23. Ivy
IVY
S taring at my reflection, I don’t know what I expected, but I feel disconnected from what I see staring back at me.
I spent the rest of Saturday hiding away in my room, with Ember being the sweetest sprite that ever existed, bringing my meals and smiles, and Dorian hooked me up with Meadow’s contact information, allowing me to connect with my friend, even when I’m holed up in my dorm.
Yesterday came and went in a blur as I gave myself twenty-four hours to acknowledge what happened and let it pass. I’m not quite there yet, but I promised myself I wouldn’t wallow any further, which is how I find myself standing in my uniform, blinking at my reflection.
I’ve had two restless nights, scared to sleep, but when the darkness did claim me, it was riddled with nightmares, ice-cold waters, and a tyrant of rage being hurled at me.
I can see the impact in the dark circles under my eyes.
My fingers itch, eager to reach for a touch more concealer, but that will only make it worse at this stage.
Instead, I ruffle my hair, letting the loose blonde waves fall over my shoulders like a shield, hiding me away from the rest of the world.
I want that to be enough, but it’s not.
Taking a deep breath, my gaze lands on my legs, which are marred with bruises. The same purple and blue marks cover my torso and arms, the ache making it difficult to move about easily, but lying in bed won’t make it any better.
My device chimes with a notification, tearing me from my thoughts. Reluctantly, I turn away from the mirror and reach for my device perched on the edge of my bed.
New message from Hugo.
Smiling, I press on it.
Hugo: Hey, Vee. Are you sure about today? I’ve spoken with Viola. I can come and sit with you or take you out for the day? It’s up to you. I just don’t want you hiding away in there alone.
I reach for the reply button lightning fast.
Ivy: Thanks for the offer, H, but I’m good. I don’t need to hide away from the world, and I definitely don’t need my big, bad brother saving me.
Closing our message thread, my gaze latches on to the communication sent through from Professor Viola yesterday evening. I press it, needing to feel the reassurance from her words one more time.
Professor Viola: Good afternoon, Miss Hayworth.
I hope you are feeling better. I’m tremendously sorry for what you experienced yesterday.
I wanted to speak with you in person, but Ember is holding guard at your door like a true warrior.
I didn’t have the heart to bypass her. Please take this as my formal acknowledgment of the tragedy you faced yesterday.
It will not go unanswered, but consequences are still yet to be determined.
My utmost priority is to ensure you continue to feel comfortable here at Neverbound Academy.
I believe we will achieve great things together.
I cannot wait to explore your gifted abilities when they come to fruition.
Take as much time as you need to heal; that is the most important thing right now.
Please remember that you are strong, capable, and courageous, no matter what obstacles you may face. Kindest regards, Professor Viola.
Taking a deep breath, her words of encouragement wash over me. Depositing my device in my bag, I hike it over my shoulder, ready to face the dining hall, when loud voices come from the other side of my dorm room door.
My eyebrows furrow in confusion as I take quiet steps toward the noise, but I only make it halfway before I can decipher who it is.
“Ember, let me see her, right now.”
“No means no, Archer. I already told you that.”
“Ember!”
“Archer!”
I roll my eyes, but drag a hand down my face to smother my smile. Hearing Ember stand her ground with him is amusing.
“I’m not messing around now, Ember.”
“Go away. Let me feed her, and maybe, just maybe, I will mention it to her.”
A heavy sigh vibrates from the other side of the door. “No maybes, Ember.”
Before I can figure out what they’re discussing, my dorm room door swings open, revealing a tray of food on the floor. I gape at Ember, who zips into my room.
“Did you open the door?” I blurt, watching as she frowns at me for a second.
“Yes.”
“So you’ve been able to open the door or knock this entire time?” I clarify, and she nods slowly. “But you’ve been waltzing in here, offering no privacy?”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic, Ivy. I’d get your food before your favorite neighbor breaks our agreement and does it for you.”
“I’m more than just her neighbor.” I can envision Archer’s angry face as he grumbles, but I don’t dare find out.
Instead, I gulp, letting my bag fall to the floor before I dart for the tray. I move so quickly my stomach tightens, twisting in knots until my door is closed behind me. Smiling at the French toast drenched in syrup, I give up on the idea of going to the dining hall for breakfast.
