Page 66 of The Daughters of Nyx

“We can plan for dinner,” Maeve replied, and I knew she had her own plan brewing. She wanted Ivy willing to leave, and if giving her a night with her family did that, then she would play along. “We’ll make a plan for it in the morning.”

Ivy nodded, then turned her attention to Elias. “Kerry doesn’t believe we broke up. I told her, but she thinks I’m lying. I know you guys will want someone in the house, and unfortunately, my mom knows Elias.”

“Why would you tell her youbroke upwith him?” I asked. Jealousy burned a way through my gut as her eyes met mine.

“Elias and I were walking home from work when we ran into my mother. She thinks I have a boyfriend, and projected that onto Elias. I kind of went with it.” She grimaced, and

shook her head. “My mother is like a dog with a bone. But unfortunately, I think I have to go to this.”

Maeve looked as uncomfortable as Elias did. She probably would have preferred sending me or Rowan in, rather than a hot-head like Elias.

“We’ll work through the logistics in the morning. In the meantime, leave the rest for now.” Maeve turned, though said over her shoulder, “Get some sleep. We have a busy couple of days ahead of us.”

There were murmurs of agreement as she slipped into the darkness to begin her rounds. Silently, I guided Ivy and Thea into the apartment building; Elias went first, not saying a word as he bounded up the stairs and checked the girl’s apartment. When he exited, he bowed his head, then entered our apartment.

Rowan held up a hand, motioning for me to wait, and we watched Ivy and Thea enter their dark apartment, neither bothering to look back at us as they did.

“What you said…is that what really happened? Because I can’t exactly explain what I felt while you were in there, but it was powerful.”

I pursed my lips. If I told Ro the truth, then I was betraying Ivy’s trust. Trust I so badly wanted to hold onto after everything that had happened. I needed her to know that I wasn’t some slimy guy who was using her to get what I wanted. I needed her to know that I really cared for her—more than I should have.

But Ro was my best friend. Tension grew thick between us, and finally he sighed, shaking his head. “I get it. I won’t say anything. But you need to tell your mother.”

With that, he left me standing in the hallway, alone with my jumbled thoughts.

23

IVY

COFFEE and croissants should havepulled me out of the dark hole I seemed to find myself in, but instead, it only made my head hurt more, because I knew it was one of the supes who had gone to get them.

For the first time in days, Thea and I were completely alone in our apartment, and I couldn’t help but feel the darkness deep within my bones. The knowledge rattled inside of me, almost painful in the way it shredded through my skin and scorched my heart.

I was confused about my own feelings, and that scared me. I was usually a hell of a lot more attuned with my emotions, but since their appearance, I’d been looking at my

own heart through a foggy window, barely able to perceive what I wanted—no, what Ineeded.

I gritted my teeth and finished the croissant, not once tasting the flaky, buttery goodness. The coffee tasted like ash on my tongue as I gulped down the last couple of mouthfuls. Neither were good signs.

Maybe I’m just getting sick.

There’s one thing Thea and I would always say when we got sick:you know it’s bad when you can’t even stomach coffee.

Maybe that’s what’s happening.

Clearing my throat, I pushed away from the island. Thea watched me curiously, her blonde hair pulled into two small loops atop her head—not quite buns, but something similar. Since cutting it short, she’d been regretting it, since she couldn’t do any of her fun hairstyles anymore, or pull it up at the very least. But in summer, it was far more functional.

“What’s going through that strange mind of yours?” Thea asked finally as she eyed the piled dishes in our sink.

My teeth clenched as I rinsed and loaded our dishwasher. How could I explain everything going onnow? How could I explain the inability to understand my own emotions, the strange hurt crushing me now that the supes were leaving us alone? How could I tell her about what happened last night? I wanted to admit to everything, but if I said the words aloud, I was afraid it would mean the end of everything I knew and loved.

How could I tell her that the longer we hung around this in-between world where we toed the line of the supernatural, the more useless and worthless I was beginning to feel?

All I wanted was a night of wine, pizza, and ice cream. SomeOutlander,and Jamie to give me hope for love. Maybe some bitching about our crazy neighbours and this dangerous world we’d been sucked into. Cry a little for the Ivy that died the night she learnt about all of this.

I released a breath and leaned against the sink with a shrug. “Bad feelings,” was all I could say before my throat grew tight with tears.

Thea’s eyes softened and she rounded the open dishwasher. “I know a lot is changing, Ives, but I also know you’re the strongest person ever. If anyone is going to take this and make it work for them, it’s you.” She brushed a hand across my warm cheeks. “You weremadefor this.”

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