Page 53 of A Debt of Darkness

I’m not worried. They’re easing into a friendship and it’s good for her. I’d assumed she would connect with Ryan first, but she’s giving him the cold shoulder, refusing to forgive him for bringing her here. Or how he brought her here.

“They’re getting on well,” Ryan says, peering at the monitor.

He hasn’t entirely forgiven Ivy for attacking his partner. He’s been unusually clingy when I’ve seen them together and it’s beginning to grate on Matt. They’ll figure it out. They’ll fight for dominance until they find their equilibrium.

Matt laughs and Ivy flaps her hands around, enjoying whatever joke they’re sharing. The truth is she finds him easy to spend time with and she needs the company.

She panics every time she’s left alone.

I can’t spend every minute of her waking day with her or let her wander around the castle. She isn’t safe. Not until I’ve claimed her fully. Until then, others might try to steal her from me. It’d be a fucking bold move, but Ivy is magnificent and some might be tempted. Not everyone in the coven is as loyal as Matt and Ryan—and someone unlocked her door, providing her an opportunity to escape.

She could have been killed. Or worse.

It was almost a complete fucking disaster.

And we’re no closer to figuring out who the fuck it was. My patience is running out and if Ryan doesn’t come up with something soon, I’m going to lose my goddamn shit.

“Are we any closer?”

Ryan shifts. “To finding out what happened with her father? Or figuring out who’s been threatening her?”

At least Ryan’s taking it seriously. He might be upset with her, but he isn’t fucking around. When he isn’t fawning over Matt, he’s working flat out and he’s got nowhere. On bothissues.

It’s worrying.

Because Ryan is good. Exceptionally good.

It means whoever opened Ivy’s door knew what the fuck they were doing and covered their tracks. It wasn’t an accident or a misunderstanding. It was a deliberate, planned attack on my mate, and I’m beyond furious. I’m incandescent with rage and the progress I’m making with Ivy is the only thing stopping me from losing it completely.

We need to keep her safe. I need to protect her.

It’s damn near impossible when you’re fighting an invisible enemy.

“I’ve got nothing more on her escape. The feed was cut and whoever did it was clever enough not to leave any evidence behind. They’re good, Henry. We should ask Ivy how her door was opened.”

I arch my eyebrow and nod. I’m going to have to ask her. Just as I’m going to have to tell her everything else. It might be kinder to get it over with sooner, but we’re making progress and I don’t want setbacks. She’s beginning to trust me and I need to keep our momentum going. Until she’s mine and safe—and we can deal with any repercussions later.

“I have some news about her father.” Ryan’s tone is tense and this isn’t going to be good. “His head of security quit and disappeared. It’s odd, given his connection to the family. We’ll track him down and if there’s a rift, we’ll use it.”

Good.

Not great. Not ideal.

But Ryan’s right. It’s an opportunity we can’t waste. Her father’s head of security should know everything that went on under his roof, and getting the information out of him is the most likely way I’ll find out what’s in Ivy’s past. Unless she tellsme herself and pushing her for that isn’t my priority now.

I turn my attention back to the monitor, and the girl who’s busy playing with someone who isn’t me. Fuck, she’s rolling all over Matt and my fists clench as they tumble on the floor.

He’s touching her.

Touching what’s mine.

Daring to steal her touches and her laughter.

My eyes narrow and I lose my goddamn mind.

Ryan’s fixated on the video as I charge out of the office, racing for her bedroom. I’m going to fucking kill him for this. I don’t give a shit if he’s Ryan’s partner. I don’t care if he’s Ivy’s friend. He’s touched something that belongs to me, and I won’t let him take it from me.

I throw the door open and watch Ivy throw a punch at Matt. It lands squarely in his chest. Shit. He’s turned on her and I move without hesitation, heading straight for them. She avoids his parry and strikes again, and Matt grins down at her as he’s forced backward.

---