“Thank you, Ember,” I breathe, carrying the tray to my desk.
“Of course. You enjoy it, then tell me when I can bombard you with your neighbor’s requests.”
Stuffing my mouth with sweet goodness, I nod. “Hit me with it.” When she doesn’t immediately speak, I glance at her, only to find her staring at me intently. “What?” I ask, taking another bite as she shakes her head.
“Nothing, I just… you seem like you’re in a good space today.”
I smile, but it’s a little forced. “I told you yesterday I was giving myself until this morning to be sad.”
She takes a floating seat by the desk beside me. “I know, I’m just impressed that you actually meant it.” Another smile from me, only this one feels more real. There’s a sense of pride to it. “So, Archer wants to send in a healer.”
“Huh?” I freeze, fork poised an inch from my lips as I stare at her.
She shrugs. “He’s been requesting this since Saturday evening, but you were resting. Then yesterday, you were hellbent on giving yourself the day and not hiding from yourself. Now, he’s a little more adamant,” she admits, and all I can do is blink at her.
A healer?
That sounds like it wouldn’t be him, and it doesn’t seem like it would be a bad idea either.
Not if it means losing the bruises from my skin and the pain that comes with them.
I’m already aware that what happened over the weekend has spread around campus like wildfire; having bruises to show for it won’t help me disappear into the background.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” she repeats, a hint of surprise in her voice as I nod.
“Heal away,” I confirm, finishing the rest of my food as she disappears, only to return the second I place my cutlery down.
“They’re at the door.”
“That was fast,” I mumble, brushing my hands over my uniform as I rise from my seat and hurry toward the door.
Before I can change my mind, I swing it open, only to startle at the guy standing before me.
“Silas?” His name is a question on my tongue as he grins down at me.
“Hey, Fireball,” he rasps, bracing his hand on the door frame as a snarl comes from behind him.
“Don’t speak to her, just help,” Archer bites, stepping to the side so I can see him.
My eyes widen as I recall the last time I saw him, or more specifically, the last time he saw me. I was vulnerable and weak, and he embraced me with ease, like how it’s supposed to be. But I’m not dumb enough to fall for that.
Clearing my throat, I take a step back, eager to have this over with as quickly as possible.
Silas follows me into the room, eyes devouring the space, while Archer remains in the open doorway, his eyes devouring me . His nostrils flare as his fingers curl around the frame, anger vibrating through him as he holds himself back.
“Silas,” he snaps, and the guest in my room turns his attention to me.
“Do you want to lie down on?—”
“No, she doesn’t,” Archer barks before I can even consider what he’s asking. Silas rolls his eyes dramatically as he grins at me, but to my surprise, he doesn’t try to push his luck. Instead, he inches closer, hands raised as his eyes fall to my legs.
“Are you okay?” he asks softly, and I offer a tight smile.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Is it just your legs or…”
Inhaling slowly, I look away, hating to admit the truth, but my gaze lands on Archer’s, which only seems to make it worse. “Everywhere.”
I dip my head, desperate to avoid pity from them as Silas clears his throat. “Don’t worry, Ivy. It will be gone in a minute,” he promises, sinking to his knees as he lifts his hands to my limbs, not touching me as I feel heat ghost over my skin from his magic.
Focused, Silas concentrates on my body as I stand awkwardly waiting for it to be over. Ember is practically perched on his shoulder, watching his every move as he slowly makes progress.
Despite my best efforts, I glance up, finding Archer’s gaze already settled on mine as we stare off across the room. There’s something in his eyes, something I can’t decipher from here. Or is it only because I don’t want to?
Gulping, I try to turn away, but it’s impossible. My breaths grow labored as I remain under his spell, until a shrill squeal from down the hallway cuts through the tension. Two seconds later, my stare off is broken as my least favorite Fire Protector appears, draping herself over Archer.
Bonnie.
“Hey, Arch. Are you waiting to walk me to class?” she asks, so focused on him she doesn’t seem to notice Silas, Ember, and me a few feet away.
