Obviously, I’ve been keeping the wrong company for long enough.
“I think we're done for the day,” Baron states, drawing my attention to find him fastening his hair tie, and I pout at the fact that I missed his long locks falling over his shoulders. Even if only for a brief moment.
I have no idea how much time has passed, but he's right. The way my muscles ache now, I'm done. But there's a lingering thought in my mind that I want to raise before we part ways.
Gnawing at my bottom lip, I push past the invisible barrier weighing on my tongue, and speak. “Can I ask you a question?”
He cocks a brow at me. “Is it going to irritate me?” he retorts, and I scoff, surprised by his question.
I should have just gone straight in with the question.
“Honestly, I don't know,” I admit, my nose crinkling as his lips set in a thin line before he nods.
Clearing my throat, I part my lips before I change my mind. “The meetings that you were talking about me joining when I am ready,” I start, and his eyebrows pinch, no glee forming on his face, but he doesn't look angry either. “What are they for?” Ifinish, avoiding his stare as I return my attention to the water, and he mirrors my stance, staring off in the distance.
“It's about the academy, the kingdom as a whole, protecting it, the power, the threats, and everything that comes with keeping the kingdom safe.”
“Why would they want me at a meeting like that?” I mutter, confused as hell, and I swear I see the edge of a grin on his lips, but it's gone before I can determine if it was real or not.
“You're powerful, Ivy. More powerful than I think any of us really understand. Especially you.”
The truth in his words steals my breath again.
“That doesn't make any sense,” I admit, and he hums.
“I’m sure once you connect more with your magic, you'll realize the powers that you have, the ones that you can see for yourself that aren't just about you resurrecting. Which is already another level of magic in comparison to anyone else, especially here.”
From anyone else, I would guess it was a compliment, but from him, it’s not that, but it warms my soul. I can’t linger on it, though.
“So, when I agree to those meetings, I’m agreeing to fight for the academy and navigate kingdom politics?” I clarify and he hums in agreement again.
“Pretty much.”
There are a million more questions I could ask on the matter, but I don't think I'm ready for the answers quite yet. So instead, I plant my hand on his arm as I speak.
“Thank you.”
He nods, not turning to look at me, and I take that as my signal to leave, but before I can drop my hand away, his fingers wrap around my wrist, halting me in place as Alaric huffs from beside me.
It's a silent warning, and it's highly amusing that it's me against Baron, the one he’s actually connected to.
Baron doesn’t pay him any mind as his eyes drill into mine, storming through emotions I can't quite place.
“Have you forgiven him?” he grunts, and my eyebrows pinch.
“Who?” I ask, and he clears his throat, running his tongue over his teeth before he continues.
“Archer.”
I rear back an inch. “No.”
His shoulders seem to relax a little, bringing me to the realization that they were tense to begin with, and he releases my hand, turning his full attention my way. With his arms folded over his chest, he assesses me.
“You seem different,” he states, tilting his head. “More determined. What's changed?”
I shrug, wrapping my arms around my middle defensively as I answer the best I can. “Your mother helped me list out my priorities,” I offer, and he grimaces.
“Fuck.”
