“So, if I told you a secret,” I start, and he smirks.
“I’d take that shit to the grave,” he declares, and I snicker.
“You're a liar.”
“Try me,” he pushes, but I falter, thankfully distracted by the entrance to fencing class up ahead.
I take the out, hurrying toward the open doors, only to skid to an immediate stop as my eyes land on Odesa. My eyes narrow as she stands beside her mate, and he glares at me too.
In what world do you help your mate attack someone else's mate because you feel like you have some kind of claim over them?
It doesn't make any sense to me.
A moment later, my view is quickly blocked by Teddy as he snarls. “I said she couldn't fucking be here.”
Anger whips through the air, freezing the entire room as the professor holds his hands up in surrender.
My pulse rings in my ears as everybody stares in our direction.
Before anyone can speak, I plant my hand on Teddy's shoulder, to silence him or take strength from him, I'm not entirely sure.
“She can stay.”
My voice is far calmer and more collected than I anticipated.
“The fuck she can,” Teddy grunts as tension ripples across the room, but the professor stares directly at me.
“It’s your call, Ivy.”
I gulp, sucking in a sharp breath as I force a shrug.
“She's not a threat,” I state, staring at the girl in question, who scoffs, but I ignore her as I drag my hand down Teddy’s arm, silently lacing my fingers with his.
To my surprise, he takes the hint and walks me to the far corner, placing my bag down beside his before he presses a kiss on my forehead, turning me to face him.
“You're going to be the death of me, Princess,” he whispers, and I hum.
“We both know I’ll be the death of myself first,” I mutter.
Silence settles over the room as I make quick work of getting ready, dressing in my favorite whites. As I reach for my mask, the sound of someone clearing their throat draws my attention to my right and I find the professor beside me.
His face scrunches in a weird way as he tilts his head. “How are you feeling, Ivy?” he asks.
“Uh, I’m good,” I mumble, confused by the interaction altogether, and he nods.
“I’m glad you decided to return. Your brother and father were excellent fencers, and you're on track to be just as miraculous. It might be an option to bring you on as part of the team to partake in competitions against the other kingdoms.”
“My father?” I repeat, completely brushing over the invite to compete as the professor rocks back on his heels with a smile.
“Reginald attended the year after I started. He was impressive,” he declares.
“He was something,” I whisper, my chest tightening in a way that lingers at the mere mention of him.
All of a sudden, my favorite thing doesn't feel as fun as it used to. Now it's linked to the man I despise the most.
Before I can let it get the better of me, though, I decide to channel that energy into the sport itself. Offering the professor a tight smile, I turn to Teddy, who carries both of our masks over to the nearest piste before fixing one on my head, and we warm up.
I fall into a rhythm easily, basking in the familiarity of it all, including the sense of calmness and control that it offers me. Sweat trails down my spine, confirming an excellent warm up before the professor claps his hands and gains everyone's attention.
