27. Ivy
IVY
A microphone is thrust in my face as I startle, gaping as I take in my surroundings.
The air stills around me, the world moving in slow motion as I snap a mental picture of everything, raising my panicked state to new heights.
Microphone.
Camera.
Audience.
Flashing lights.
My mind melts as my body moves on instinct. A poised smile graces my lips, my eyes softening as my mask falls into place. The tension remains in my muscles, but I force myself to appear relaxed, rolling my shoulders back as I stand tall.
An arm drapes around me, dragging my attention to Teddy, who stands an inch in front of me, almost protectively, similar to how Hugo has done many times, and it makes my mind swirl.
I watch in real time as he slips a mask into place, the distant, emotionally heavy guy dons his signature grin as his eyes crinkle.
“Hi,” he breathes, dropping my bag to offer the woman his hand. She shakes it, swooning under his attention. “I’m Miss Hayworth’s escort to the event. Unfortunately, I’m not partaking tonight,” he explains, and my stomach clenches as the woman waves him off.
“Theodore Lupus, are you telling the Kingdom that you’re not participating in such an important event for charity?” She waves her hand at the camera, clarifying that we’re broadcasting live to the kingdom right now, and my stomach rolls.
I dare to look at him again, the panic and uncertainty in his eyes tying me in knots as the people-pleasing role washes over me.
“I would love to attend, but Ivy doesn’t need twice the amount of challenges for her first experience,” he insists, but the woman pays him no mind as she turns her attention to the camera.
Challenges? Who the hell mentioned challenges?
“I’m sure we want to see The Angel of Heaven’s Ridge with one of her mates tonight. Am I right?”
No response comes, but it doesn’t need to.
I already understand the assignment, even when it burns through my veins like poison.
I’ve spent a hot minute simply being Ivy, the new girl on campus.
It doesn’t resonate inside of me when my familiar nickname snaps through the air.
But it doesn’t stop me from falling into step as Teddy squeezes my arm, offering me the lead on what comes next.
I should run for the exit, put as much distance between myself, my past, and my pain as possible, but life isn’t as simple as that.
My fingers splay across Teddy’s back as I step closer into his side, the smile on my lips unbearable as I flick my hair back off my face and look straight into the camera. “We can’t wait to participate in such an important and fun event. Please be gentle with us.”
The woman squeals. “Please, head inside. You’ll be guided to your spot,” she gushes, and I don’t waste a single second following her direction, all but running from her as Teddy barely has a chance to collect my duffel bag off the floor.
My fingers curl into the fabric of his t-shirt as he tightens his arm around me, like we’re both propping ourselves up to maneuver through the madness.
“I’ll get us out of this,” he breathes, pressing his lips against my ear effortlessly as we move, and I shake my head.
“There’s no point. There’s a spotlight on us now,” I grumble, letting him pull me to the side as I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have pulled you into it like that.”
He grabs my chin, tilting my head back so my eyes meet his. “This is not your fault.”
I exhale slowly. “I don’t even know why I agreed,” I admit as he spins us, pressing my back against the wall. Music filters through from the other side of the door, our impending doom awaiting us, but he holds my attention as he stares deep into my eyes.
“Were you always a people pleaser?” he asks, and I scoff.
“That obvious?”
He shrugs. “I watched you assess the situation and snap into action immediately. If I didn’t despise doing it so much myself, I’d be impressed.”
My chest blossoms. I knew I could sense the mask and facade in him too. The connection burns inside of me. I hate it and appreciate it all at once.
“What now?” I ask, already knowing my fate, and he smiles. Not the fake one that makes him far too cocksure for my liking, this one’s almost… genuine.
“We make a run for it,” he offers, nodding to the closed door to our left. “Or we suck it up and play to the masses one last time.”
“One last time?” I repeat, and he nods, his brows furrowing.
“If you promise you’ll never slip your mask back on again, so will I?”
My pulse flutters as I blink at him. “Why? Why does it matter?”
“Amuse me.” He drags his tongue along his bottom lip, staring deep into my eyes, and I tilt my head.
“You’re not trying to use your magic on me… are you?”
He offers me a sad smile. “I would never.”
“But you have.” It’s a statement, one he admits to as he nods. “When you pulled me from the water and walked me back to my dorm,” I clarify, and he drags his hand down his face.
