Page 2 of Hero of Havoc

My pulse quickens in my ears, my eyes wide, alert, and laser-focused, but it’s not Leonardo blocking our path. It’s her father.

Mayor Reginald Hayworth.

Arrogance oozes from him as he claps his hands, glancing over his shoulder at us for a brief moment before returning his stare to his daughter.

“Excellent, an audience,” he states before rolling his shoulders back. “You're leaving with me,” he declares, and Ivy shakes her head.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“What are you going to do? Stay here with them?” he says with a scoff. “They're only going to use you the same.” His bite is venomous, yet his words leave me balanced on the edge of a knife.

My chest tightens, twisting so tight I know my world is about to crumble beneath my feet.

“That's why they changed their minds. Isn't it, boys?”

Guilt consumes me, cutting me open and leaving me bare as I instinctively take a step forward, hand raised.

“Ivy. Ivy, listen to me,” I start, but her father cuts me off.

“It's too late for your excuses. I'll cut to the chase and tell her the truth,” he declares.

“Ivy,” Sax calls from a step behind me, but no words follow; all he does is gape at her.

“Tell her!” Teddy yells, his voice frantic. “Fucking tell her,” he demands.

My world is a vortex of carnage flashing in an array of colors before my eyes.

“Are her eyes glowing again?” Baron mutters, and I feel lightheaded.

“That's not orange,” Sax confirms.

All I want to do is bundle her in my arms, protect her from the pain and torture that lie ahead. The look in her eyes makes it very clear that that's not going to be as simple as I want it to be.

“I’m in charge here,” Reginald snarls, his words like ice as they cut through the air, but they're no match for the heat I can feel pulsing from Ivy. “They knew you were a phoenix all along, Ivy. But more than that, they knew connecting their magic to yours would enhance their own,” her father confirms.

My magic burns through me, almost as if it’s branching off Ivy, and I know without looking that orange rings circle my eyes, twisted and burning with guilt.

Baron takes a step forward, both hands raised. “Ivy, that's why we rejected you.” It's the truth, but the words don't land. “We didn’t want any of this for you,” he insists, and she chokes on her breath, eyes widening. But before her response can be formed, her eyes roll as her head tips back.

She sucks in a sharp breath before flames burst across her flesh.

I watch in terror as my world goes up in flames. The usual orange hues that I’ve grown almost accustomed to don't come.

Instead, she's enveloped in fire so dark it looks purple.

She falls to the floor, sending a trail of flames in every direction, the entire bathroom erupting into chaos.

Horror curls through every inch of me as everything ignites. The rich scent of fire burns thick in the air. It's almost melodic, but there's something different, and it's not just the color.

A yelp sounds from behind me as Baron, Sax, and Teddy leap for the door, avoiding the flames as Reginald howls in pain, trying to do the same.

He doesn't make it far, the flames flickering around his feet like vines, and I watch him twist with pain, but I have no desire to rush to his aid.

Instead, I return my attention to Ivy.

Guilt consumes me as the truth lies heavy in the air.

It’s out there now, misconstrued, twisted, and tortured in a knot that I can't undo.