29. Ivy
IVY
S even days.
Seven whole days since I grazed my lips against his and ran.
Seven sleepless nights, waking up hotter than fire, desperate for someone to help smother the flames.
He’s left me alone since. They all have. But every class, every meal in the dining hall, every passing in the hallways, he’s watching.
Smirking.
Knowing.
It’s unbearable.
He’s unbearable.
But he’s technically not doing anything, so what am I supposed to say?
“You’ve gone again.”
I blink, refocusing on the present as my attention darts to my device set up on my desk. Meadow’s face fills the screen, a pointed look on her face. One she’s given me more times than I can count this week. But I wave her off, earning a grin from my proclaimed best friend.
“I wasn’t anywhere,” I protest, and she giggles.
“Of course you weren’t. And I wasn’t thinking about how Toby does this thing with his tongue, and?—”
“La la la la la,” I chant, planting my hands over my ears. “I’m not listening.”
Her giggle turns into a cackle, but she leans back from the device, revealing her floor-length gown. “What do you think?” she asks, running her hands over the soft-pink fabric that ruffles down to her feet.
With her hair straight and slicked back, she looks stunning.
“Gorgeous,” I declare, and she rolls her eyes. “I mean it. Whatever you like Toby doing with his tongue… bank on that tonight,” I insist with a wink, and she splutters on her breath.
“I hope, but enough about that. It’s your turn.”
Taking a deep breath, I nod, ready to leave, when a notification pings across the top of the screen.
“One second,” I mumble, letting the message from Hugo pop up.
Hugo: Twenty minutes out, Vee. I can’t wait to see you. You’ve got this. Chin up, girly.
I don’t bother to reply. He’s my brother, and I love him dearly, but he’s been at the opposite end of my issues since my wedding crumbled with me at the altar. First, it was my hated mates, now our parents, there’s no avoiding it.
Before I can close the messages down completely, another notification pings through. Only this time, it’s not my brother.
Teddy: Hey, Princess, are you ready to see how handsome I am?
I roll my eyes as I quickly tap out a message.
Ivy: I stopped thinking you were handsome two years ago.
His response is instant.
Teddy: So you have a thing for me?
I can practically see his grin, and I want to crush it.
Ivy: Had. Past tense. Don’t worry, I’m over it now.
Leaving my device where it is, I distract myself with the dress. “Okay, I’m going to look!” I holler, and Meadow cheers excitedly.
She showed up with it two days ago, making me promise not to look, and I haven’t.
I’m starting to wonder if I’m regretting that idea now.
The impending knowledge that my parents are on campus, with my agreement to have Teddy at my side, leaves me feeling off-kilter already.
This is just something else I gave up control for, but when my gaze lands on the box my mother sent, I take a shaky breath and stand by my decision.
The sound of the zipper unraveling at my touch echoes around me, solidifying the moment as my gaze lands on the prettiest shade of blue I’ve ever seen. The lace flowers stitched into the bodice are stunning, and I can’t wait to get it on.
“I love it!” I shout, hoping she can hear me as I go through the motions of pooling it at my feet before stepping inside and gliding the material across my skin. Goosebumps prick along my arms at the beauty adorning my body, but then I realize the back is corset-laced.
Tightening as far as I can, I slip my silver heels on and reach for a matching clutch. The sleeves of the dress drape over my shoulders like falling flowers, and with my hair pulled back off my face in a high ponytail, it’s the perfect match.
Excited and nervous, I’m a bundle of emotions as I turn for my room, ready to dart across to my device, when my eyes land on an intruder instead.
“Holy fuck.”
I plaster my hand to my chest, attempting to steady my racing heart, but that seems impossible with Teddy dressed in a navy suit with a blue tie that matches my dress.
“How did you get in here?” I blurt, butterflies swarming my stomach.
It takes him an eternity to answer, his gaze drawing up the length of me excruciatingly slowly until his eyes find mine. “We need to work on your sprite’s loyalty,” he mutters, and I scoff.
“Her loyalty is just fine, it just doesn’t lie with me, it seems,” I retort, and the corner of his mouth kicks up.
“You wore blue for me.” I glance down at my dress and make a mental note to kill Meadow later.
“I didn’t.”
“Are you sure?” he asks, cocking a brow, and I shake my head.
“Why are you here early, Teddy?”
“I didn’t want you to stand me up,” he admits, and my eyebrows rise.
