Page 68 of The Daughters of Nyx

We entered a darkly familiar street. There were decorations still hanging from trees and around houses from Halloween; a giant skeleton loomed over a plastic cemetery, while spiders climbed over a different house. I missed this part of living in a small town; the outlandish decorating and the children who trick-or-treated. Before Thea and I had our own traditions, I’d taken my sisters out every year and made their costumes.

I looked away from the familiar homes and glared at my own. We pulled in across the street; the upstairs lights were off, yet despite that, I could see the old blood-stickers on the glass. The decorations were minimal this year, mostly because

I think Kerry hated putting effort into doing anything that used to be my job.

“Rowan, Adrian, and I will remain here, and once you are inside, we’ll spread out.” Maeve didn’t look at me as she spoke. “Rowan, check the house for anyone who shouldn’t be here. Any magic signatures.”

Behind me, Rowan muttered a ‘yes sir’. I turned in my seat and watched as he closed his eyes; I could feel his magic as it climbed over my skin, but it wasn’t uncomfortable or weird. Rather, it reminded me of smoke as it brushed over me and went out towards my house.

After a few quiet moments, his eyes opened, and the magic that had spread out around us returned to him. The magic had turned his eyes a dark brown, which receded into his normal, beautiful hazel.

“All clear, only Kerry and the three girls in there.”

I blew out a breath as Maeve said, “Alright, you’re clear to head out. Elias will let us know when it’s time to leave. If anything happens, we’ll get you out. We’ll have secondary teams here immediately.”

I stiffened, and turned back to face the front of the car. “Do you think they’ll attack us here?”

Maeve didn’t look at me. “It’s always a possibility. We were lucky last night. There were no followers that I could sense when we returned, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be safe here.”

Thea and I shared a look. Fear nestled in my chest as we both turned to the door. “Make sure the kids are safe, if anything does happen,” I replied. “They’re young. They don’t deserve to be put in the middle of all this.”

No one responded. Instead, Thea and I slipped from the backseat. Elias appeared beside us a moment later; he’d dressed casually in jeans and a tight-fitting black sweater. I could almost see the hilts of daggers peeking out from the cuffs of his combat boots.

“Hold hands,” Thea muttered. “If we’re gonna lie through our teeth, then you two need to act the part of loving couple.”

I made a face, but she was right.Of course, she is, she’s Thea. So, I held out my hand to the gruff wolf and waited. He stared at it, then at me, eyes darkening. I almost expected him to shove his hands into his pockets and leave us on the street, but finally, he took my hand, his strong, calloused fingers wrapping around mine gently, reverently. It was different to holding Adrian’s hand, but I still found my heart fluttering all the same, enjoying the way it made me feelsafeandprotected.

I couldn’t understand why he made me feel this way, but I also didn’t want to question it. Not tonight.

Tonight, I was old Ivy. The old Ivy with a hot boyfriend and a huge bag of gifts for her little sister.

I took the first step, then glanced back at the SUV. I could almost feel their eyes on me, but I sucked in a breath.

You can do this, I thought, as Elias’s hand tightened around mine, and the front door opened to reveal an over-dressed Maisie, grinning from ear to ear.

You are the future Queen of Nyx,a different voice whispered, sending a shiver down my spine.You can survive anything.

24

IVY

THE smell of spaghetti bolognaise filteredthrough the house as we crossed the threshold. Maisie clung to me, her cheeks red from the pinch of cold outside, but she’d met us on the front lawn and thrown herself first at Elias, then Thea, and finally at me.

Seeing her folded in Elias’s arms both sent a spark of amusement and happiness through me, the latter of which I couldn’t explain. He’d made no complaint as he knelt down to hug her with one arm, keeping the other hand tucked firmly within my own, and when she’d wiggled her way out of his embrace, he’d looked almost…happy.

Content.

Elias liked children. I wouldn’t have ever guessed by the way he acted around the rest of us, but seeing him almost exhale in relief when being accepted by my little sister, almost made my heart burst from my chest.

Maisie wouldn’t release me untilafterwe made it inside, chattering on about starting school and making all sorts of new friends as she did. The entry was warm thanks to Kerry’s cooking, and as we closed the door behind us to keep the warmth from escaping, I noticed Eloise in the living room, surrounded by pink and purple balloons, a book in her hands.

She actually looked up as we entered, her eyes going wide as they landed on Elias. “Holy crap,that’syour boyfriend?”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Yes, Eloise, this is Elias.”

She frowned sceptically, but rose from an armchair Kerry recently bought. My sister looked more like me and our mother than she’d cared to admit, save for her eyes—she’d gotten them from her dad. All three girls shared the same aquamarine eyes, wide like mine and Kerry’s, and framed by dark, thick lashes.

Eloise stepped up to us and I took in her tall frame. She was almost my height, and if she wore heels, she’d probably be able to look down at me.

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