Page 12 of The Crown of Nyx

She showed them that she would protect them, regardless of where they placed their alliance.

Ivy stepped back, wearing her destroyed dress and crown with pride. The wound in her side had long since healed, and now the tear in her gown revealed her blood-stained skin. Yet despite how she looked, each agent gazed at her with enough reverence it didn’t seem to matter.

Ivy was a powerful force; the Goddess incarnate standing before them. And she had saved them all from a slow, excruciating death at the hands of the usurper king.

Through the bond, I caught exhaustion rearing its head. Ivy needed rest, and yet she rolled her shoulders back, not showing any sign of tiring.

“Tell us your purpose,” Ivy said, her voice carrying a chilling command. “Why were you going to the palace?”

The first male, the one from the safe house, shakily rose to his feet. “We were called in by Sir Ya’Dahir. He claimed there was an Aura level breach.”

“Then he was right,” I replied, the eyes of the mage falling on me. “Queen Greer is dead. Prince Dante has claimed himself King of all Nyx’s creatures.”

The agents all shared looks of shock and rage. Good. They should’ve understood the severity of the situation with just the breach code. But it was clear they were finally piecing together just how bad the situation was. I saw it play out in their expressions; in the subtle shift of their scents, in the pounding of their hearts as the words settled in the air.

“Do you know if any more agents are on their way?” Archer asked carefully.

They all shook their heads. “We were ordered by Jay to evacuate anyone we could find. So, we’re thelast team,” another male said. He glanced quickly at me before resting his stare on Ivy. “We are under your command, my Queen.”

There was a twinge of discomfort from her end of the bond, but she lifted her chin. “I want you to take my friend and deliver her safely to her mother.”

The witch stepped up and shook her head. “I’m not going to leave you,” she stated. “I can help.”

Ivy turned, eyes soft as she took in her friend. “You aren’t safe with us. And you said it yourself. There are people who can help, who are still loyal to Nyx and her Queen. You need to behereto help with that, Vanya. Your mother works for the compound. She should be able to help, right?”

Vanya Blackwood pursed her lips, eyes shining with unshed tears. But after a moment, she released a shaky breath and bowed her head. “Okay.”

The relief poured out of Ivy as she turned back to the agents. “Do you have news of her?”

One of the males shook his head. “No. Only Sir Ya’Dahir has made contact. But the traitors are making themselves known. Agent Blackwood so far isn’t one of them.”

Ivy nodded and blew out another shaky breath. “Good. Good. Take Vanya back into the city. Find somewhere safe.”

“What about you?” The mage from the safe house took a step towards her, but I cut him off with a growl. The male moved back, bowing his head. “I apologise.”

Ivy spared me a look, her eyes telling me she wasn’t impressed by that.

It’s instinct,I said.

But rather than responding, she shook her head, turning back to the mage. “You don’t need to apologise for worrying,” she said softly. “We are at war. Nyx knowsit. And now, so does everyone else. Dante killed Queen Greer in the hopes of taking her crown and ascending the throne. But he failed. He may hold the palace, but he doesn’t have the power to lead. But I know what he’s planning. And we need to stop him.”

Ivy’s wordswere a stark reminder that everything we’d done came down to this moment.

Dante wanted control, and he believed he needed something to maintain that. But it seemed only Ivy knew what that thing was.

And she wasn’t ready to tell us.

The SUV was eerily quiet as we took darkened back roads towards the docks. The only thing she’d revealed was that we needed a boat. I trusted my mate with everything, but it burned not knowing what she had planned.

I wanted to help her, but she wouldn’t let me—us.

From the corner of my eye, I watched her. Finally, she’d taken the placeholder tiara off her head. Ivy held it between her hands, staring down at the gemstones like it held all the answers to her questions.

I’ll explain it all soon, she said, glancing at me warily.I promise.

I grunted, shifting in my seat to take one of her hands. It was a cramped fit in here. I was almost ready to say fuck it and pull her into my lap to make the car ride easier. But I held back.

When the ocean came into view, lit up by the gradual rise of the sun, Ivy released a heavy breath. Her fingers tightened around my own, and I offered her whatever strength she needed to tell us the truth.

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