16. Ivy
IVY
S lamming my dorm room door shut behind me, I prop myself against it, catching my breath as my heart rate slows. Anticipation flutters in my stomach as my pulse rings in my ears, no matter how hard I try to shake it off.
I’m rattled, and there’s no denying it.
That’s the only explanation for relenting to Sax’s demands. Well, that and Silas’s safety. I don’t know why it mattered so much, but the worry that harm would come to someone because of me was too much.
Not that Sax specifically said that; he didn’t need to. I’d already seen the warning in Archer’s glare when Professor Greenhall refused to change my partner.
My issue is, I agreed, but I didn’t see either of them for the rest of the day.
No Archer.
No Silas.
Something tells me I agreed for nothing. All I can hope for now is that Sax doesn’t show and I can have Ember help me go in search of Silas to make sure he’s okay. I checked the rooming board on the way in. It says he’s on the fifth floor.
I should go now, but I don’t want to run into Sax. I need to hide out in here for a while longer, pretend I’m not back. If he does show, and then once he’s gone, I can seek him out.
Part of me thinks I shouldn’t go near him at all. I’m playing with fire. I know it, he probably knows it, but in truth, I don’t want to lead him on or put him in harm’s way because I’m filled with spite and frustration.
Maybe I need to think of a better way to get back at them.
I once saw a television show where a girl put hair removal cream in some guy’s shampoo. Imagine Baron with no man bun? A shudder runs down my spine. I couldn’t.
Alternatively, I could do something to Archer’s room, it is next door after all…
but my chest tightens with uncertainty because nothing I can come up with feels like it holds enough value in retaliation for what they’ve put me through.
Especially since I don’t know them well enough to hit them where it hurts.
What are my chances of seeking out Clay, befriending him so that he loves me more than Sax and becomes my second sprite? That doesn’t feel terrible. I would probably enjoy having Clay around, but he’s a land sprite and I’m a Fire Protector. I get the feeling he wouldn’t be as fulfilled with me.
I huff as my thoughts drift to Teddy. Anger tints my vision red as I think about him surrounded by so many girls. Silas was my response to that, but I didn’t do a good enough job. Failing again would only lead to more embarrassment.
My hands curl at my sides. There has to be something. I’m tired of them having the upper hand.
All of this control and dominance I keep finding myself subjected to is driving me insane.
Control.
That’s what I need to focus on. Something I can control.
Which is… very little at this stage.
If only I knew what my blessed abilities from The Fates are.
My heartbeat stutters.
That’s it.
But I would need to figure out what it is that’s nestled inside of me.
Which means I need to focus on understanding what magic I was blessed with, rather than stumbling through each day.
That’s all I’ve done since I arrived, attempted to settle in, but enough time has passed now and it’s time to prove my strengths all on my own.
A ghost of a smile plays along my lips, resolution blossoming in my stomach as my fists slowly unravel and my palms fall flat against the door behind me.
Splaying my fingers, I press off the door at the exact same time a knock sounds from the other side. A yelp lodges in my throat as I leap away from the obstacle standing between me and impending doom.
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, willing myself to stay in place as another knock sounds.
He’ll give up soon enough.
Silence extends after the second knock, leaving me to hope he’s gone. It might not even be Sax, but I don’t care to find out.
Whispers seep under the door before a flash of red darts through the wood.
Ember.
She blinks at me twice before disappearing again. The handle turns a second later, revealing Sax on the other side. He wears a pointed look as Ember smiles.
“There she is.” I glare at her, but if she notices, she doesn’t show it. Instead, she fizzes around the room in a frenzy before hovering by Sax. “Where did you say Clay was again?” she asks, and he smirks without taking his eyes off me.
“He’s out by The Greenhouse.”
“Bye!” She’s gone in a flash, leaving me alone with the asshole before me.
Any attempt at forming words is lodged in my throat as Sax strides into my room, kicking the door shut behind him. It feels like the walls are shrinking in on me with him in my personal space.
