18. Ivy
IVY
S ince my brother somehow managed to pull me from my room and force me into Academy life, I make a sharp turn at the dining hall, unable to deny the hunger threatening to eat me from the inside out.
I’m swept up in the body of students, the soft glow of candles lining the hallways to reveal a similar buffet-style offering of food to what was there this morning. Grabbing a tray, I don’t bother to see what the options are. I take one of everything; sandwich, salad, cake. I’m not fussy.
It’s only when my tray is piled high with options that I take in the rest of the room. The tables are set up exactly the same, with the familiar “popular” crowd taking up the center. It’s impossible to mistake them, even in the low candlelight.
I’m ready to beeline for a table around the edge of the room or head off back to my room, but my gaze snags on Sax and my world freezes. He stares at me over the glass in his hand and a sense of understanding washes over me all at once.
Hugo came because he made it happen.
I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but he did. There’s no need to confirm it; I can almost see it in his eyes, even from this distance.
Before I can think better of it, I’m moving through the crowd. No one pays me any mind until I reach my target. Hovering beside Sax, I rock back on my heels, fingers curling tighter around my tray as I clear my throat.
I pray everyone else ignores me, but I’m not so lucky.
Four sets of eyes turn my way, followed swiftly by four more as the girls filling the rest of the seats glare at me along with them. Refusing to feel the intensity of my audience, I pin my stare to Sax, who lowers his glass and turns, giving me his full attention.
Clearing my throat, I find the courage and calmness to speak with clarity. “Thank you. I appreciate my visitor.”
He nods, swiping his tongue along his bottom lip as his gaze burns deep into mine. “I’m sorry he wasn’t here sooner.”
I press my lips into a thin line, my heart racing wildly as I try to remain calm, but I haven’t forgotten how much I hate him, hate all of them, and this doesn’t change anything.
“What about me, Princess?”
My gaze snaps to Teddy two seats away, a smug look on his face while his right arm is slung around the back of the chair of the girl beside him.
Anger vibrates inside of me.
“What about you?”
“I’m waiting for my appreciation too,” he states, the girl snickering beside him, and it infuriates me more.
Baron sits between Teddy and Sax, while Archer is just to my left, his presence unavoidable no matter how much I try.
From here, it looks like there’s some slight bruising to the dragon rider’s cheek, along with a split lip.
I glance at Archer out of the corner of my eye, reminded of the state he was in when he showed up at my room.
They both could do with a med kit.
“I’m waiting, Princess,” Teddy goads, tearing me from my thoughts, and I scoff.
“Don’t hold your breath,” I promise, and the girl beside him sneers.
“Watch who you’re talking to, little girl. He’s a siren; if he wants something from you, he can make it happen, whether you want him to or not.”
My pulse quickens into a frenzy as I absorb her words, unsure what any of that actually means, but I swallow down my panic, refusing to let them see my weakness. Instead, I narrow my eyes at the siren in question.
“Is that how it is, Teddy? You have to force me to do what you want?” I tilt my head to the side, watching as his eyes narrow slightly and his arm drops from the seat beside him.
“I can.”
It doesn’t sound like a threat, but something inside me ensures I take it as one.
“Good luck with that,” I mumble, turning away with measured steps as I force myself to remain unfazed, but I don’t make it two steps before Sax calls me back.
“Sit with us, Ivy.”
My grip on the tray tightens as I peer over my shoulder, looking only at him. “I’m good, but thanks.”
“Thank The Fates, because you can bet your ass I won’t stay here if she does,” the girl beside Teddy promises, and I almost reconsider so I can find out how true to her word she is, but my thoughts are interrupted by Sax’s grumbles.
“She’d be doing us all a favor then.”
A snicker rattles in my throat, my cheeks heating as my eyes widen with amusement, but I turn away, hurrying toward the farthest table with an available seat, unwilling to glance back.
Heaving a breath, I block them from my thoughts and turn all of my attention to the plate in front of me, my stomach grumbling for good measure to ensure I don’t get distracted again. All too quickly, the food is gone, my stomach is content, and I’m ready to pass out in a food coma.
My chair drags along the floor as I stand, ready to roll back to my dorm, but as I reach for my tray, gentle music begins to play, floating whimsically around the room with a hypnotic melody.
