8. Ivy
IVY
T he sky becomes more distant as the wind whooshes around me. I hold my hands out, for what, I have no idea, but everything moves treacherously slowly as I fall. I can feel my life slipping between my fingers like grains of sand. Only, there’s no beauty in this, just disaster.
My wide eyes catch on a male figure above, tilting over the edge of the cliff, a dragon fluttering their wings beside him.
Baron.
I can’t be sure, but I could swear he purses his lips as he tilts his head, but it’s impossible to know as I collide with icy water. It steals my breath as I plunge deeper and deeper, the light from above threatening to diminish when I continue to sink instead of fighting for air.
Startled, I immediately become more alert and begin to do just that. Although, every swoop of my arms does little to bring me back to the surface. Bubbles escape my lips as I kick my legs, fighting an invisible current as I claw my way to safety.
Desperation prickles the back of my eyelids as more air leaves my lungs, and I feel myself sinking instead of swimming. On the cusp of defeat, my arms fall as my legs slow, and that’s the moment arms bundle around my legs, hiking my knees to my chest as another arm bands around my waist.
With a force I didn’t know a person could be capable of, we’re moving. So fast it blurs my vision, or is it the lack of oxygen?
Either way, I barely acknowledge the moment we break through the surface of the water, too wrapped up in the instant coughing and spluttering that consumes me.
The arms disappear, replaced by damp sand beneath me, which becomes my safety net as I roll onto my side. Tears spill from my eyes as I try to gain my composure, but it’s completely gone at this stage.
My throat is raw as my coughing finally comes to a halt, and when I dare to open my eyes, I find a sodden Teddy Lupus hovering above me.
Dammit.
A wry smile curls the corner of his mouth as his blue eyes pierce mine, but it’s the gentle stroke of his thumb along my cheek that startles me.
“Deep breaths, Ivy. You’re okay,” he breathes, and I find myself slowly inhaling before exhaling calmly as he does the same. “That’s it, copy me.”
I can’t tear my stare from his as I follow his advice again.
Calmness wraps around me, a warm sensation I never thought I would experience again, as I glance past Teddy to take in my surroundings. Blinking at the jagged cliffs, small sandy shore, and distant caves to my left, I grimace. I hadn’t anticipated seeing the bottom of the cliffs, but here I am.
No matter which way I turn, a different shade of blue greets me. From Teddy’s eyes, to the grayish blue cliffs, the stunning water glistening in the distance, and the bright sky above.
That is, until my eyes lock on Teddy again. Except his gaze doesn’t hold me captive this time, his abs do. My throat dries as he tugs his damp white tee over his head, revealing the kind of chiseled muscles that I’ve only ever seen in one of my mother’s fashion magazines.
I can’t shift my tongue from the roof of my mouth as I forget all my senses. Peering up at him, I watch as he ruffles his wet hair.
Nearby laughter jolts me from my thoughts, and it’s a healthy dose of reality when I remember how much I hate the man before me.
I need to get out of here.
I need to put as much distance between us as physically possible.
Now.
Pressing my palms into the sand, I sway as I rise to my feet, chaos and tension rippling through me as I find Teddy standing closer than before, but it’s the man a few steps behind him that captures my attention. All I see is red.
Shouldering past my savior, I jab my finger at the dragon rider.
“You fucking hesitated,” I snap, the cuss still foreign on my tongue, but it feels good to release the weight it holds on my chest, even if it sounds weak and unpracticed.
Baron’s eyebrows gather as his eyes narrow. “You told me to go fuck myself.”
“And that means you let someone die?” I growl, disbelief clinging to me even more than the water that weighs down my clothes.
He tilts his head as he parts his lips. “Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck your brother. Fuck your friends. Fuck your rejection. Fuck all of it. I don’t care what you think is a good or bad idea because you mean nothing to me. Nothing.”
My jaw falls slack as my knees threaten to buckle beneath me. He repeats my words back to me. Not only are they an exact replica, but the tone, the pitch, the girly lilt, he replays all of it.
Air rushes from my lungs.
It must be his power.
Anger burns through me as I stagger back.
“I stand by all of it. Especially since you hesitated so hard. I would have died if it was up to you,” I snap, all while he remains unfazed, barely acknowledging my existence, and it infuriates me further.
“You are the most arrogant man I’ve ever met.
But thank you for once again reminding me of the kind of man I’m dealing with.
Thank you for reminding me of what I’m worth to my supposed fated mates.
Most of all, thank you for leaving me grateful for the pain and sorrow I have already endured at your hands.
It has saved me the dismay of finding out later when I might have cared. ”
Taking a backward step, I dip my head, hiding my face from them before spinning on the spot, desperately searching for my exit.
My boots squelch as I leave footprints in the sand, hurrying toward the pathway that leads up the steep cliffside. I want to cry at the sheer height of it, but anything beats staying here with my adversaries.
Tears threaten to fall, but I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, breathing through the emotions as I begin the climb, refusing to look any weaker in front of them. They don’t deserve front-row seats to my emotional undoing.
Dragging my hair back off my face, I try to breathe through the tightness in my chest as I march up the slope, but a quarter of the way up, I hear footsteps behind me, and it leaves me even more tense.
One glance over my shoulder and a fresh wave of agitation settles over me.
Messy blond hair, killer smile, relaxed shoulders, those ridiculously insane abs, and a swagger that I can feel before I see can only describe one person.
