Page 27 of The Daughters of Nyx

Horny Ivy is out to play.

10

ADRIAN

I didn’t think I could get enough of her eyes. They were as warm as summer, yet held the secrets of autumn, swirling with power that could bend the knees of just about any hardened soldier, and commanded a sense of respect from anyone who looked her way.

The power radiating from her reminded me of my mother, though not as potent. My mother had five hundred years of honing her magic and eight mates to help her do so.

Ivy had none of that, and likely wouldn’t until we finally got her back to Avalon.

My heart clenched at the idea. Once she returned, there would be no use for me, because she’d be whisked away by my mother and Seer Sable to begin her training. There would

be balls and festivals welcoming her to the island—to help her find her mates. She may even have to spend a semester at Oberon Academy—the best scholars and teachers walked those halls, and it would make sense to engage her with those who’d one day work alongside her.

I swallowed hard and brought my tea back up to my lips. Her laughter filled my ears, the sound as soft as the wings of pixies.

“Wait, is that how youreallymet?” she asked, leaning in.

I nodded, lips tightening into a smile. “Yeah, unfortunately. Our mothers are best friends—they’re basically joined at the hip. But I was raised by my dad mostly, so I never really knew Rowan until we were in high school.”

Ivy grinned, shaking her head, and I couldn’t help but reciprocate it. Watching her smile… it was like getting drunk on the highest quality whisky; like facing the sun and feeling its warmth on your face.

“So, you, what, had some kind of rivalry?”

I shook my head. “Not really. Although, my brother,heand Rowan didn’t get along—they still don’t. I’m not sure why, and they won’t tell me.” Ivy picked up her coffee—the second since we ordered, this time caramel flavoured—and sipped. “You might have better luck getting that story out of him, though. He won’t say no to a beautiful woman.”

She stiffened, her hand still raised. Something like uncertainty flickered in her eyes. “How did you meet then?” she asked, avoiding that comment altogether.

I tucked that away for later. I was afraid if I broached that topic with her now, she’d shut down on me. And I was making progress.

And feeling shit about it.

“We were forced to be partners on a…science project.” Potions assignment, actually. “And he let the experiment blow up in my face—literally. Unfortunately, he had a bit of a rebellious streak.”

Ivy smiled, cocking a brow. “Is he stillinthat streak?”

“Of course.” I shrugged, and her smile widened.

“Didyouhave a reputation?”

My lips twisted into a half smile as I thought back on those days at Oberon Academy. “My older sister wasthemean girl. She ran the school, so most people who saw me saw her and the pain she could inflict. And she was protective over me as my only full-blooded sibling.” I clamped my mouth shut. I hadn’t been planning on revealing that, but now Ivy watched me with a strange expression on her face.

“I have half siblings too,” she replied softly. “Three little sisters.”

“I have some older siblings and a younger sister.” In total, there were about twelve of us—my older sisterwasn’tthe mean girl; at the time, she’d been headmistress of the academy, over a hundred years older than me. We were the only children of Queen Greer and Sir Theon.

I was the second youngest after two failed pregnancies. The youngest was born after three more.

I’d thought that was when Seer Sable, my mother, and our family knew her reign was coming to an end.

“So, I’m guessing Rowan didn’t care about that, then?” Ivy prompted.

I sighed, shaking my head. “Goddess no, he actually thrived on that kind of chaos. My sister knew him well though,

so she let it slide. I think that pissed him off a little bit. But I’m also certain he didn’tmeanto blow up our experiment in my face. I think my hair was blue for a week.”

Ivy choked on a laugh. “Blue?” She reached over the table and tugged a strand of my hair; I held my breath as she looped the strand around her index finger. “I think I’m glad it didn’t stick,” she breathed.

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