IVY
Neverbound Academy at night is something else.
It's like the place glows with magic.
I can't help but think about when I first arrived. How I looked into the forest at the entryway to the academy and felt no fear. Not like how I felt when I gazed off into the distance from my bedroom window back home.
Home.
It's such a funny word that should hold so much meaning. It's only four letters, formed in a way that roots you somewhere, and for the first time, my reference to that place doesn't feel the same.
My parents' fortress.
My prison.
The brick and mortar of my demise.
Each title rings truer than that four-letter word, home.
Yet I'm still undecided if this replaces it.
I feel like I'm floating, still trying to find purchase in where I truly belong, and as I quietly head through campus at Sax’s side, my mind continues to wonder about anything and everything.
It plays as the perfect distraction, so I don’t overthink what it is I'm actually walking into. My stomach grumbles like I didn't just eat, and I sigh, placing my hand against my abdomen as I try to will away the discomfort.
“I shouldn't have eaten so much,” I mumble.
“Why? Are you nervous?” Sax asks, and I scoff.
“No, I can barely move. It’s your mom's fault that her cooking is too good,” I admit, and he snickers.
“Don't tell her that,” he insists, and I roll my eyes.
“Please, she deserves all the hype.”
I'm slightly devastated that I didn’t get to see Greta and the girls earlier today, but that didn’t stop her from leaving me a little gift: a home-cooked meal. Sax, of course, jumped on the bandwagon too, insisting we share the lasagna.
“She is pretty awesome,” he admits, and the air falls quiet again, as if impending doom lurks in the distance, but I'm ready for it. As much as my mind might swirl in every direction during the silence, I know I'm doing the right thing for me.
Instead of being the hot topic on everyone’s lips, I want to be the one doing the talking. I want the control.
As I follow Sax down the winding path, I startle when we draw closer to the arena.
“You meet here?” I blurt, eyes wide in surprise as I wrap my cardigan tighter around my shoulders.
“It changes,” he explains with a shrug, and I frown.
“Why?”
“So no one can spy on us,” he admits.
My eyes widen further at the realization that this is some serious business. “Who would want to do that?” I ask, and he grimaces.
“You'd be surprised.”
Now I'm curious as hell, but there's enough going on to halt my further questioning. My heart races as we hover by the door, and I feel Sax’s hand at my back supporting me without a single word.
I should step away from him, his brother’s words from last night threatening to plague my thoughts, but I find myself rooted to the spot. I already feel broken enough as it is; I don’t need to shatter any further. Which is the exact same reason I convince myself to trust in him, just a little.
Rolling my shoulders back, I exhale slowly, and with one single nod from me, Sax uses his free hand to open the door and usher me into the meeting.
There's no turning back now, especially not when my eyes lock on Francesca.
It takes an intense millisecond for her head to snap down and her spine to stiffen as a snarl bites across her lip.
“What did you say? I didn't quite hear you.” Teddy's tone promises a warning.
Turning my attention to my left in search of him, my hands clench at my sides, matching his white knuckles as he presses them against the table, glowering at the girl in question.
“Fuck you,” she bites from further down the long table that forms the shape of a U.
“Don't make me follow through on my promise, Francesca,” he snaps, and my pulse quickens in my ears as I glance between them.
“What's going on?” I ask as Sax nudges me farther into the room, and despite the other eyes I can see staring at me, I’m fixated on the Water Protector who seems intent on defending me at every turn.
“She can't look at you,” Teddy states, shrugging his shoulders like it's as simple as that.
“Why?” I push, my pulse getting louder in my ears as I await his reply.
“Because I said so,” he offers, running his tongue along his lip as he cocks his head to the side. “You said we couldn't kill them. You didn't mention anything about this,” he adds, and it's my turn to scoff this time.
“Technically, you said I couldn't kill them.”
My gaze snaps to Odesa, who sits further around the table beside someone I believe is the lead Protector from her sodality.
“It seems we have a few new additions tonight,” Professor Viola declares, clapping her hands together, cutting through the stare off, and prompting Sax to guide me to the closest chair wedged between him and Baron.
Nerves flood my system as I take my seat, but I refuse to let it show, remaining composed and alert as I allow my gaze to fall to Bonnie sitting on the other side of Odesa. Each of them has their heads down, as if Francesca wasn't the only one to receive Teddy's warning.
