeon. It’s done all that and more, but we were always going to come together. My mate doesn’t understand that yet and although she feels the pull of our bond, she doesn’t know it’s irresistible.
She’s far from perfect, and it would be unreasonable to expect this. She’s been through hell. She’s still going through the aftermath of her ordeal. She’s got a lot to learn, but we’ve got all the time in the world.
Matt’s with her again and Ivy seems flustered .
I’m not worried. They’re easing into a friendship and it’s good for her. I’d assumed she would connect with Ryan first, but she’s giving him the cold shoulder, refusing to forgive him for bringing her here. Or how he brought her here.
“They’re getting on well,” Ryan says, peering at the monitor.
He hasn’t entirely forgiven Ivy for attacking his partner. He’s been unusually clingy when I’ve seen them together and it’s beginning to grate on Matt. They’ll figure it out. They’ll fight for dominance until they find their equilibrium.
Matt laughs and Ivy flaps her hands around, enjoying whatever joke they’re sharing. The truth is she finds him easy to spend time with and she needs the company.
She panics every time she’s left alone.
I can’t spend every minute of her waking day with her or let her wander around the castle. She isn’t safe. Not until I’ve claimed her fully. Until then, others might try to steal her from me. It’d be a fucking bold move, but Ivy is magnificent and some might be tempted. Not everyone in the coven is as loyal as Matt and Ryan—and someone unlocked her door, providing her an opportunity to escape.
She could have been killed. Or worse.
It was almost a complete fucking disaster.
And we’re no closer to figuring out who the fuck it was. My patience is running out and if Ryan doesn’t come up with something soon, I’m going to lose my goddamn shit.
“Are we any closer?”
Ryan shifts. “To finding out what happened with her father? Or figuring out who’s been threatening her?”
At least Ryan’s taking it seriously. He might be upset with her, but he isn’t fucking around. When he isn’t fawning over Matt, he’s working flat out and he’s got nowhere. On both issues.
It’s worrying.
Because Ryan is good. Exceptionally good.
It means whoever opened Ivy’s door knew what the fuck they were doing and covered their tracks. It wasn’t an accident or a misunderstanding. It was a deliberate, planned attack on my mate, and I’m beyond furious. I’m incandescent with rage and the progress I’m making with Ivy is the only thing stopping me from losing it completely.
We need to keep her safe. I need to protect her.
It’s damn near impossible when you’re fighting an invisible enemy.
“I’ve got nothing more on her escape. The feed was cut and whoever did it was clever enough not to leave any evidence behind. They’re good, Henry. We should ask Ivy how her door was opened.”
I arch my eyebrow and nod. I’m going to have to ask her. Just as I’m going to have to tell her everything else. It might be kinder to get it over with sooner, but we’re making progress and I don’t want setbacks. She’s beginning to trust me and I need to keep our momentum going. Until she’s mine and safe—and we can deal with any repercussions later.
“I have some news about her father.” Ryan’s tone is tense and this isn’t going to be good. “His head of security quit and disappeared. It’s odd, given his connection to the family. We’ll track him down and if there’s a rift, we’ll use it.”
Good .
Not great. Not ideal.
But Ryan’s right. It’s an opportunity we can’t waste. Her father’s head of security should know everything that went on under his roof, and getting the information out of him is the most likely way I’ll find out what’s in Ivy’s past. Unless she tells me herself and pushing her for that isn’t my priority now.
I turn my attention back to the monitor, and the girl who’s busy playing with someone who isn’t me. Fuck, she’s rolling all over Matt and my fists clench as they tumble on the floor.
He’s touching her.
Touching what’s mine.
Daring to steal her touches and her laughter.
My eyes narrow and I lose my goddamn mind.
Ryan’s fixated on the video as I charge out of the office, racing for her bedroom. I’m going to fucking kill him for this. I don’t give a shit if he’s Ryan’s partner. I don’t care if he’s Ivy’s friend. He’s touched something that belongs to me, and I won’t let him take it from me.
