Ifound solace in the tower. From here, I could see every part of the island, from the thick forest surrounding the manor down to the length of beach currently being swallowed by the raging ocean.
It was almost tempting to let my wings out and take to the skies, feel that raging wind between my feathers. It’d been too long since I’d properly let them out.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I wandered around the length of the tower. The spiral staircase in the centre was rickety, and the floorboards creaked with every step. The shell of the room held promise, with the walls already panelled and shelves lying in a corner.
I saw the vision.
It was going to be a library of sorts for Ivy. I shouldn’t remember that detail about her, the love of books and writing, but somehow, I did. It was a fleeting kind of thing, the type of memory that appeared without a second thought or much prodding. Something you justknewabout a person without even realising it.
My hands itched to do something more than just stalk the dark tower because I didn’t quite feel welcome downstairs. It wasn’t like they were openly hostile around me, but they definitely didn’t likeme.
Even without my memories, I understood why. I didn’t need it to be spelled out that I’d been a total jackass.
And hiding yourself away won’t help you gain their trust or respect, either.
Releasing a breath, I made it to the iron stairs and started down them, the railing shifting beneath my hands. Not a fucking chance my mate would be coming up here until it was stable, either.
I shook my head, leaving the tower room. It, too, looked like it was going to be set up for something. The floor was finished, and it looked like Black had put some effort into finishing it. But the window that looked over the meadow and forest was completely covered and based on the cool air coming into the room, broken.
The manor wasn’t silent, but it wasn’t lively, either. There was a perpetual blanket of quiet that seemed to mute the noise of the place, especially when you expected it to echo.
Like most afternoons, the team were split between different areas of the house; Archer and Kingsley, along with the demon king, were in their office hunting down the runes they would need to free Ivy from her collar, finally studying the images sent in from the Underworld. Grey was likely with Beckham, planning their defence should Dante find the island. And my mate was probably with the others, being cared for.
I could go and help Grey and Beckham. Just because I didn’t have my most recent memories didn’t mean I couldn’t offer them help. I’d been with Phoenix longer than Beckham, had more experience. There were things I could help them with, like a plan of attack should we be found.
Yet, I passed them, keeping my head down and entered the kitchen. I could hear her in the greenhouse, laughing at something one of the other males said.
If I were honest with myself, I didn’t care all that much about being accepted by her other mates. I knew I needed it, but my main priority—as it always should have been—was her.
From the kitchen, I stepped into the large butler’s pantry, finding the greenhouse door open. Within, Ivy waschecking the plants, picking curiously at the different fruits and herbs growing within. There was a bit of everything, from berries to root vegetables, and the baskets held by Thor and Xerxes were a mixture of all her finds.
To my surprise, the Luna prince wasn’t here. Since waking, he’d been like the bear shifter—constantly following her around, her shadowy protector. But his missing presence also shouldn’t surprise me.
“Hawk.” Ivy looked up from a bush, eyes wide. “Is something wrong?”
Her dark eyes on me had my heart racing, magic roaring awake in my veins. The stolen power was gone, disappeared days ago. I couldn’t feed off pain anymore, couldn’t heal, and I couldn’t read thoughts. If I did, it would be easier to understand the thoughts running through her head.
I cleared my throat, shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans. “Nothing,” I replied carefully. “I was just…”She cocked her head, but I wasn’t sure what to say. “I’m sorry if I’m interrupting.”
“You aren’t,” she said before I could turn away. “I’m just picking what’s ready. This garden is…insanely fast.”
“That’s witch magic for you,” I murmured, glancing down at the ripe berries. “Found anything interesting?”
Ivy shrugged as she took her handful of berries to the basket held by the bear shifter. “I mean, I’m not the best at identifying plants. Or vegetables. There are some I don’t know the name of. But there’s another garden on the island, and apparently it has mushrooms.” A flush darkened her cheeks as she pressed her lips together. “Sorry, you probably don’t care about the random produce I find.”
I quickly shook my head. “That’s not?—”
“Fated, would you like these in the kitchen?” Xerxes asked, eyeing me warily before holding up his overfilled basket of potatoes.
“Oh,” she muttered. “Pour them into the sink.”
Thor touched her hand lightly, brows furrowed. “Because they need to be washed off,” she replied to his silent question. “Then peeled, boiled, and mashed. God, I miss mashed potatoes.” Her hands went to her stomach almost absentmindedly, sadness filling her eyes.
For a moment, I thought she might add something else, but she quietly shook her head and picked up a basket sitting beside the males.
“Let me take that,” I said, stepping forward.
Ivy just shook her head. “It’s not heavy.” Heaving it, I could tell that it was. It looked like she’d filled it with fruits. “I’m still capable of doing things.”
