Page 86 of Hero of Havoc

“Am I saying it’s safe? No, but it’s not seemingly safe here, either. Besides, we’re all becoming a little more accustomed to Ivy at this stage, which means this can go one of two ways: we execute the plan with her at our side, or force her to stay here. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t want to face her wrath.”

I can’t argue with that assessment, and it’s almost nice to have it acknowledged, but it doesn’t tamp down the nerves threading through my body.

“I want to be there,” I add, making sure it’s clear from my lips too, and Baron rolls his eyes.

His lips part, another protest nestled on the tip of his tongue, but before he can breathe a single word, Archer clears his throat.

“I would rather the challenge of having Ivy at our side than control her. It hasn’t worked for us so far, and this won’t be any different.”

“Well, I think it’s an insane idea,” Baron huffs, letting his arms drop to his sides as Sax sighs.

“All of our ideas are on the crazy scale right now, but he’s right, Baron. Besides, if we’re all there, we can keep her safer than if we split up.”

“That’s fair,” Teddy adds, continuing to discuss the matter like I’m not here. “Besides, there’s no shielding her from the madness now.”

“If that’s all settled, can we run through the plan one more time before we leave?” I ask, inserting myself into the conversation again.

“I can manage the cliffnotes, but we’re already late,” Archer states, glancing at his watch, and I sigh but keep my frustrations to myself as Archer grabs my heels from the foot of my bed.

My breath catches as he eliminates the distance between us, dropping to his knees with ease before he reaches for my ankle. His touch is delicate as he lifts my foot off the floor, gently placing it against his thigh before slipping my heel on and fastening the clasp.

The room is silent, everyone tracking his moves as my pulse rings in my ears.

“I know you’ve met my father before, Ivy. I wish you hadn’t, and I wish the circumstances weren’t so… diabolical, but he relishes being that man,” he explains, fixated on the task he’s given himself instead of making eye contact. As if sensing my thoughts, his gaze snaps to mine. “There may be times tonight when I may… reflect him in more ways than I care to admit.”

My eyebrows pinch in confusion as a hand lands on my shoulder.

“I think what Archer is trying to say is that when he acts like an ass later, he doesn’t mean to. Mostly,” Teddy explains, his hand ghosting down my arm soothingly.

I nod, but it falls flat as worry threatens to get the better of me.

Part of me wishes I were back on the beach, being claimed in the water, where no worries or concerns for myself existed. I liked focusing on Teddy, but I should have known it wouldn’t last long.

A flash of red bursts into my room, followed by another, and I startle as Coal enters my personal space with Ember right beside him. “Archer, sir, your father⁠—”

“I know, Coal. We’re leaving now. Thank you,” he interjects, and his sprite sags with relief. Standing, Archer straightens his suit jacket before extending a hand to me. “Let’s not make a liar out of me,” he breathes as I press my palm against his and he pulls me to my feet.

My shimmering dress ghosts against my upper thighs as I stay at his side, letting him usher me to the door. I feel far too done up to execute a plan, even if I don’t truly understand what it entails. I’m just happy to be involved. The pale, pink sequins glisten under the lights, while my hair falls around my face in soft curls, acting as the perfect shield from the rest of the world.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, two more hands land on my arms as we step through the flames, everyone unscathed, and we start down the path.

“How are we getting there?” I ask, and Archer digs his other hand into his pocket, retrieving his compass.

My throat dries with nerves. I think I might be sick.

“We don’t have to walk far; we just need a little more distance away from the sodality buildings for it to work,” Sax explains, and I nod, uncertainty frazzling with anticipation as I plaster my free hand against my stomach.

“I’ve got you, Ivy,” Archer breathes, and Baron grunts.

“We’ve got you,” he corrects as we come to a stop beside the treeline that marks the boundary to the forest.

“Here will do,” Archer murmurs, pulling his compass from his pocket once again while the others help form a circle.

Releasing Archer’s hand, I follow suit, completing the shape, and I take the moment to assess each of them. They’re all dressed in black from head to toe, a stark contrast to my pale pink, and it only makes them look harsher, more jagged, and edgier. Their shirts are tucked into the pants, top button undone with a tailored jacket draping their frames, but I don’t miss that they opted for black combat boots instead of shiny dress shoes.

Something tells me there’s more trouble than I’m anticipating on the other side of this compass, but there’s only one way to find out.

“Ready?” Archer asks, earning a round of nods from the guys, but his eyes are fixed on mine.