18. Teddy
TEDDY
“You are not going anywhere until I say so,” I repeat, irritation shimmering in everyone’s eyes as I lean against the fold-out table I placed strategically at the exit of the main academy building.
“Who is next?” I ask, waving a hand at the plastic chair behind the table, and a surge of uncertainty passes over the crowd.
“Don’t mind me, though. I’ve got all day. ”
“What is this for?” a girl from the Air Protector’s sodality asks, and I shrug.
“It’s for the safety of our kingdom.”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine, get on with it,” she grumbles, and I wave my hand for her to take a seat.
With a huff, she drops onto the chair, folding her arms over her chest as I round the table, leaning back against it as I get in her space, waiting for her eyes to latch onto mine before I speak. “What do you know of Leonardo Corrigan?”
Her eyebrows pinch in confusion. “As in the leader of the Second Kingdom?” she clarifies, and I nod.
“One and the same.”
“I’ve never met him but I’ve heard he’s vile.”
“You’ve heard correctly. When was the last time you were in the Fire Protector building?”
Her frown deepens. “I’ve never been in there,” she mumbles, confusion clouding her features, and I give her a thumbs up.
“Excellent. You can leave,” I declare, and she blinks at me.
“That’s it?”
“That’s all,” I confirm, and she nervously slips from the seat, glancing over her shoulder at me as she stalks off, her stride growing longer with every step she takes.
Clapping, I return my attention to the crowd. “See how easy it is? The quicker you oblige, the faster you can leave,” I promise, waving my hand at the chair, and this time, a guy from the Fire Protector sodality takes a seat.
I stretch my hands out in front of me, cracking my knuckles as I watch him gulp, fear getting the better of him. This is almost fun. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner.
Intimidating everyone, while also seeking the answers we need, is a great use of my time and powers. I’m going to find out who is aiding Leonardo fucking Corrigan sooner or later.
I’m determined.
Resuming my perched position on the table, I narrow my eyes, ready to blast him with questions, when a flash of blonde catches my attention.
“Teddy, what are you doing?” Ivy blurts, and I grin.
“Princess, you look beautiful this morning. Are you okay?”
“I thought you said this would be quick?” the guy in the chair grumbles, and I kick his shin, anger transforming my facial features as I glower at him.
“Shut the fuck up while I’m talking to my lady or I’ll use my siren call to—”
“Teddy!” Ivy shrieks, cutting the distance between us to clamp her hand over my mouth.
Wide eyes gape at me, disbelief flashing in those pretty green pools, and my grin spreads before I press my lips against her palm.
“What are you doing?” she repeats, but before I can answer, she glances at the Fire Protector in the seat beside us.
“And you really need to shut up while I get my answer,” she warns, and I watch his Adam’s apple bob as his lips remain sealed.
Fuck.
It’s hot when she’s bossy.
It’s hot when she’s breathing.
It’s hot when she’s just… Ivy.
When I press another kiss to her palm, she pulls her hand back, and I miss her touch. “I’m investigating, Princess. Do you want to help?” I offer, and her eyebrows pinch.
“Investigating what?”
“Who is helping Leonardo Corrigan,” I confirm, and her nose crinkles.
“How?”
I part my lips, but Sax answers before I can.
“He’s using his magic, Sunshine.”
I didn’t think her eyes could get any wider.
I was wrong.
“You can’t do that, Teddy,” she insists, and I cock a brow at her.
“Says who?”
Her lips open and shut a handful of times before she shakes her head and glances at Sax for reinforcement, but he shrugs.
“It’s a good idea,” my buddy confirms, and I offer him my fist, bumping our knuckles together in solidarity as Ivy huffs.
“You two are insane. Surely this is inhumane or something,” she mutters, and I shrug.
“Inhumane is trying to force someone to be their Kingdom Champion,” I start, raising my eyebrow at her.
“It is also inhumane to kill people without care or thought. Inhumane is a great descriptive word for Leonardo Corrigan, who doesn’t seem to understand boundaries.
I’m not saying I want to lower myself to his level, but if using some questionable methods gets us answers instead of leaving us in the dark, then I’m going to do it. For you, for me, for us.”
“And if I don’t want you to?”
I lean in close, pressing my lips against the shell of her ear as I speak. “Don’t make me lie to reassure you, Princess, because we both know I would still do it anyway.”
She gulps, dragging a hand over her mouth as she peers at the guy in the chair. Her mouth curls as she grimaces. “I’m sorry,” she mumbles, taking a step back, and I wink at her.
“If it makes you feel any better, Princess, Professor Viola approved it. I’m just not allowed to approach professors or members of the meetings,” I explain.
