IVY
My fingers curl around the windowsill behind me as I watch chaos ensue.
I should have been prepared for it when I went to Archer in the first place, but I was too caught up in the moment to see anything but the panic consuming me.
Now, my room feels as though it’s shrunk, filled with all four of my hated mates, who take up far too much space like they have a right to be here.
Baron paces back and forth by the door while Sax sits at the foot of my bed, elbows braced on his knees as he shakes his head at something. Teddy is a little too composed, leaning against the wall beside the bathroom door, foot propped behind him, and his arms folded across his chest. Then there’s Archer, who is standing an inch closer to me than necessary, a fact that hasn’t changed since the moment I declared I needed him. To top it all off, my brother’s voice booms from the device set up on my desk, threatening to return.
It’s impossible to think when they’re so vocal about their thoughts. I’m too stuck on processing their words to decipher my own.
“Lucky can have me there in ten minutes,” my brother declares, and I shake my head.
“Don’t do that.”
“Don’t downplay this, Vee,” he retorts, and I sigh.
“That’s not my intention, Hugo, but my space is already crammed as it is, and I’m still struggling with exhaustion,” I grumble, dragging my hand down my face as I earn a round of concerned looks from everyone in the room. I can feel their eyes boring into my skin, but I refuse to return any of their stares.
“I want to see that letter,” Hugo insists, and I part my lips to reply, but Archer beats me to it.
“I’ve told you everything that’s in the letter. Seeing it with your own eyes won’t make a difference.”
“Tell me again, then. We have to pick it apart.”
I tilt my head back, defeat consuming me as I try to take a deep breath.
“We’ve already done this,” I grumble, when a hand lands on my arm and I stiffen.
“We’re just trying to keep you safe, Angel,” Archer murmurs, so quietly that I’m sure no one else could hear as he stares deep into my eyes. It’s unnerving and threatening my resolve.
Shaking his hand off me, I nod. “Then let’s get it over with so the four of you can get out of here.”
He scoffs, filling me with tension as he slowly shakes his head. “Angel, if you are under the guise that we’re going to leave you alone once all is said and done, then you’re truly mistaken.”
I pout as a heavy weight settles on my chest.
I should have prepared for him to say that.
Sax clears his throat from the bed. “The letter?” he prompts, trying to redirect the conversation, and I let him, hoping to have the time to build a stronger case for why that isn’t going to happen.
“Watching your father’s certainty flourish before my very eyes is a sight to behold.”
I freeze, watching Baron’s mouth move, but Archer’s voice slips past his lips.
“What the fuck?” I blurt, a shiver running down my spine as everyone slowly turns to me.
“Did my sister just cuss?”
I roll my eyes at my brother, even though he can’t see, as I aim a finger at Baron. “What was that?”
Everyone blinks at me for a moment, and I stare back, looking for answers, until understanding washes over Baron’s features. “She hasn’t seen my abilities before.”
“Abilities?” I repeat, my eyebrows gathering in confusion as my head tilts to the side.
He nods, but Sax is the one to answer.
“Baron has the rare ability to be able to hear from a distance and repeat back what is being said in the voice of the person. In this case, he can repeat the letter based on Archer reading it to him through the device.”
