Page 53 of The Daughters of Nyx

IVY

THREE days of dancing aroundthe supes and avoiding my mother’s phone calls came to a head around lunch on Tuesday.

Elias walked beside me, his posture stiff, and his eyes roaming the busy streets like he expected a hellhound to run through traffic and attack us outside Kenny’s Pizza Parlour. I almost rolled my eyes, but then thought better, because what did I really know about this world? The demonscouldvery well attack and I’d be none the wiser, wouldn’t I?

One of the ways Thea and I were dealing with thesupeswas calling them just that. There was something funny, she thought, referring them to soup, since she was working on a

new special at theCamillafor the boss, and it just so happened to be soup.

We only referred to them as such to one another though, because I could only imagine Elias’s eyeroll if he heard us say it aloud in his presence.

I’d almost missed my mother’s familiar brown eyes and wider frame, but as soon as her words registered, I’d almost wished I hadn’t stopped. And that Elias—the least charming supe and definitely the scariest—wasn’t the one walking beside me. But it was his shift to stalk me at the hotel, and that meant spending unnecessary amounts of time in awkward silence because he couldn’t seem to bring himself to speak a word to me. Okay, he spoke words, but usually ‘ready?’ and ‘no’.

Which didn’t count.

But my mother’s dark eyes widened and burned brighter as she took in his hulking frame beside me. I knew what she saw: a handsome young man with messy, brown hair, streaked with gold, short and styled neatly like a soldier. His dark green eyes, like the shadows against pine trees, were framed by dark, thick lashes, and although he had a scar through his lips, it didn’t take away from how handsome he was.

And I knew Kerry Sullivan ate that up.

My youngest sister gripped Kerry’s hand, her tight, black curls pinned up with pink bows. For a six year old, the kid was a little small and looked like a cute little cherub, her cheeks rosy and belly perfect for blowing raspberries and the tickle monster.

Her wide, blue eyes found me and lit up. “Ivy!”

I would have winced at her squeal, but I leaned down to gather her in my arms, pulling her into my body despite the constraints of my pencil skirt.

“Hello, nugget,” I murmured, holding her tightly to me. “What are you doing all the way out here?”

“Momma wanted to surprise you!” she said, staring up at me with those wide eyes that made it difficult to be pissed at my mom.

Kerry fucking Sullivan knew exactly what she was doing, yet again. Weaponizing my sister against me so that she could finally get what she wanted.

I carefully looked to Elias, who was watching everything with a careful, practiced smile.

Fuck. This was the last thing I wanted him to see.

Kerry approached with one of her fake adoring smiles and wrapped me in a hug, trapping Maisie between us. The kid didn’t seem to mind, giggling at us both.

“Oh baby, it’s been too long!” Kerry said, pulling away. Her dark eyes curiously went to Elias, who stepped in closer to my side.

No, no, no!I knew he was being protective, but my mother wouldn’t see it that way. She’d assumehewas the mystery boyfriend. She’d latch onto him and wouldn’t let go.

Her gaze swung to mine, eyebrows raised. “Is this your boyfriend, Ivy?” she asked dramatically, fluttering her lashes. “Isn’t he just handsome.”

From the corner of my eye, Elias’s eyes widened. Panic coursed through me and before I knew what I was doing, I found myself nodding. “Yep. This is Elias.”

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she looked happy for me as I reached for his large, calloused hand and entwined our fingers. Fire erupted from the touch. I felt him tense, but his hand gripped mine like I was going to be ripped from his arms. For a moment, I wondered what it would be like to have someone like him to take home to my mother; to have by my side when the bullshit started.

But I didn’t want him anywhere near her toxicity. I didn’t wantanyof the supes around her. Any friends that weren’t Thea had stayed far away from her, and eventually just disappeared from my life, because even they’d known she was toxic. The last thing I wanted was for someone like Elias to meet her and judge me for what she was like. I didn’t want him to see her when he looked at me.

But I kept the smile plastered across my face as my mother held out her hand. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. Ivy has told me so much about you!”

Elias, ever the good soldier, shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you too, Ms. Sullivan.”

A pink blush coloured Kerry’s full cheeks. “Oh, you can call me Kerry.” She waved a hand dismissively before tugging Maisie out of my grip. “Have you spoken to him about dinner this weekend? I never heard back from you and Thea about Eloise’s birthday, and I just know she’d want you all there.”

I knew for a fact she wouldn’t, but I still nodded. “We’re still discussing the…logistics, but I’ll let you know soon.”

My mother frowned. “Oh, surely you know your work schedule for Saturday night.”

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