I throw the door open and watch Ivy throw a punch at Matt. It lands squarely in his chest. Shit. He’s turned on her and I move without hesitation, heading straight for them. She avoids his parry and strikes again, and Matt grins down at her as he’s forced backward.
He doesn’t notice me until the last second and his eyes widen as my weight collides with him. I slam him into the wall and Ivy screams, pleading with me to stop.
“It wasn’t…”
“DON’T FUCKING MOVE.” I’m snarling, gripping Matt’s throat and baring my fangs at him. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Matt tries to swallow, but my grip’s too tight and he starts trying to pry my fingers from his neck. Somehow, Ryan’s standing next to me, silently pleading with me to let Matt go, for his sake if no one else’s.
I can’t and I won’t.
He hurt Ivy. Threatened to take her from me. Dared to touch her. Played with her. Made her laugh. He stole her fucking laughter that belongs to me and turned on her. And me.
I won’t forgive this. Not now. Not ever.
“Henry…”
Ivy’s voice is a myriad of confusion, panic and uncertainty, except it’s clear she wants one thing: my attention.
“I’m safe. I’m okay.”
I growl and her hand trembles as it rests on my back.
“I asked him to.”
My head snaps around and the color drains from her face. She’s seen. She’s fucking seen me and there’s no going back now. I should have told her, but she’s found out like this.
Shit .
“Henry, let him go. Please.”
I shake my head and my eyes narrow as I stare at her.
“I don’t care if he’s your friend, Ivy. He was going to…”
“He was teaching me, Henry.”
She smiles weakly and her shaking hands pat my forearm. Her heart’s racing and she’s afraid, but she’s here and she isn’t going anywhere. My terrifyingly brave girl is standing up to me when no one else could and she’s rendered me helpless in seconds.
“I wanted to…” She bites her lip and looks down. “I thought you’d let me out if I wasn’t so…” her shoulders drop and my heart shatters, “pathetic.”
Fuck . She’s something.
Fuck . I’m an idiot.
Maybe she didn’t see. Maybe she doesn’t care. Maybe she’s ignoring it as she reaches for me and it’s the acceptance I’ve dreamt of.
My hand releases Matt and I grab Ivy, pulling her close to me. She needs to connect with me. She’ll need comfort and reassurance. I need the comfort and reassurance, and it’s pointless pretending otherwise.
Ryan grabs Matt as he stumbles away and the pair of us hold our partners, wondering how all hell broke loose over such a simple thing. We could have destroyed each other and undone everything we’ve built—and all because I lost my mind over the perfect, precious innocent girl wrapped in my arms and sobbing against my chest.
“I thought he was… I’ve never been so fucking terrified, Ivy.” My hand slips through my hair and onto her back. “I’m so sorry, so fucking sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She nods and clings tighter.
Fuck me, she’s holding me like I’m the only thing keeping her afloat in a storm carrying her away. Like I’m all that matters, all she needs.
Ryan’s eyes are wild and he’s staring at me as lost as I am. As we all are. This has to end. For her. For me. I need to know she’s mine and I can’t carry on like this. It’s too damn dangerous.
I’m irrevocably in love with her.
She isn’t ready to hear it, but I’ve known from the moment I saw her. I tried pretending otherwise, tried ignoring it. I resigned myself to having a mate, only to pretend I hated her. It all failed. Miserably.
“I wanted to look after myself,” she sobs against me. “I never meant to hurt anyone.”
Fuck, it’s breaking my heart.
Ivy hasn’t hurt anyone. She hasn’t done anything wrong. She’s done exactly what anyone else would in her situation. What I would do. And it’s only brought her pain. She’s been fighting an impossible battle and I’ve dragged her back under when she’s beginning to emerge.
I’ve been a complete and utter fool.
I’ve risked everything for nothing.
Matt lifts his head and shakes his head. At both of us. Ryan’s on the verge of lashing out at me, despite my position and our connection. Ivy’s falling to pieces and Matt’s building a bridge to bring us back together after I almost tore us apart.
