20. Ivy
IVY
T here’s a buzz around the dining hall today.
I can’t put my finger on what or why, but it’s there.
The atmosphere spiked as soon as the power came back on, but it’s only escalated still.
Maybe it’s because it’s the weekend, or maybe it’s because there’s a secret I don’t know about.
Either way, it doesn’t matter. I’m in a good mood too.
Well, unless I look toward the center of the room. That will only make my mood sour.
It’s been a week. A little more now that the weekend has rolled around again, but the memory of the cave lives vividly inside my brain, no matter how much I try to forget about it.
Dragging my fork through my salad, I try to remain focused on the present, but it’s harder than it should be.
“Are you excited? I’m not going to lie, I didn’t have you down as a physical activity kind of girl.” Meadow grins at me, and I can’t help but smile with her.
“Yeah. I didn’t envision The Angel of Heaven’s Ridge knowing how to fence,” Toby adds, and I roll my eyes, but the mere mention of it fuels my excitement.
I got the notification two days ago, and I’ve been counting down ever since.
So much time had passed, I was certain they had rejected me without even bothering to let me know, so when my device pinged, confirming my spot on the team, I was ecstatic.
“That’s because it wouldn’t have been good for my image,” I admit, taking a gulp of my water. “My mental health, however…” I don’t need to say anything else to receive a round of understanding nods.
“So I shouldn’t get on your bad side then,” Toby replies with a grin, but before I can reply, Meadow elbows him in the gut. “Sorry,” he rasps, winded.
“You’re good,” I breathe, failing to hide my smile as Meadow snickers before taking a bite of his burger. He fake pouts, but they’re kissing a moment later and I have to look away.
Turning my attention to my salad, I stab a piece of chicken, dragging it through the ranch before bringing it to my mouth. I would much rather have a burger like Toby, but that’s not the best idea before fencing, and I don’t want to make a fool of myself at the first lesson I’m attending.
Casual conversation continues around the table, Toby teasing Meadow for the most part, and I bask in their presence.
The past week has been many things, but it’s definitely brought me closer to her.
I’ve eaten most meals with her since the power came back, listening intently to her retelling of her experience at the Rejuvenating Ceremony, along with a few of the others who experienced it for the first time as well.
All while keeping my mouth shut about what I did.
One of Toby’s friends is a Fire Protector too. He mentioned the heat, but nothing else. Not the intoxicating intensity that had me going insane, asking things from people I shouldn’t, and falling apart in the hands of the enemy.
Technically, he maneuvered me to take care of myself, but his mouth on my nipples… damn. A shiver runs down my spine when I think of it, even now.
My veins spike with desire, a constant feeling that’s been rooted within me since that night, and I can’t seem to shake it.
I’ve tried.
Every night.
To no avail.
Shaking my head, I try to focus on the present, but my measly salad looks abysmal in comparison, and as I bring another forkful to my lips, I’m greeted with tasteless ingredients.
Irritated, I discard my plate and place my hand on top of my fencing bag, ready to make a beeline for the door, when a loud whoosh of laughter comes from the center of the room. My back stiffens as I hear a familiar snicker from Teddy as he holds everyone’s attention.
It makes me want to strangle him with my bare hands, but instead of leaving as I should, I lean back in my seat, ears perked, desperate to know what has them all so captivated. Even with my back to them, I can see them, sense their presence and proximity like it’s my ability.
It’s not.
I asked Meadow and she confirmed it. Apparently, she can sense Toby, too.
My eyelids flutter closed, the shadowed outline of the center table filling my vision, with four familiar silhouettes crowding the space: Sax, Baron, Teddy, and Archer.
Baron is currently my favorite, or my least least-favorite as I prefer to rank them.
Which is saying something since he didn’t save me from falling off a cliff, but it’s only because he barely exists in my life.
I’ve spent the past week catching glimpses of him in classes, but otherwise, he doesn’t seem to exist.
The same can’t be said for his brother. I’m running out of excuses, and it’s my own fault for making a point of thanking him for his help with Hugo, but every time our paths cross, he offers to help.
I’m pretty certain our paths cross as much as they do because he makes sure of it.
But I refuse to take him up on his offer, despite how much I actually need the help.