“So you decided to trespass?”
He shrugs. “You call it trespassing, I call it smart.”
“You’re insane.”
“Apparently.” He shakes his head, more at himself it seems, as he drags a hand down his face.
My gaze darts to my device to find the screen blank. “Where is Meadow?”
“She’ll see you there.”
I plant my hands on my hips. “You can’t just waltz in here and steamroll everything, you know,” I grumble, and he grins. Again.
He takes four measured steps until he’s standing toe to toe with me.
I hate that I count.
“If I were steamrolling, Princess, I wouldn’t have given you the week. If I were steamrolling, I wouldn’t have let you run from me last week or skip fencing together. I wouldn’t have let any of that happen. In fact, if I were steamrolling you, you wouldn’t have left my side. Not ever for a second.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mutter, drowning in his presence, and he snickers.
He reaches for my chin, but falls short, letting his fingers fall down the front of my dress, dragging along the sequins and lace as his pupils dilate. “Or you simply don’t want to comprehend what I’m talking about,” he breathes, and I feel helpless. “Now, let me help you with this dress.”
It’s an offer, but it feels like a command as he swoops around me, and a moment later, I feel his fingers ghost over my skin as he cinches in the corset at the back.
I can’t breathe, and it has nothing to do with the tightness as his hands leave my body all too soon.
Clearing my throat, I take a step back, fumbling over myself as I avoid his gaze. “We’re going to be late. Are you ready to leave?” I ask, and he snickers.
“Princess, you left me hanging.”
“When?”
“You can’t send me a message telling me you had a thing for me. I need answers, details, all of it. But really, I just want to hear it in the present tense, not the past.”
It takes a second for me to understand what he’s referring to. My cheeks heat.
“I was lying.”
“Do I need to get Archer to confirm?” he asks, and I shake my head.
“That won’t be necessary,” I insist, putting some much-needed distance between us as I scurry to the door, swinging it open with a flurry as he saunters toward me.
He stops when he’s at my side, mischief flickering in his eyes as he leans in, pressing his lips to the corner of mine before stepping into the hallway.
Thankfully, he doesn’t say another word as he heads for the stairs, offering me his hands as I approach. Despite my better judgment, I accept the offer, gliding downstairs all too quickly before we head outside.
I feel like I need a glass of water or a fan, teetering on the edge of what should surely be dehydration or something, but my gut knows it’s because of him.
Anticipation zaps through me, and I hate that it’s the good kind. I’m quickly distracted by the light drizzle falling from the dark, heavy clouds above, wrinkling my nose in distaste.
“I feel like this weather is a sign for me not to go,” I admit, and he hums in agreement.
“You’re probably right. But there’s only one way to find out,” he replies, tightening his hand around me as he tugs me down the pathway.
Nerves make it almost impossible to put one foot in front of the other, but I manage just fine until we reach the small dip in the pathway, lined with wildflowers, as a gaping puddle obstructs us.
“Yep. I’m out,” I declare, managing to yank my hand from this as I turn on the spot, but I barely make it a single step before he finds my hand again, tugging me to his side.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, as clueless as I expect, and I sigh.
“Politely, Teddy,” I start, glaring at the puddle in my way.
“When I arrived here that first night, I was wearing a pretty dress, just like now. By the time I made it to the main academy building, I was sodden, mottled with dirt, and stained with tears. It wasn’t a good look, and I definitely don’t want to repeat it.
Besides, that uneasy feeling in my gut is telling me to turn back,” I admit with a tight smile, all while he looks at me all softly, a warmth to his frame that I’ve never noticed before.
I have to remind myself of the truths he offered me last week, the first of which is paramount in my thoughts.
Do you regret rejecting me? No.
As if sensing my shift in thoughts, he crowds my space, swiping me off my feet before I can even wrap my head around what’s going on.
He pins me to his chest, an arm around my back, while the other is hooked under my legs.
Instinctively, my arms wrap around his neck, holding on for dear life as he marches toward the puddle.
I brace for the splash, even though I’m nowhere near it, but the sound never comes. I don’t see what happens; all I know is the puddle that stood in my way a few moments ago is now behind us.
Gulping, I blink at the man holding me. My heart races as he lowers me to my feet, and I don’t miss the water marks on his pants and shoes.
“I’m so sorry,” I mumble immediately, acutely aware that my damn heart is melting at his offering.