“I was teaching Ivy that strength doesn’t always win a fight,” he says. “Skill, speed, or being smarter than your opponent win most of them. Ivy isn’t physically strong, but she’s perfectly capable of holding her own.”
Ryan’s still pissed. I don’t blame him. I would be too, and I’m going to have to swallow my pride on this one. It was my mistake and it’s my responsibility to fix it.
“On the other hand,” Matt says, grinning at Ryan. “She’s got a wicked right hook. She’d benefit from some of Ryan’s lessons.”
This is the bridge Matt’s building.
He’s offering Ryan the chance to strengthen his relationship with Ivy and for me to show I trust them both to protect her. She’s the center of his plan and it’ll help her. It’ll give her something to do and build her confidence as well as her ability.
It’s perfect.
It’s a fucking gift. To me. To Ivy.
From my friend I almost murdered minutes ago.
Ryan glares at me and Ivy’s sobs escalate. She needs reassurance and I can’t leave her like this. It isn’t fair. It isn’t reasonable. She doesn’t understand what’s going on around her and she’s descending into panic.
Matt nudges Ryan and he tips his head back, resigned to letting his partner get his way. Matt strokes Ryan’s face and drags his finger down his neck, and I hold Ivy against me to stop her from watching Matt as he bites his partner. Ryan grabs Matt’s wrist and they’re feeding from each other, renewing their bond and deepening their connection.
It's beautiful to watch. Intimate. Moving. They’re exchanging emotions and memories as their blood flows from one to the other, as their relationship strengthens.
One day, Ivy and I will have this. Once she’s mine and after she’s turned. When she’s ready and not before. When she’s certain and made her choice, freely. In the way Ryan and I were denied.
They pull away and Ryan’s calmer. He’s grounded again. He’s reassured Matt’s his and is safe. Ryan’s found his home and Ryan’s certain he’s safe.
Ryan’s eyes sharpen and focus as we lock gazes. Mine offer him an unconditional apology and he accepts, returning his unconditional loyalty. Our bond is restored, just as he’s replenished his with Matt. They have what I hope to build with Ivy, and Ryan’s eyes soften as they drop to Ivy, recognizing that she is to me as Matt is to him.
“I’d be delighted,” he says, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth. “Ivy and I should get to know each other. Properly.”
She sobs and her fingernails dig into my sides. She’s more terrified of Ryan than she’s been letting on and yet again, her bravery’s landed her in trouble.
I need to rescue her.
Ryan tips his head and gives me the nudge I need.
“Ivy,” I whisper. “You’re okay. It’s over.”
She shakes her head against me, and my hands run over her, trying to soothe her. She’s trembling and her little heart is racing, as my mate holds for me, needing more than I’m giving her. Her nails dig in even harder and her head nuzzles against me.
“Master.”
It’s so soft I shouldn’t hear it. I wouldn’t hear it if I wasn’t a vampire. It’s the scream for help as her barriers come down and she pleads for me to save her. It’s acceptance, forgiveness, and all her hopes and dreams rolled into a single word.
She means it. In a way that shatters everything I’ve ever known and means nothing will ever be the same again. She’s mine and I am hers, and for a second time, she’s found the courage to do the impossible.
“You don’t need to prove anything to anyone. You’re perfect. My equal—and I’m so fucking proud of you, lea.”
The room freezes, but it doesn’t.
Ivy snaps her head up and looks at me in the way I’d feared and hoped for, making all my dreams come true and giving me the terrible power to break her heart. The same dreadful power she’s held over me since the moment I first saw her.
Ryan and Matt stare at me, mouths open in surprise, stunned into silence, unable to believe what they’ve heard.
I ignore them, giving the girl I hated who’s become my everything all my attention. She’s more than I deserve and everything I dreamed, and I’d give anything for her—and my heart beats for the first time in centuries as my little lion purrs against my chest.