Page 133 of Hero of Havoc

IVY

“Idon’t think we should do this,” Teddy murmurs, standing in front of my bedroom window with his arms folded over his chest.

“Teddy—”

“We’ve been over this a thousand times already, I know, but I’m worried about you,” he admits, spreading his arms out wide, and I step into his embrace.

His arms envelop me as he rocks me from side to side, but with the sun firmly in the sky and the day already started, he knows it’s time to move.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asks, his lips brushing against my hair, and I nod.

“I won’t be alone, remember? Hugo is coming with me.” My reassurance falls a little flat as he sighs, dragging a hand down his face.

“We’re walking over there with her, at least,” Sax states, drawing my attention to where he stands by the door, offering me a gentle smile. One that I return.

“Thank you.”

“Can we at least go over the plan one more time on our way?” Teddy asks, earning a groan from Baron.

“If it means it will shut you up, absolutely.”

Teddy gives him a pointed look as he throws his arm around my shoulder, guiding me toward the exit where Archer waits, the door already wide open to encourage us.

It’s silent as we head down the stairs, but I feel oddly calm knowing that Dorian can’t gain access to my personal space while I’m gone, not when he’s in the dungeons. Silas, Odesa, and the others are in the cell beside him; for how much longer, I don’t know, but right now, it’s just protocol.

Regardless, I feel the calmest and most free since arriving here, and I say that as I dare to step toward impending doom.

I barely slept last night, my mind spiraling with endless possibilities, but after catching Hugo and the others up on what we learned, a plan was devised, and all I have to do now is follow through on it.

Gulping, I try to shake the tension from my limbs as we step outside and the warmth from the sun floods my veins. My steps slow as I relish the sensation, but Teddy has no patience.

“Plan,” he mutters, and Archer sighs.

“We’re heading to the arena now, where the relic is waiting with Hugo. Dorian insists the relic doesn’t come with a vision, and with his parting words insisting that he knows she didn’t touch the relic because she’s still here makes us all believe it’s a portal hidden within.”

“An assumption, that’s exactly what we need,” Teddy grumbles, and Baron gives him a pointed look.

“You’ve said that exact same thing every time we’ve gone over the plan. You’re not making this any easier for her, so shut the fuck up.”

I press my lips into a thin line, unable to deny Baron’s words, but I still feel bad for Teddy.

“Regardless, the decision has been made for Ivy and Hugo to touch the relic together. If it opens as a portal, we can all go through; if it acts as a portal without opening for everyone, they will at least be together; and if it doesn’t transport anyone anywhere, then we move onto another plan. One certain fact remains: Ivy has to touch it, because no matter who else has, nothing happened.”

“Damn Leonardo Corrigan and his witchcraft,” Teddy mutters under his breath, irritation clouding his vision, while I remain silently impressed with the mechanisms at work here.

I let my focus drift to the pretty flowers lining the pathway as we bypass the main academy building and continue toward the arena.

Classes are in full swing for everyone but those affected by the past twenty-four hours, and I can’t deny that there’s a part of me that was completely oblivious to all of this going on. Maybe one day I’ll get to live a life of my choosing, but I’m pretty sure today isn’t that day.

Instead, I’m battling nerves and anticipation as the arena appears in the distance.

“Any information on what they’re going to do with Dorian the Dickhead?” Teddy asks, and Sax shakes his head.

“I think everyone was so certain that this wasn’t actually happening, no one knows how to actually handle it. It’s like the whole Odesa jumping Ivy situation. Nothing came of it because they didn’t know what to do,” Sax states, and Archer scoffs.

“Fuck that. They have to do something this time,” he insists as Baron nods in agreement.

“They have to take this more seriously now, though. Right? Odesa only affected me, but Dorian, he was using some kind of magic to control others. It hasn’t just affected us. The campus, as a whole, has been placed under threat repeatedly because of his actions,” I state, and Teddy squeezes my hand.