Page 44 of The Daughters of Nyx

“This is crazy,” Ivy whispered, shaking her head. “So fucking crazy.”

“Your magic will start manifesting itself soon, outbursts that can easily cause damage if not restrained.” Grey leaned forward, a hint of sadness entering her cerulean blue eyes. “The sooner we get you somewhere safe, the quicker you’ll be able to control yourself. But without that control, you risk hurting not only yourself—but everyone around you.”

Anger and sadness radiated from the new would-be-Queen as she closed her eyes. “Not saying that I believe anything you’re saying, but how would I learn control? Hogwarts?”

Rowan snickered beside her, but the mortal comment was lost on Grey and I. “You find your mates,” I replied coolly, wolf snarling at the words. “Their power lends to your own and acts as anchors. Without them, you can lose yourself to the power Nyx is flooding you with.”

Ivy opened her eyes, finding my stare. “Mates? Like…” Her face scrunched up with confusion. “Soul mates?”

I shrugged, but Grey spared me a look before responding. “Fated mates. Nyx’s Chosen for you.” For the first time since

meeting her, Grey looked almost uncertain by her words. “The more fated mates you have, the more power you have.”

Colour drained from Ivy’s face as her eyes fell to her hands. “I don’t really understand what you mean.”

Her words should have rubbed me wrong, should have caused some kind of irritation, and yet, I felt only a deepening sadness the longer I watched her. “Nyx created mates for you long before you were born. The strongest, most powerful beings in our world most likely, aside from those who already mated with Queen Greer,” I replied, softer than I’d intended, but when those doe-wide eyes found mine again, my heart stuttered a beat. “You’ll need at least three to compete with your power. To protect you.”

She blew out a breath and fell back against the couch. Rubbing a hand over her face, it took her a moment to respond, and we waited, the tension thick in the air.

It gave me a moment to really take her in; dark circles lined her eyes, which drooped with exhaustion. Realistically, we should have planted her in her bedroom and let her sleep off the attack, but that wouldn’t have been fair. Her questions played in the chocolate and honey of her irises, and even from here, I could tell there was more she wanted to know.

“Shelving the wholematething for a moment,” she muttered, clasping her hands in her lap. “What-when…” She growled, the sound cute as she threw her head back against the couch. “What does this all mean for me? My life? What about my family? My friends? If what you’re telling me is true—even though I’m still having a hard time digesting that I’m supposed to be aQueen—then everything changes. I’m nothuman. I wouldn’t believe any of this if…” She paused, her

eyes finding me. “I wouldn’t believe any of this if I hadn’t actuallyseenwhat you could do.”

With that one look, somethingclickedin my chest, unfurling a fury of emotions and scents that should have knocked me on my ass. I could only tense as her scent strengthened, wrapping around me, coffee and vanilla spiced with cinnamon tickling my nose and bringing my wolf to its stomach.

Mate,the beast whispered.Mine.

It wanted to go to her, claim her right here. Without thinking, I took a step towards her, pushing off the wall.

Ivy’s eyes widened, almost like she felt that pulsatingneedthat swept through me.

Before I could even consider what the beast meant bymate,a key entered the apartment lock, turning over. I tucked away the feelings temporarily, the spell between Ivy and I now broken. I held up my hand, stopping all conversation.

“Hey, Ivy, where’s the baby rash cream? I am suffering like a preacher in hell with under boob sweat right now and need to apply before this gets any—” Ivy’s roommate trailed off as her eyes landed on us. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t realise you had company.” Her gaze fell on Ivy, who sat wedged between Archer and Kingsley.

Ivy opened her mouth, then closed it. “How did you know I was home?”

Thea closed and locked the door with a frown. “Uh, because you texted me you were going to be home early? Are you okay?”

Ivy turned her furious gaze on the two mages beside her, then Maeve. “Did you take my phone?”

Before the boss could respond, Thea was charging across the room, throwing her purse down onto the floor by the door. She grabbed Ivy by the wrist and yanked her from the couch, pulling her into her body while dragging her away from us.

Softly, Thea whispered, “What the hell is going on? Do we need to call the cops?”

“Do that, and you risk putting your friend in even more danger,” I replied calmly, unable to tear my eyes from Ivy’s shuddering frame. She hadn’t stopped shaking since we brought her back to the apartment. Still, her curvy frame trembled from shock and fear.

Her roommate frowned, and for the first time, I really took in her scent.Other, it screamed,danger.

As if sensing the same thing, Grey rose and appeared beside the two women, eyes red. “What are you, Thea Riley?”

16

IVY

“WHAT are you, Thea Riley?”

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