Archer doesn’t even attempt to let go of the door as he sneers at her. “If I were waiting to walk you to class, I would be standing outside of your room, would I not?”
She giggles, the sound strained as she finally glances through the open door to find me, but her vision is quickly obscured as Silas stands, healing my upper body.
“Well, you can walk me anyway,” she declares, and I hold my breath, squeezing my eyes shut as I try to fight against the jealousy threatening to claim me.
“I’m busy, Bonnie. Fuck off.”
“You don’t look busy.”
Silas snickers. “No, he’s just not fawning over you like usual.”
Like usual?
I tilt my head to the side, and my gaze snaps to Archer’s, but he’s glaring at the back of Silas’s head. “I don’t fawn, and I definitely do it over Bonnie.” His eyes land on mine at the last part, but Bonnie’s cackle cuts through the air as she wraps her arms around his neck.
“Baby, don’t lie. I?—”
He’s out of her reach a moment later, snarling in her face with his next breath.
“We both know you’re lying, Bonnie. Just like you lie about everything.
Do you know what turns me off the most? Don’t waste your time guessing; you’ll be miles off base.
Liars . I fucking hate liars, Bonnie. It turns me off so much that my dick wants to shrivel up.
Now, fuck off before I tell everyone what else you lie about. ”
She whimpers, hand covering her mouth as she holds back a sob, but she doesn’t bother to offer us even a sideways glance as she hurries for the stairs.
As if on cue, Silas claps his hands together. “Done.”
I gape at him for a second before my eyes drag to my legs, which are now bruise-free. Taking a step back, I test my arms and take a deep breath. Two moves that caused so much pain earlier now come easily.
“Thank you so much,” I breathe, the first real smile curling the corner of my lips in days.
“Any time. Are you heading to classes today, or…”
“Her uniform answers that for you. You’ve done what was needed, now you can fuck off too.”
“Archer!” I blurt, scolding him, but it doesn’t hit the mark as he glowers at Silas.
“I’m respecting your space, Angel. Don’t make me come in there to retrieve him,” he answers, and Silas takes the hint, trudging toward the door with a huff, but he lingers in the open space for a second, eyes meeting mine as he smirks before disappearing from sight.
I’ve just been healed, and the day has only just begun, but exhaustion clings to me like a second skin. Archer stares at me intently, eyes boring into mine as he looms at the door.
“You can leave now,” I breathe, my voice wobbling at the last second, and it irritates me.
“I’m aware, but I quite like it where I am,” Archer retorts, standing tall and stuffing his hands in his pockets as he continues to assess me.
Exhaling, I brush my hair over my shoulder. “This doesn’t change anything, Archer.”
I internally high-five myself with how firm I sound this time.
“Do you want me to come over there and prove that statement wrong?” he pushes, and my brows gather in confusion.
“I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean,” I admit, and I hate the admission the second it makes a wicked grin stretch his lips.
“Ask me what The Fates blessed me with.”
My next breath lodges in my throat as my pulse quickens.
I’ve spent the past two days reeling over what Sax and Teddy revealed about themselves. Sax Lipton is a shifter. Not just any shifter, a damn white tiger. And Teddy, he threatened me with it earlier. I’ve heard of a Siren, and I’m pretty sure I’ve witnessed one. Him.
Teddy is a Water Protector. He stood before Odesa and Logan, and everything he demanded, they gave to him. A Siren can make you say or do whatever they please. Has he done it to me?
Regardless, I don’t need to test fate with what Archer can do as well. I’m unsure about Baron too, but I don’t want to find out.
“Ask me,” Archer repeats, and I shake my head.
His grin widens as he eliminates the distance between us, breaking the invisible barrier of respect he put in place, honoring my space.
He doesn’t stop until we’re chest to chest, his lips against my ear as he speaks.
“I can tell when someone is telling the truth or not. Truth, my hands heat, a lie, they turn to ice.” He places a hand on each side of my waist, flexing his fingers so there’s no denying their presence against my body.
“Lie to me again. Tell me nothing has changed. Or better yet, tell me how many times you’ve thought about my mouth on you. Let’s see how hot or cold you make me.”