"So, we're protecting her because she's under Phoenix's protection and because she's Phoenix's woman now?" Diesel clarifies.
"Yeah," I say. "Both."
"Works for me." He shrugs. "Cole's a piece of shit anyway. War was always coming. At least now we're fighting for something that matters."
"Someone," Judge corrects gently. "Someone who matters."
"This is going to get bloody," I warn them. "Demon won't back down. The Vipers will come with everything they have."
"Let them come," Saint says, and there's steel in his voice. "We'll be ready."
"From ash, we rise," Canvas says.
"From ash, we rise," the others echo.
I take the stairs two at a time, needing to get back to Ivy. Needing to see her face, to reassure her that everything I promised is still true.
Brick is still standing guard outside the door.
"They're gone," I tell him. "For now."
He nods and steps aside.
I knock softly. "Ivy, it's me. It's Phoenix."
I hear movement inside, then the lock clicking. The door opens, and Ivy is standing there, dressed now in the clothes from yesterday, her eyes searching my face.
"Are you okay?" she asks immediately, her hands reaching for me, checking for injuries. "Did they hurt you?"
The fact that she's asking about me when she's the one who was terrified awakens something in my chest. She deserves the whole world.
"I'm fine." I pull her into my arms, feeling her press against me. "They're gone. Cole's gone. You're safe."
"I heard," she whispers against my chest.
I pull back to look at her. "Heard what?"
"Everything. The walls aren't that thick." Her cheeks flush slightly. "I heard Cole call me a bitch. Heard you hit him. Heard you tell Razor I was under your protection."
She pauses, her green eyes searching mine.
"Heard you tell your brothers that we're together now."
My heart stops. "Ivy—"
"Is that true?" she asks. "Are we together? Or did you just say that because it makes protecting me easier to justify?"
I cup her face in my hands, thumbs brushing across her cheeks.
"It's true," I say. "I know the timing is insane. I know we barely know each other. I know there's an age gap and a war coming and a thousand reasons why this is a terrible idea. But when I'm with you, none of that matters. You make me feel things I haven't felt in years. Make me want things I thought I'd given up on."
"Like what?" Her voice is barely a whisper.
"Like a future. Like peace. Like maybe I deserve something good in this life instead of just surviving." I lean my forehead against hers. "I'm all in, Ivy. If you want this, if you want me, I'm all in."
She's quiet for a long moment, and I can see her processing. Working through the fear, the trauma and uncertainty.
"I want this," she says finally. "I want you. Even though I'm scared. Even though everything is complicated. Even though I don't know what tomorrow brings. Right now, in this moment, I choose you. But what does that mean for us? What do we do now?" she asks.