Teddy.
“Go away,” I grunt, focusing on my next step instead of his face as I talk.
“It’s my job to make sure you get back safely,” he replies calmly, and I scoff, rounding to a halt as I glare back at him.
“Does any of this look safe to you?” I wave my arms out wide, aware that I’m not making much sense right now, but if he thinks I’m insane, he doesn’t show it as he smiles.
“You should probably avoid cliffs in the future,” he offers with a shrug, and my lips purse.
“Please, go away.” It’s practically a plea at this point, but he ignores me, drawing closer.
“It is my duty to follow in my father’s footsteps and protect those who need my aid,” he explains, filling me with confusion as he stands a foot away from me, and I can’t handle it.
I move to trudge farther up the cliff, but he captures my cheek, stroking his thumb delicately across my skin once again. “Ivy, let me walk you home.”
I can’t tear my eyes away from his as I sigh, nodding reluctantly. “Okay.”
The irritation in my chest wavers, but still remains, despite how easily I give in.
Thankfully, his hand falls from my cheek, and I take off, focusing on the path before me. He leaves me in silence, and I’m grateful for the moment to think.
The insanity I’ve faced in the past twenty-four hours is enough to kill me. It probably should have, but if I’ve learned anything, it’s that The Fates have greater plans for me. Plans that involve me surviving.
I smile, despite the circumstances, even as my chest heaves and I reach the top to find the familiar outline of the academy building standing like a beacon in the distance.
Instead of traipsing a step behind me, Teddy quickly shifts to my side, and the air around us changes. Every inhale becomes more awkward and I fold my arms over my chest, sheltering myself from his proximity.
I want to bolt and not look back, but I can’t tear myself away. Despite my best efforts, I clear my throat, and my Angel of Heaven’s Ridge tendencies take over. “You mentioned your father and following in his footsteps,” I breathe, peering at him from the corner of my eye, and he nods.
His gaze remains dead ahead, but I don’t miss the distant look that glosses over his eyes as he speaks. “My father was the Jeremiah Lupus,” he explains, and I frown, my mind rattling.
He says it as if I should know, and there’s a niggling part of me that does, it’s just not on the tip of my tongue immediately.
Silence swarms us as I think, certain I’ve heard that name before. Was… he said was…
“Wait, was it Jeremiah Lupus who died leading the charge into the Fourth Kingdom ten years ago?” I blurt, and he nods, his eyes crinkling in the corners as he exhales softly.
“That was him.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I murmur, a pang clutching my chest as I try to recall more of the story, but come up empty.
Anything political, and I let it go over my head. My father was consumed with politics, which is probably why I despise it so much. In times like these, I’m reminded that I allowed my parents to control my decisions, even when it’s to go against them.
“It’s not just my loss, it’s our loss,” he states, catching me off guard as he continues to stare off into the distance. “The world still needed him, but he died with honor.” He forms the words as if he’s said them a thousand times before.
I try to remember what the charge was for, but when it comes to the kingdoms, I don’t understand why anyone does anything at all. There are five in total. One for each guild of protectors, and us, nestled perfectly in the middle, connecting everyone and everything, whether they like it or not.
Ten years ago, I would have been deep in my mother’s insistence on eloquence classes, only hearing my father’s complaints about the matter, so I can’t even begin to imagine what that would have been like for him.
Losing someone you love is awful to begin with, to do so publicly, all senses are bound to be heightened.
Before I can drown in sympathy for him, I remind myself of the pain and chaos he has caused me, and I quickly ensure my empathy is locked away with any other kind of emotions I might instinctively reach for.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to correct him, make it clear I, in fact, don’t feel the loss he does, but despite my rage, I know that’s crossing a line I’m not comfortable with.
Besides, I know vengeance is a beautiful thing, and they’re all going to be on the receiving end of mine eventually, but maybe I can save him until last; he did save me from the water after all.
Thankfully, the trail leads to the left, and the fire building stands proudly up ahead. My pace picks up, but so does his. It’s only when the entryway of the Fire Protectors’ dorms is a few steps away that he speaks, whirling to a stop while blocking my path at the same time.
“I’d lead you to your dorm, but the fire doesn’t like me all that much,” he states, pointing his thumb over his shoulder as he refers to the inferno blazing across the doorway.
I can feel the heat of it lick across my skin from here, drying the droplets that continue to soak me, while he stands before me completely dry.
Maybe he’s a Water Protector. Not that I care to find out. Who or what he is has no relevance to me.
Nodding, I muster a tight smile as I try to move around him, but he moves in front of me once again, intentionally blocking my path.
His crystal-blue eyes lock on mine. “Say thank you, Princess,” he rasps, and I roll my eyes, ready to scurry past him, but before I can place a single foot in front of me, he grabs my chin, fingers curling along my flesh as he towers above me.
My breath hitches despite my best efforts. He clocks it, a grin tilting the corner of his mouth as his grip tightens. “Manners, Ivy. Ignorance doesn’t suit you,” he mumbles, and my gaze narrows.
Yet when my lips part, ready to give him a piece of my mind, two little words fall from my tongue instead. “Thank you.”
His grin spreads, the smugness growing thick as he releases his hold on me, but not before he whispers his parting words.
“Stay out of trouble and you won’t have to submit to praising me in the future.”