Page 129 of Hero of Havoc

I smile, appreciating the offer as I recall his ability to drain away magic.

I can’t help but wonder if he would be able to do that to my mother so I might be able to get some answers, but I swallow the curiosity for now as I take a backward step. I don’t make it far before Dorian’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Oh, I just got a message from Toby on the way in. Have you seen?” he asks, and I shake my head. “Meadow has shifted back.”

I exhale a heavy breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “That’s fantastic news. Will she be open to visitors?” I ask, and he shakes his head.

“He mentioned tomorrow, but she’s doing a lot of sleeping right now.”

“Of course, that makes total sense, but if you get any more news before I hear anything, will you let me know, please?”

He nods, offering me a wink before he disappears into the crowd, and Archer doesn’t waste a moment dragging me toward our usual hiding spot behind the rock.

“He has a thing for you,” Archer states as he takes a seat, leaning against the heated wall behind us.

“Does that bother you?” I ask, and he tilts his head at me.

“You know?”

I shrug. “Not really, but the night of the charity event, he started asking some questions, but I got caught up in Teddy after seeing his mother slap him across the face.”

Archer scoffs. “A slap feels like nothing these days when it comes to our parents.”

I hum my agreement, worrying my bottom lip for a moment as I eye the man beside me. “How is your mom?”

“She’s doing well. She doesn’t want to fall into old habits, but the desire seeps back into your brain whether you want it to or not. The doctors are happy with her progress.”

“And Arabella? Is she holding up okay?”

His smile turns sad. “She’s been better, but she’s strong. She was asking about you earlier, actually.”

“She was?” I can’t hide the smile on my face as he nods.

“It seems she likes you almost as much as I do.”

“You like me?” I push, nudging his arm with my own, and he presses a kiss to my shoulder, looking up at me through his lashes as he speaks.

“I definitely like you, Ivy.”

Butterflies spread from my stomach, dancing through my body as I try to hide my heated cheeks from him. Turning away, I falter when I spy movement off to our right.

“Archer?” I breathe, his name a question on my tongue as I clench his thigh, not moving my gaze from its target.

He doesn’t speak a word, but I hear the shift in his breathing.

Off in the shadows of the far-off corner, familiar eyes hold my attention. But it’s not who they are that has me holding my breath, but what they’re doing.

Silas.

He’s not looking at me, and if he senses my gaze burning into the side of his head, he doesn’t show it. He’s too busy whispering in Professor Carbon’s ear, his hand pressed against her stomach as she smiles.

“Is that a thing?” I murmur, and Archer shakes his head.

“No,” he whispers, watching the same scene unravel as the tips of Silas’s fingers tease beneath the waistband of her combat pants, lips ghosting her cheek before he leans back.

She nods eagerly at him as she tucks her hair behind her ear.

“I mean, it can be whatever they want. It has nothing to do with me. I can’t say anything when I have four freaking mates,” I ramble, turning away from the seemingly intimate moment, but it seems Archer doesn’t have the same mindset as he clambers to his feet. “Archer, what are you doing?” I whisper-shout, and he extends his hand in my direction.

I place my palm against his without question, and he hikes me to my feet, pinning me to his side as he starts moving.