Page 112 of Hero of Havoc

“Okay, despite the circumstances,” Teddy mutters, while Archer scoffs.

“I’m feeling a little frustrated, if I'm honest,” he bites, his gaze snatching toward the room beside me, while my mother exhales softly, a gentle nod in understanding.

“That makes complete sense. But you shouldn't pass judgment without walking in their shoes,” she breathes, not defending my brother, but offering a neutral standpoint, and that seems to irritate Archer more.

“I don't see much difference in our shoes,” Archer retorts, and my mother snickers, the sound sad.

“Have you experienced a power enhancement yet, Archer Bowen?” she pushes, and he shakes his head. “Then they're not the same shoes.” Before he can respond, she tilts her head at Teddy. “Baron mentioned a power enhancement with you yesterday?” she questions, and he clears his throat as he scrubs the back of his neck nervously.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“And how did that feel?”

He rubs his lips together before he exhales. “Different.”

“Heightened too?” my mother presses, and he nods. “Now, those shoes sound a little similar,” she decides before clearing her throat. “Let me pop my head in on our girl, and then I can check on my other son to make sure he’s not plotting his own demise,” she declares, clapping her hands together as she approaches Ivy's door.

“She’s in there with Hugo and the medical team,” I explain, but she waves me off, stepping inside and closing the door behind her without even considering knocking.

I expect her to get kicked out a moment later, but that's foolish of me. This woman finds a way to have a seat at every table, and this is no different.

“Is she going to be okay?” Aster asks, and Cami instinctively moves to her side, wrapping her arm around her twin’s shoulder as she looks to me for answers.

My heart aches. “This is Ivy we're talking about. She's always going to be okay,” I rasp, but I feel like the words are more for me than anybody else. Thankfully, my sisters offer me a pair of watery smiles before they slip into the family room beside me.

I can only hope my words offer them a reprieve from the distress, but I don't think it lasts long because I hear a quick hitch of breath, and I know they’ve found Sax.

The huff that follows confirms he's about to get roasted.

I can protect him from the others out here, but from our sisters? There's no chance in Hell.

“What were you thinking?” Cami snaps.

“You better have a good explanation for this,” Aster adds. “That's my sister in there,” she insists, and I try my best to drown my family out, staring at Ivy’s door as uncertainty wars inside me.

I feel helpless, lost to my thoughts, and desperate to make it all right again when Garside reaches for the handle and pulls the door closed.

My spine stiffens at his proximity.

“Let's take a walk,” he murmurs, and I shake my head.

“I’m good here.”

He leans in close, his words only audible to me, like I don't have the ability to hear whispers from across the room. “You're not okay, Baron. I'd like to make sure my son isn't broken into a million pieces in this hallway tonight. Let's take a walk,” he repeats, and my gaze travels over his shoulder to where my father stands, eyes curiously fixed on mine.

He nods, and before I can think any better of it, I fall into step with Garside.

Every inch away from Ivy feels like the tightening of a noose around my neck, desperately trying to pull me back to her. As we reach the end of the hall, I stop altogether, not wanting to fight against it.

“I can't leave,” I grunt, and he offers me a tight smile.

“It's right here, isn't it?” he mumbles, tapping his hand on his chest, and I frown. “The all-consuming sensation you get when you're not near her? Tears right here, doesn’t it? Your mother only has to leave the room and I feel as if my insides are going to shatter, like she's pulled a pin from a grenade and I'm about to suffer the consequences.”

Dragging a hand down my face, I sigh. “That's oddly… accurate,” I mutter, silently falling into step with him once more as we slowly wind our way through the medical center halls.

“How are you holding up? And don't say you're okay because I obviously already know that that's not true.”

I fix my gaze to the floor, lips twisting with agitation, not wanting to answer. I don't do well with my… with Garside. It’s not new news, but with all the thoughts running around in my head, it feels impossible to ignore his question.