It’s not the point. Having him in my room after Archer…
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, refusing to let my thoughts drift again as my mind fixates on Teddy.
The smirk. It’s like he knows just how much he gets under my skin simply from glancing my way.
But every time, his eyes linger a moment longer, his grin spreads a millimeter wider, and his presence stirs something deep inside of me.
I can’t stand it, almost as much as I can’t stand him being the center of everyone else’s attention.
My hands ball into fists just thinking about it.
Which leaves Archer. Archer Bowen. The first guy to press his lips against my skin, to make me explode from his mouth around my taut peaks, and the only guy to be within an inch of my most private parts and not touch me.
I’m the only person who has, but with his expert hands moving my own, I detonated into a million pieces.
He’s everywhere I turn, avoiding my stare as much as I avoid his.
“Teddy, tell her about what you did with your tongue when you?—”
Bile rises in my throat, launching me to my feet as I grab the handle of my roller bag.
“Are you leaving?” Meadow asks, and I turn to her with a tight smile.
“Yes. I’ll be here at dinner time if you guys are around,” I offer, and she nods.
“Of course. Nervous?” Concern flashes in her eyes, and despite the distinct lack of nerves fluttering in my gut, I nod. Her eyes soften as she smiles. “You’ve got this.”
“Thanks,” I mumble, offering a two-finger wave to everyone at the table before I hightail it from the room, desperate to put as much distance between my fated mates and me as possible.
I suck in a sharp breath when I reach outside, the distance doing nothing to calm the distress that burns inside of me, but I’m quickly distracted by the flash of red and green across the wildflowers.
The familiar high-pitched giggle confirms it’s Ember before my eyes can.
She’s obsessed with the new sprite in her life: Clay.
I don’t know how I feel about it. Especially since she dropped me in it with Sax so easily for him, but Meadow confirmed it’s normal.
Meadow’s confirming a lot of things, and I’m grateful for it since I don’t have anyone else to ask, seeing as I’m avoiding my fated mates as much as possible.
She has a sprite too, everyone here does, and hers, Petal, is insane about Toby’s sprite.
It’s a fated mates thing. I just haven’t been brushed with the same whimsical stick of love to understand it like the rest of them.
Unaware of my presence, the two of them dance off toward the trees, paying me no mind as I tighten my hold on my fencing bag and head toward the Offensive Warfare arena.
The instructions in my notifications confirmed that fencing was under the guidance of Professor Finnigan, the air professor, whom I don’t have for any other classes, and that I should find the class within the arena.
Every step away from the dining hall gets peppier as excitement claims me, and I let it carry me all the way to the edge of the arena.
Stepping inside, I’m relieved to find a sign at the end of the corridor, directing me to the right.
It feels like an eternity before I reach the door labeled Fencing, as if it’s trying to deter me, but as I approach it, I take a deep breath, roll my shoulders back, and step inside.
A few students are already gathered, changing into their kits as an older man sets up the scoring machine at the other end of the room.
I can only assume that’s Professor Finnigan as I drag my bag toward the others.
I’m a handful of steps away when a girl lifts her head, eyes narrowing immediately as she glowers at me.
My chest tightens as the guy beside her follows her line of sight, matching her stance instantly, squashing any hopes of a welcoming atmosphere.
She flicks her brown hair over her shoulder as she sneers, but I refuse to look away. I’m here for me, not to please people. Besides, this isn’t the first time this girl has iced the air around me.
Her lips part, but before she can say a single word, the sound of someone clapping their hands together behind me yanks everyone’s attention in that direction.
Daring to peer over my shoulder, I shouldn’t be surprised to find Teddy standing by the door.
“Who’s ready to face me?” he declares, arms out wide as whispers fill the room.
It’s a whole lot of mumbling about already having a partner or some other kind of excuse, but it’s quickly clear that no one plans to be paired with him today.
Not that he seems to mind as his eyes settle on mine.
“Princess, perfect. We’re overdue for getting to know one another, wouldn’t you agree?
” he beams from ear to ear, driving me even more insane than usual.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to cuss him out when Professor Finnigan clears his throat.
“That’s an excellent idea, Theodore. It will be good for me to see her skills.”