Page 10 of Hero of Havoc

“I don’t,” he interjects, despite the mess that is presented before me. “I want to offer you the truth,” he clarifies, and my nostrils flare.

“I want theirs, not yours. Not yet,” I add, waving my arm around, and he nods, remaining silent as he takes a seat beside me and plants his hand on my arm.

Goosebumps trail at the contact, and it takes everything in me to fight against it as the sound of a chair dragging across the floor vibrates through the room, and Baron stands, clearing his throat.

“The Fates will bless us with a phoenix,” he starts, his voice a true replica of Professor Viola's, and I instantly understand that he's using his powers to reveal to me what I don't know, while Archer’s hand warms against my arm.

“How do you know?” he continues, his voice suddenly mimicking Professor Carbon.

“It doesn't matter. It's time we protected ourselves from the other kingdoms, and a phoenix is the only way to do it. The Fates will it so.” Professor Viola’s voice parts Baron's lips once more, and the air feels thick.

Viola seems completely unfazed as another thump sounds from my left.

“What the hell are you all talking about?” Francesca grunts, and Teddy snarls.

“Shut up, Francesca.”

I can’t stop myself from following the sound of his voice, only to find his hands are clenched, knuckles white on the table as he bares his teeth at her.

“This is ridiculous,” Bonnie hisses, trying to make herself relevant, but no one cares.

Especially not Baron, who continues. “Do they know?” he hollers, his voice matching Professor Carbon’s once again.

“No, and it will remain that way,” he continues in Viola’s tone, the short snippet a replica once again. ”For their safety and ours too,” he declares, finalizing his speech before he retakes his seat.

I drag my tongue along my bottom lip as I clear my throat.

“Who exactly knew?” I breathe, my heart fluttering in my chest.

“Viola, Carbon, our parents, your fated mates, and me,” Hugo declares.

“Why the hell didn't I know?” Francesca interrupts once again, and I'm ready to make good on my earlier threat when Sax’s voice carries through the air, cutting deeper than I could.

“You weren't worthy.”

Again, I wish I could see the look on her face at that response, but instead, I focus on the matter at hand.

“What else?” Hugo asks, his eyes silently pleading.

“Fuck what else, I want answers,” Francesca grunts back, and I scoff.

“Join the club.”

Who knew Francesca and I could be on the same page for once, but this has nothing to do with her and everything to do with me.

Glancing around the room, the tension and feeling of distrust ratchet even higher in equal measure.

Even though the secret is about me, there are many people in this room who also didn't know.

Hugo clears his throat and stands. “Ivy, I⁠—”

“I have nothing to say to you,” I blurt, crashing through whatever he’s attempting to say. “I called this meeting for you to offer me the truth on my terms, since you were never going to do it on yours,” I hiss, letting my gaze sweep over my fated mates before landing on Viola.

The reality is, I’m more than drowning now.

I can't piece together any of the information in my mind.

None of what they’ve said has helped ease the raging inferno inside of me, which makes it just as hard to figure out who deserves the brunt of my rage.