Wetting my lips, I lean back in my chair, trying to remain as calm and content as possible, all while my gaze drags across everybody in the room.
Professor Viola stands at the head of the table, dead center in the U, with professors flanking her on either side, except for one empty space. What seems to be a collection of staff, rebellion leaders, protector leaders, and select students fill the rest of the space.
The door bursts open, garnering everyone's attention, and I startle when I see Silas stepping into the room.
Of course he’s here.
His mouth sets into a thin line as his eyes narrow at me before glaring at my mates and turning his attention to Professor Viola.
“Why are we forcing her to attend? That's not right.”
My jaw tics as I clear my throat. “I’m not being forced to do anything. I'm here by choice,” I declare, speaking for myself, earning a huff from the man in question as he stalks around the room and takes a seat beside Francesca.
His nostrils flare as he clenches his hands on top of the table, ignoring my presence.
Unease grows around me, linking heavily to him. I take a deep breath and convince myself I'm simply overthinking it because of last night's pissing contest he failed at winning.
A grunt comes from across the room, circling back to Odesa.
Irritation flickers to life inside of me. My lips part, but before I can breathe a single word, Baron places his hand on top of mine on the table.
My breath lodges in my throat. The desire to gape at him in disbelief is hard to fight, but I manage it.
Odesa’s eyes might not be able to reach my face, but she can see that, and the snarl on her lips is reward enough. I find myself flipping my hand on the table, so we're palm to palm, fingers interlocked. If Baron's annoyed at my pettiness, he doesn't show it as he clenches my hand tightly.
Archer sits on the other side of him, jaw tight and eyes narrowed, yet the way his scent swirls around me offers me comfort in his presence.
The door opens once again, and I prepare myself to be furious at whoever it is, but my gaze connects with a familiar set of eyes that make me smile.
I watch as surprise morphs into panic before calming into relief.
“Hugo,” I breathe as my brother stalks toward me.
He wraps me in a warm embrace from behind, resting his cheek against my head before bringing his lips to my ears. “It's good to see you, Vee.”
I smile, tilting up to look at him. “Do I get to see Lucky after?” I ask, hoping to push my luck, and he grins.
“Of course.” His hands come down on my shoulders, squeezing for support. “Are you sure you're ready?” he clarifies, and I shake my head.
“No, but I haven't been ready for any of this so far, and I'm still here.” The truth from my lips earns me another embrace, and he holds me tight.
“I’m proud of you.” His words engulf me before he clears his throat. “Have they warned you?” he asks, rising to his full height again as I look at him.
“If you mean the phoenix business, I'm aware I'm going to be the hot topic tonight. If anything, I appreciate being present for it,” I state, not wanting to be coddled.
Any conversation about me and my abilities as a phoenix has been put on pause under Hugo's order until I'm willing to be present for them. It doesn't really explain the fleeting comment of grounding that Professor Viola had with Sax and me earlier in the week, but I'll take it for what it is.
Hugo moves, taking the seat beside Professor Viola, who claps her hands and smiles, arms wide as she speaks.
“It looks like we finally have two things to discuss this evening,” she declares, her gaze finding mine, but there’s no animosity there. If anything, there’s only kindness. “Let's get to it, then, shall we?”
Silas grunts, and it takes everything in me not to react. Viola clears her throat, also choosing not to engage, as she straightens her spine and smiles.
“There is a phoenix among us, blessed by The Fates.”
“Aren't they generational?” Francesca interjects, head tilted toward the professor, who smiles tightly.
“They can only come from the same lineage, but no, it must still be blessed by The Fates,” Viola confirms, offering me an answer I could use too as she returns her attention to me. “And truly not to disregard you at all, Ivy, but the real question is, not why you, but why now?”
Silence stretches around the room until Hugo taps his fingertips on the table. “They either want us to survive or they want us to crumble,” he surmises, and Viola sighs.
“It's not the latter,” she confirms.
“I agree,” Professor Carbon states, and my lips purse slightly.
“So what do we need to survive?” the leader of the Air Protectors asks.
“We can survive with a phoenix, apparently,” Francesca retorts, and it takes everything in me to remain composed, leaning into my mother's training like I wish I didn't have to, but I must if I’m to understand more about my role in this kingdom and beyond.