Confused, I glance around the dining hall, expecting the power outage to have finally come to an end, but to my surprise, I watch with wide eyes as every single student rises from their seat.
Their food is forgotten as they leave their seats and head for the door.
There’s no chatter, no humor, not even a deathly look from the girl intent on making my life hell mere moments ago. They all just move in sync, except Archer, who cuts through the crowd of students all heading toward the door, striding straight toward me.
My spine snaps as I take a step back, but I’m not fast enough and he reaches for my wrist. My skin sizzles at his contact, stealing my breath.
“Let’s go, Angel,” he breathes, and I frown.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I mutter, trying to yank my wrist from his grasp, but it’s futile.
“I’d rather it wasn’t me too, but you’re a Fire Protector, and unfortunately, I’m the only one of your mates who is too, so it seems the responsibility falls on my shoulders.”
My eyebrows narrow. “What does that even mean?”
He exhales through his nose. “Come with me, and I’ll explain.”
The swarm of students begins to thin out as almost everyone has left. I shake my head. “I’m good.”
“I’m sure you think you are, but I’m not dumb enough to let you experience this for the first time alone. Besides, Hugo would kill me, and I’m too young to die.” He offers me a tight but knowing smile.
The mention of my brother flares my eyes wide and twists a knife in my stomach. It seems they’re aware that I know that they know him, and unfortunately, that now means they’re using him as leverage against me.
I purse my lips, but curiosity gets the better of me, and it must be something for Archer of all people to admit he doesn’t want me to be alone for this. Although, would he have been if there was another fated mate who was also a Fire Protector?
My chest clenches. “I can ask Silas,” I declare, apparently hellbent on causing further strain, but he only scoffs, wiping a hand over his mouth in a failed attempt to hide his smile.
“If you happen to find Silas among the madness, have at it.” I can’t tell what he’s not saying. Reading between the lines with this guy is overwhelming. He glances down at his watch with a sigh. “Sorry, Angel, time’s up. We can’t be late.”
His grip on my wrist tightens as he darts for the door, tugging me along with him. His speed slows a little when we make it outside, joining the rear of the gathered students, all following the pathway up toward the cliffs with the moon lighting the way.
“Can you at least explain what’s going on?” I ask, and he nods sharply, though it’s not easy to make out. “And can you release me now? I’m not going anywhere,” I grumble, yanking my arm from his hold, and this time he relents.
I miss his touch immediately as I try to rub the memory of it away.
“You’re about to experience your first Regeneration Ceremony,” he explains, and I blink at him.
“What does that entail exactly?” My heart thunders in my chest as he runs a hand through his hair.
“Hugo didn’t mention it?” he clarifies, peering at me from the corner of his eyes, and I sigh.
“It seems Hugo doesn’t like to tell me much,” I grumble, making a mental note to start a fresh list of reasons I’m annoyed by him.
“Okay, well, all four sodalities are involved. Each group performs a different ritual to replenish the earth, water, air, and fire around us, in their own separate ways, in order to rejuvenate the power at the academy and outsource any surplus to the Fifth Kingdom.”
Ritual?
Glancing around at the body of students all slowing to a stop, it’s clear he’s not joking about everyone being involved. Clearing my throat, I fold my arms over my chest. “How often does this happen?”
He shrugs. “It depends on how quickly we’re burning through magic,” he offers, and my eyes widen.
“Why doesn’t the rest of the kingdom experience it?”
“Huh?” He blinks at me in confusion until understanding washes over his features and his jaw tightens. “It does. I guess your father has some kind of system in place, which means he isn’t affected, thus, not affecting his little angel either.”
My eyes are wide in surprise, but my lips twist with irritation at his tone. “Are you mad at my father for that or me?” I retort, and he shrugs.
“Both.”
Excellent.
Shaking off his bad energy, I clear my throat. “How does this work, exactly?”
“So you’re not above rejuvenating the land?” he clarifies, and my eyebrows gather in confusion.
“Why would I be?”
“You tell me, Angel.”
I hate that name, and I especially hate the way he uses it. I’ve spent my entire life despising how it placed me on a pedestal, but he says it like I’m the scum of the Earth. In no situation did I ask for it, but he doesn’t deserve the truth.
“What’s going to happen?” I reiterate, waving my hand at the students before me, but before he can answer, Professor Viola’s voice cuts through the night air.