We returned to the workout room. Ez groaned on the bench while he lifted dumbbells above his head, and Alistair grunted as he tried to lift the boulder. I could feel with my magic that he got it a few inches off the ground. Air swirled around Chancey’s ankles as he did chin-ups on the bar.
Ivy didn’t work out— just sat there observing.
“If I keep this up… those vampires won’t know… what hit ‘em,” Alistair said as he struggled with the boulder. “Eddie’s gonna think… I’m so hot… when he sees me next.”
Guilt rattled around in my gut, because despite our best efforts, we still had no idea where the Warden’s concentration camp was— and even if we did, we’d have to get out of this place first to rescue Eddie and the other Elves. Hell, we didn’t even know if they were still alive. My magical connection to Eddie grew weaker by the day. Since he was my sworn guard, I should be able to tell if he was still out there or not. I really had no fucking clue, and that terrified me.
This was why we had to expedite our demigod training. The Elves didn’t have time to sit around and wait for us. Their time could already be up.
Alistair’s comment must’ve made Marcus really uncomfortable, because he suggested, “Maybe it’s time to call it a day.”
Nobody argued. We’d barely gotten here, and I was already over it. We all were.
“Yeah, I’m starving,” Ivy agreed.
I didn’t believe them. Ivy just wanted to ditch. Everyone began filing out of the room. I planted myself between Ivy and the exit. Someone hesitated in the doorway. It must’ve been Chancey.
“Can I get your opinion on a gift for Ava?” I asked.
“Absolutely!” Ivy said. “What are you thinking?”
“Well, uh… she likes dresses,” I said slowly.
That was enough to get Chancey out of the room, because the door clicked shut, leaving Ivy and me alone.
“Ava would look sexy in a red—”
“Cut the crap, Ivy,” I snarled.
Ivy snapped their mouth shut.
“I know whatever I smelled on you wasn’t perfume,” I accused. “You haven’t told Chancey.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ivy sounded so confident. They’d denied this so many times that they were a master at it, but they couldn’t fool me.
“Yes, you do,” I said. “Let me help.”
“I don’t needhelp,” Ivy insisted. “For fuck’s sake, Charlie, I’m not some low-life vagrant who can’t get clean.”
I was screwing this up again. “I’m not here to judge you. I just want to help you get better.”
Ivy’s voice was flat. “I appreciate that, but I’m fine, really. It’s only a little every now and then. It’s not like it’s dangerous. There’s nothing you can do.”
“Ican,” I insisted. “I’ve been around this stuff before. Hell, there was a timeIneeded help—”
“And whatexactlyare you going to do?” Ivy challenged. “Report me to my counselor? Send me to rehab for the millionth time? There’s no way out of the Institute, and there’s no way out of this. Let me deal with my life the only way I know how.”
“So let’s deal with it together,” I offered.
Ivy scoffed. “You’re fooling yourself. I’m sorry you had a hard life, but we’re nothing alike.”
“Then help me understand,” I pleaded.
“You never can, and you never will.”
“This is going to kill you if you don’t stop,” I hissed. “What are you on? Nightshade?” I knew that’s what it had to be.
Ivy huffed. “Of course you’d assume that. You havesucha low opinion of me.”
