That sounds insane and simple all at once, but I’m quickly reminded that I’m a damn phoenix, so anything is apparently possible.
“I’m basically a giant parrot,” Baron mutters, and the smallest huff of a laugh parts my lips.
“I’ve considered you many things, a giant parrot isn’t one of them.”
His eyes sparkle with amusement as I blink at him. It feels like an eternity since we were outside dealing with Alaric. He must sense the thought in me as his eyes widen and he clears his throat.
“I’m not the only one to have communication abilities,” he states, and I sigh, feeling the confusion ratchet up a notch.
“We’ll come back to that. The note for now,” I insist, preparing for push back, but nothing comes.
“Well, that first line definitely refers to my father killing Ivy,” Hugo grunts, thankfully taking the redirection, but it does nothing to calm the tension inside of me.
All it does is serve as a reminder that my father is worse than I ever thought possible.
“You are a sight to behold,” Baron continues, and it’s only slightly less weird for Archer’s voice to be coming from his mouth this time.
“That’s just creepy,” Teddy grunts, and everyone hums in agreement as an eeriness weighs me down.
“Don’t worry, my Evergreen, times are changing,” Baron continues, and Archer scoffs.
“My Evergreen?”
“His choice of nickname isn’t the issue, it’s the promise of change,” Hugo states through the device, and I scoff.
“The nickname is definitely an issue,” I declare, shaking my head, still in disbelief that this is happening right now, as a few snicker at my acknowledgment.
“You will be the catalyst to my plans and the center of my desires.”
I cringe.
“What does that even mean?” Sax grumbles, and Teddy scoffs.
“Nothing good, that’s for sure,” the Water Protector bites, and everyone nods in agreement.
“We shall meet again, L.”
“It has to be Leonardo Corrigan, right?” Teddy mutters, and my veins turn to ice at the mention of his name.
I’ve spent the entire day crying in my room, mourning a life I didn’t realize I lost, while replaying the horrors of that cell. My father may have been the one to put the bullet between my eyes,but he wasn’t alone in that tiny space, and the man with him was creepy as hell.
I didn’t know who he was at the time; all I knew was that I didn’t want his eyes on me. I had been naked, but my bigger concern was him. I can’t forget the way his tongue slipped across his bottom lip, or the way his eyes narrowed with delight, and the way his fingers repeatedly flexed at his sides.
That man has already scarred me for life. Thinking about him being in my personal space is enough to make me nauseous.
As if sensing my thoughts, Baron clears his throat, and when he speaks, it’s his own voice this time. “Corrigan wouldn’t be able to get on campus, right?”
“It would be easier if we knew he could,” Archer replies, the room growing thicker with tension. “Because if it were someone working on his behalf, it could be anyone at the academy, and that’s a lot more people to be wary of.”
I gulp as a thunderous screech comes from outside.
Spinning on the spot, my lips set into a thin smile as I peer at Alaric. It seems the green-scaled dragon is just as hellbent on protecting me as these guys are, only he’s not able to fit in here. Yet, he’s the one I would rather be with.
At leasthedidn’t betray me two years ago.
Frustration claws at me, my mind struggling to keep everything together as I try to step back mentally to see the bigger picture. It doesn’t help that there’s so much going on; it’s too much to handle. Add to the fact that my memories flooded me this morning, all of my old wounds feel fresher than ever, and I’m a jumbled mess.
“If that’s everything. We can reconvene tomorrow to figure out some other things, but for now, I need you all to leave so I can rest.” I’m impressed at the firmness in my voice, but as I look around the room, it’s not really a surprise to see four incredulous stares aimed my way.