I plaster my hand to my chest, rubbing gently in hopes of catching my breath as he comes to a stop in front of me. Refusing to move or lose myself in his presence, I stand tall despite the frenzy inside of me.
“I thought we had a deal, Ivy,” he breathes, tilting his head at me, and I raise my eyebrow at him, finally finding the use of my tongue again.
“So did I, but I haven’t seen Silas or Archer since class. Why would I hold up my end of the agreement if you weren’t going to honor the deal anyway?”
He rolls his eyes as if I’m being dramatic. “We can bicker, and you can remain drowning in the academic side of things, or you can accept my help.” He glosses over the matter with ease, and it’s irritating.
“Sax, I?—”
He holds his hand up, pausing me as he retrieves his device from the backpack slung over his shoulder. It takes him a few moments, but he quickly spins it around to me.
“What the fuck do you want, Sax? I’m a little busy, I… Angel. You’re not who I was expecting.”
Archer’s face fills the screen, beads of sweat gathering at his temple as he assesses me.
“Can you confirm to our little fated mate that Silas isn’t dead? It seems she is concerned.”
Archer glances away from the camera, amusement dancing in his eyes before he turns back to me. “He’s not dead.”
“Did you hurt him?” I blurt, but the screen goes dark and Sax tugs the device away from me a moment later. “You drive me insane,” I snap, and Sax smiles.
“Right back at ya.” He winks, like this is funny, but it only intensifies the irritation in my veins.
Never mind surviving the Academy, I’m never going to survive them.
“Now we’ve got that over with, where shall we begin?” he asks, sauntering past me to flop down on my bed.
I gape in horror at him. “We can start by you moving to the desk,” I grumble, folding my arms over my chest, but he waves his hand, kicking his boots off as he nestles back against the headboard.
There’s a guy in my bed.
A guy.
Not just any guy.
One of my fated mates.
“I’m good where I am. So, where are we starting? You seemed overwhelmed in history yesterday before the power cut out. We can lock in on that first if you like?” he offers, grabbing his device.
When it’s clear he’s not going to move, I trudge around my pretty four-poster bed, currently tainted by his presence, and fall into the desk chair.
He looks at me through his long lashes. “What’s wrong, Ivy? Do I smell or are you worried you won’t be able to keep your hands to yourself?” he asks, cocking a brow at me, and my eyes narrow.
“Sax Linton, you seem intent on pushing past my boundaries every time I try to set them. Just because you’re in my space doesn’t mean I like it, or you for that matter.
I will loathe you until the end of time, but if you want to get comfortable in my bed and live blissfully in the moment as if you never shattered me into a million pieces, then have at it.
I hope it burns you from the inside out knowing this is what you could have had. ”
At the words parting my lips, his pupils turn to pin pricks, but he quickly blinks them away.
“Showing you my device is going to make it easier. I should be able to note share if yours is close enough,” he explains, completely ignoring my snarky remark.
I want to scream .
But despite the rising inferno inside of me, I grab my device from my bag and climb onto my bed. Desperately trying not to shrink in my own space, I puff up the pillows beside him and lean back against the headboard.
He doesn’t speak, he simply stares at me, making my heartbeat flutter as I forget for a moment who I’m dealing with. Tension ripples through the air, many words left unsaid, hanging like vines, but neither of us reaches for them as I clear my throat, breaking the moment of peace.
“History,” I mumble, and he nods in understanding.
“What do you know about The Kingdoms?”
My gaze dips. I hate to look weak, my mother would never allow it, but if I want to grow my knowledge and catch up as quickly as possible, I can’t waste time letting my pride get in the way.
“Honestly, what we learned yesterday. I’ve heard my father mention some of the leaders’ names in passing, but otherwise, kingdom talk wasn’t really part of my day to day.
And my presence was never required when topics like that came up. ”
He purses his lips for a beat, but his mouth quickly tilts into a smile as he taps away on his device.
“Okay, I’ll tell you the general gist of things and send you over some files for you to read through, too.”
“You can just send the files and go,” I offer with a smile, and the knowing grin he gives me in return confirms he’s not leaving that easily.