“I was worried you were going to spiral, and I just wanted you to get to your dorm safe,” he offers, and I nod, hating the truth but somewhat appreciating the sentiment behind it.
“When else?”
He shakes his head. “Never.”
“Never?” I reiterate, and he nods. “And I’m just supposed to believe that?”
“We can get Archer to confirm for you.” He says it with so much confidence, I find myself believing him. “So, last time people pleasing in the spotlight?” he offers, and I gulp, staring at his hand as he offers it to me, ready to seal the deal.
Gulping, I focus on the here and now, promising myself I’ll run as far away from this man as soon as the night is over. But for now, I throw caution to the wind and press my palm against his.
His fake-ass grin falls into place as he squeezes my hand, hiking my duffel bag over his shoulder before he tugs me toward the madness.
“What’s expected of me?” I rush, too embarrassed to let anyone else know that I’m completely unaware of what’s going to happen. Thankfully, he doesn’t hold his knowledge over me like a bargaining tool.
“There are usually three challenges. I’ve never paid much attention to what couples are plagued with, but it’s usually fun. The viewers basically vote, and the highest ranked couple or person is selected.”
“So I’m a puppet on a string?” I ask, nerves fluttering in my gut, and he winks.
“It’s for a good cause.”
I roll my eyes as the hall comes into view, revealing so much all at once. I don’t know where to look first, but I lock it all in and immediately take stock of the space.
At the far back, students relax in groups, laughing and joking, ready for the night. It’s exactly where I want to be, but to get there, I need to make my way through the insanity. Cameras are everywhere, recording different sections and random challenges, as a huge screen displays the money raised.
I gape in disbelief, bewildered how I’ve never even seen or heard of this before.
It confirms how sheltered I’ve been. No wonder my father was keen to keep me under his control.
They might be coming next week, but I’m determined to be a version of myself they won’t even recognize, ensuring they can’t derail my life any more than they already have.
Resolution anchors me as Teddy squeezes my hand, keeping me at his side as a guy waves us forward to take a newly vacant spot.
“How do I get over there?” I ask, spotting Meadow and my friends off in the distance. Dorian is with them. Surely he didn’t get through this part so quickly. Did he?
“Don’t be The Angel of Heaven’s Ridge,” Teddy answers with a grimace, and I frown in confusion. “Televised challenges are for those they want to see. Those of less interest to the general public get to enjoy the evening for what it is.”
“So I was never destined to bypass all of this?” I ask, and he shakes his head, but before he can speak, we’re directed onto a large blue mat with a green screen behind us and a camera focused in our direction.
A heads-up would have been nice.
“Good evening, Mr. Lupus, Angel. I’m Norton. I’ll be your challenge guide for the evening,” he declares, forcing my measured smile back into place.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I breathe, my hand still in Teddy’s, who lowers my duffel bag to the floor once again.
“The pleasure is all ours. The viewers have been going insane since you arrived as a pair, but we have to know, where are the others?” He looks between us as I clear my throat, but thankfully, Teddy takes the reins.
“They’re around here somewhere. If they haven’t already partaken in a challenge or two, I’m sure they’ll be ready soon enough.”
I squeeze his hand on instinct, and I hate the action immediately.
Don’t get comfortable, Ivy. This is just for show. By the time the sun rises again, he’ll be back on my shit list among my other hated mates.
“I’m sure, but the votes have been coming in fast for the pair of you. Are you ready to take part in your first challenge?”
Every part of me wants to scream no and run for it. But despite how much I’m melting on the inside, I stand firm and calm to the outside world. “I’m excited, but afraid to ask.” I plaster a smile across my face, and he feeds into it, directing his attention to the camera for a moment.
I don’t register a single word out of his mouth as I stand beside Teddy under the lights, awaiting my fate.
“We’ve got this, Princess. No sweat.”
“Okay, the first challenge you’ve been selected for has been titled ‘The Fated Mates’.
It’s simple, really. We get you both seated, and I’ll ask a series of questions.
The answer will either be Theodore or Ivy.
The more you get right, the more money you raise.
” He claps his hands before waving for someone to bring a few seats over, all while I try not to die over the fact that it’s really not going to be that simple at all.
I don’t know anything about Teddy.