Chapter 7 Ivy
seven
Ivy
When Ivy awoke the next night, a headache nipped at the edges of her brain, but it felt like one that would fade as time progressed. After dressing, she made her way to Finare’s room and rapped on the door. The response was a loud groan.
She found Finare sprawled across the bed, dangling his head over the side with his eyes closed.
“Five drinks. That’s your limit? At 23?” She strode across the room and plopped down on the bed next to him.
“The last person I expected to get shit from is you, Fledgling.” Finare threw disappointment into his tone. He opened his two-toned blue eyes and aimed them up at Ivy in a pointed stare.
“Well, I’m feeling pretty good, so I know my limit is at least more than one. What does it take to get rid of a Vamp hangover so we can start again?” She reached over to muss Finare’s already dishevelled locks.
He groaned at Ivy’s assault and dragged himself up to a seated position with more groaning. “Blood. A lot of blood.”
“Do you need me to pick out your outfit for you, little baby?” Ivy stole a glance at Finare’s body.
He was wearing a pair of loose-fitting shorts and nothing else, putting his toned body on display.
It wasn’t as sculpted as Voresta’s, but it was still nice to look at, and he was very aware of that.
She couldn’t help but wonder why all the Vampires she’d encountered so far were so damned attractive in their own ways.
“I’ll be fine. Go and see what Zeldy’s up to. I’ll find you soon.”
Ivy couldn’t help but smirk in amusement at the effect such a small amount of alcohol had on her Broodmate. Looks like I’ve found a drawback. She also noted that the name ‘Zeldy’ was here to stay, apparently.
Ivy padded out of Finare’s room and peered in Leseldh’s study to find it empty. Her eyes involuntarily swept over Malia’s painting and a shiver ran through her. She headed downstairs without checking Leseldh’s room. She hadn’t seen him in there since their night together.
Leseldh was seated on the leftmost couch in the parlour, reading a book. He looked up as she approached, and a smile formed on his lips when she settled in beside him. Phaedra was positioned on the mantelpiece, and the Erath’s eyes tracked Ivy’s movement.
“Hi,” Ivy uttered softly.
“Hi,” Leseldh mirrored, his voice low and husky. With just one word, he’s apparently primed for me. She was thrilled by the power she seemed to have over him—it was an alien feeling, but she was already addicted to it.
“Whatcha readin’?” Ivy nudged him with her shoulder. Leseldh turned, lifting his knee to face her fully. She leaned her head back against the couch and stared into his caramel-coloured eyes.
“Just some research for the case I’m working.” He closed the book and rested it in his lap. She could now see the title—it read, The Nature of Changelings.
“Changelings?” Ivy hadn’t heard the term before.
“Another name for the Shapeshifters.” The sensual tone disappeared from his voice, and Ivy sensed she was now speaking with Leseldh the Private Detective. She nodded in acknowledgement upon hearing the familiar synonym.
“The case continues?” Ivy breathed a heavy sigh. She realised that she missed spending time with Leseldh. Finare was fun to pass the time with, but in a different way.
“It’s turned out to be a bigger mess than I anticipated, but I’m following up a great lead right now,” Leseldh declared passionately. If it differed to his usual cases, she understood why it would consume him. But that didn’t diminish her desire to spend time with him.
Finare made his appearance and Ivy’s eyes flicked over to his. Leseldh turned his head to see what drew her attention. He and Finare exchanged nods of greeting, before Finare looked Ivy up and down as he addressed her.
“I hope you’re not planning on going out dressed in that.”
Ivy looked down at the casual shirt and jeans she threw on before leaving her room and rolled her eyes in Finare’s direction as if to say, what do you think?
“Where are you off to?” Leseldh enquired in an even tone.
“Finare needs a feed. He had a little too much to drink last night and is feeling a little… low.” Although she replied to Leseldh, she held Finare’s gaze, and a grin spread across her features as she spoke.
While Leseldh didn’t acknowledge the friendship that had bloomed between his two Broodlings, Ivy imagined it would’ve been hard to ignore.
“Take Voresta with you,” was his only reply. Ivy emitted a groan, and Leseldh whipped his head around to look at her questioningly.
“We’re just off to Sabor, I think we’ll be okay without an escort,” Finare chimed in, and Ivy couldn’t help but notice the way he threw an innocent tone behind his words to persuade Leseldh.
His voice drew Leseldh’s focus once more, and Ivy snuck a grin over Leseldh’s shoulder at Finare. Hello, my little partner in crime.
Leseldh silently considered Finare’s appeal for a moment. He eventually nodded in agreement.
“Guess I’ll see you later, then. Good luck with the case,” Ivy said evenly, trying to keep her excitement in check.
Finare turned to leave the room and before Ivy got up to join him, she dropped a small kiss on Leseldh’s lips. Leseldh caught her jaw with his hand and held her in place as he drew out the kiss.
“Be careful, Ivy,” he breathed against her lips, and she swallowed thickly.
How did he manage to have such an effect on her? She nodded, too clogged with emotion to respond verbally. He released his hold on her and she made her way back upstairs to change before meeting Finare, who was waiting by his low-slung, yellow sports car.