Although I already did a once-over of Francesca and Odesa. Not that anyone needs to know. I’ll catch Bonnie when I see her next. Silas too when he’s alone. But the first two irritatingly passed with flying colors, which pisses me off.
I was expecting a simple and easy answer, but it seems I’m going to have to work for it.
To my surprise, Ivy doesn’t breathe a word as she takes a backward step, folding her arms over her chest as she stares expectantly at the guy awaiting questioning.
With her seemingly content, I fall back into it, peppering each person who fills the seat with questions, seeking out answers that guide us nowhere. Frustration starts to get the better of me when a shadow casts over me from the right.
My agitation escalates when I spy Silas out of the corner of my eye, but I don’t acknowledge him until I’m done interrogating the Land Protector. Once I’ve waved her off, I sigh, turning my attention to the man in question.
“Ready for the hot seat?” I ask, cocking a brow at him, and he rolls his eyes.
“I’m already aware you can’t use it on me,” he grunts, and I grin, amusement dancing through me.
“Just because someone said I can’t doesn’t mean I won’t,” I promise, and he huffs.
“People have places to be. Whatever you were trying to achieve here isn’t working. Besides, the next classes are about to start, and you can’t keep holding everyone up.”
I shrug. “What I’m trying to achieve takes patience, Silas.
Something you don’t seem to have much of, and regarding everyone’s next class, it’s not really my business.
Keeping my mate safe is.” At the mention of Ivy, Silas glances over my shoulder to where she stands, and I instantly regret it.
“Don’t look at her,” I grunt, and Ivy sighs.
“Teddy,” she mumbles, but I ignore her protests as Silas smirks.
“Why not, Teddy?” he goads, trying to get a rise out of me, and I hate to admit that it’s working.
Tension tightens my muscles as I stand, hands clenched at my sides as I stare off with him.
“Back off, Silas. I don’t give a fuck what the outlines for my assignment are; I will make a spectacle of you in front of everyone.”
His gaze flicks behind me again before returning to mine. “She doesn’t look like she’d be too happy about that,” he retorts, tilting his head at me. “How about you put the magic on me so I can watch in delight as you fuck up your mating bond,” he sneers, sending ice racing through my veins.
“Don’t fucking talk of my mating bond,” I growl, my nostrils flaring with rage as I aim a finger in his direction.
“Teddy,” Ivy breathes from behind me, worry etched into her tone, but I ignore it as I take a step toward Silas.
“Be a good little boy and do as you’re told, Teddy. And pack this shit up while you’re at it; it’s about as useless as you are,” he bites, flipping the table to drive his point home, but I’m already moving.
“Silas, show me what it looks like to be a dog.” The words sing past my lips, and I relish in the magic of them as he drops to his knees with a thud, fingers splayed across the grass as he tilts his head up at me.
“Now that’s what a good little boy looks like,” I sneer, peering at the watchful crowd as they take in every moment, and I grin.
“Teddy, let’s go,” Ivy whispers, her presence inching closer, but I shake my head.
“I’m not done,” I rasp, crouching down so I’m eye level with my target. My pulse rings in my ears, desperation clawing through me to get revenge. I know my trigger; it’s always the same, but it’s uncontrollable, and I’m… having fun.
“Teddy, please,” Ivy insists as my grin widens, my eyes fixated on the fucker before me.
“Bark.”
My command snaps through the air, followed swiftly by a raspy woof from Silas’s lips.
“Teddy, that’s enough,” Ivy musters as the crowd laughs.
“I’m not done,” I retort, my tone short and snappy, and I hate it.
Launching to my feet, my distress shifts to panic as I gape at Ivy’s pained eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I breathe, the words but a whisper on my tongue as my body tries to catch up with the shift in my emotions.
Ivy worries her bottom lip, keeping her distance, and it makes my stomach churn.
“Ivy, please, I’m sorry,” I repeat, raking my hands through my hair.
I can feel myself crumbling, unfazed by the crowd as I prepare to feel the tendrils of karma envelop me.
This is what I get for letting my emotions get the better of me, for making a spectacle of Silas instead of learning to better control myself.
I’m going to fall from grace with an audience, but all I care about is her.
“Ivy,” I repeat as Sax takes a step to stand between us, blocking her from my view as he narrows his eyes at me.
“You’ve done enough,” he states, the truth poisoning the air around me as I gulp.
My mother’s words on Silas’s tongue threaten to ruin me, but it’s the distance between Ivy and me that makes my heart stutter.
“Teddy, let’s just go,” Ivy murmurs, stepping around Sax with her hand extended.