12. Ivy #3
“Then a little delayed gratification will work wonders on you,” he declares with a wink, eliminating the distance between us once again to press his lips against my forehead before quickly moving back.
“Now, go inside.”
“And if I don’t?” I tease, fixated on his every breath.
“Then I don't get to fulfill the promise I made you this morning,” he warns, his words thrumming through my veins as I press my lips together in a thin line.
Fine.
I head for the entrance, glancing over my shoulder before I let the flames take me.
My muscles clench with desire, begging me to throw caution to the wind. It’s overwhelming, but before I can do something crazy, I hurry toward the staircase. Thankfully, I’m alone, but it's eerily quiet, and I don’t like how that makes me feel.
Brushing my hair off my face, I take a few breaths, trying to prevent the tingles of euphoria from making me act any crazier than I already have today. My fingertips press against my lips, recalling his touch.
He's right, I am playing with fire.
Lost in my own world, I reach the second floor, only to stop dead in my tracks when I find three girls filling the hallway outside of my dorm room door.
My blood turns to ice.
I have two options: move toward my room as if they're not there, or make a run for it. Before I can weigh out the pros and cons, my body stiffens against my will and I fly through the air.
My scream is muted in my chest as my back hits the wall beside my door. Francesca stands before me, flanked on either side by Bonnie and Odesa.
Rage burns inside of me as I stare at her accomplices.
One has had the pleasure of breaking the heart of one of my hated mates; the other hasn’t yet realized that her heart has been shattered by another. As they stand before me, I make a silent vow to have a strong word with Baron and Archer when this is done.
I've got my own shit to be dealing with. I don't need theirs too.
The energy is thick with hostility, anger vibrating from Francesca as she slams her hands on either side of my head. My feet hang an inch off the floor as I struggle to breathe, my lungs filled with an earthy, fiery scent, laced with dread that threatens to consume me.
Francesca’s nostril flare. “I don't know who the fuck you think you are, Ivy Hayworth, but you don't get to come in here and take what you want.” The venom on her tongue is sharper than earlier.
“Do you think you're special because you're a phoenix?
I couldn't give a fuck what you are. I can ruin you no matter what you think you’re capable of.
I can move you around this room and slam you against that wall over and over and over again.
Please, try me. Watching you die is going to bring me so much joy, simply because I know I'll be able to do it all over again.” She bares her teeth as panic floods my skin with goosebumps.
“You're a cursed monster. We've read about things like you. It will be our pleasure to serve the Fifth Kingdom and ensure you’re of no concern to it,” Bonnie adds from behind her.
My hands grapple with my throat, and the inability to breathe makes it impossible for me to reply, while Odesa remains silent, but the glee in her eyes says more than words ever could.
“Now, what was it I wanted to do earlier?” Francesca murmurs, tapping at her chin as she thinks.
“I wanted to see you use those tears of yours to heal someone.
Unfortunately, Archer and his little wound aren't here for you right now, so let's find something else, shall we?” she states, before taking a step back, a glint of silver in her hand.
She bolts toward Bonnie, blood trickling from her friend’s arm a moment later.
“What the fuck?” Bonnie screams, staring down at the wound in disbelief as her chest rises and falls rapidly with distress.
“Heal it,” Francesca grunts, but I can't move.
All I can do is fight against whatever force she is using to suck in my next breath of air. Clawing at my skin, I will her grip to release, but it's impossible.
“I said, cry, bitch.”
Unshed tears bead along the bottom of my eyelashes. I fight against it as best I can, but the inability to push back against the suffocation is impossible.
My face reddens, my pulse rings, and my life crumbles as a single tear drops down my face.
She captures it effortlessly, grinning just like my father does when he gets his way. She holds the droplet on the edge of her fingertip as she snatches Bonnie's hand, bringing the wound toward her before she lets the single droplet fall.
They watch with bated breath, while I’m fixated with narrowed eyes, desperate for oxygen as I gape in disbelief. The blood stops pouring, and the wound slowly stitches back together.
By the time the magic is done, not even a blood-stained mark remains against her flesh.
“Holy shit,” Bonnie blurts, but Francesca snarls with rage at me.
“You're no better than me, bitch, and I'm going to make sure you know that every time I do this.”
“Do what?” Bonnie asked, deliriously looking up from her wound to gape at me as I focus on the pressure growing around my neck.
My vision turns blotchy, but just before darkness comes for me, I’m blessed with one more glimpse at Francesca’s manic glee.