Page 36 of Hero of Havoc

“There is no protecting me,” I retort, and he cocks a brow.

He stares deep into my eyes, searing my soul before he clears his throat. “Baron told us.”

“Told you what?”

“That you want to forgive but not forget,” he confirms. I purse my lips but nod. I did say that. Now I’m questioning it. “That means letting us in, and with that comes our emotions too.”

“That sounds terrible,” I grumble, earning a grin, but it’s a fleeting moment before his eyes darken and tension ripples from him.

“All of this with Leonardo, your parents, damn, the Fifth Kingdom as a whole, is a lot. We’re nervous, and all we want to do is keep you safe. It’s all we’ve ever wanted,” he clarifies, and I gulp.

Silently, I hate that they’ve proven their desire to keep me safe. It goes against everything I’ve believed about them for so long.

Instead of arguing as I instinctively want to, I swallow my emotions. “I’m open to a conversation. I’m not open to being talked at,” I state, and he nods.

“You won’t lose your voice among us, Ivy. I’ll make sure of it.” His words soothe me in a way I can’t explain. It catches me off-guard, just like most of the words that have fallen from his mouth since I woke, and I nestle against him. “Besides, my mother wouldn’t allow it.”

I smirk, silently thanking Greta for being the baddest queen to ever reign.

“Can we talk over food? I’m starving,” I admit, and he sighs.

“No.”

I tilt my head back, searching for his eyes. “Why?”

“Because I already promised Meadow that you would be free for dinner.”

My jaw falls slack in surprise. “But you’re not making decisions for me, huh?” I muse, and he rolls his eyes.

“Selfless ones don’t count, do they?”

My heart flutters wildly in my chest. “I guess not.”

Brimming with success, he presses his lips against my forehead. “How about you get dressed and I’ll get the guys here?”

“Only if they’re quick. I really am hungry,” I insist, and he nods.

Before I change my mind, I roll out of bed and stalk toward my closet, rifling through my clothes until I settle on a cute yellow tank top and a denim skirt.

Blindly raking my fingers through my hair, I pull the ends back into a high ponytail with an almost-forgotten hair tie hanging off the edge of a shelf.

Eager to eat, I step back into my bedroom, immediately startling at the sight of my other three hated mates.

Sax sits at the foot of my bed, a knowing, amused grin on his lips. He’s at least wearing a pair of shorts and t-shirt now, while his twin brother leans against the wall by the door, arms folded over his chest as his eyes rake over me. Teddy is comfortable on my bed, his back against the headboard as he stretches out. Archer completes the group, leaning against my desk in front of the window, and something tells me that’s what has Sax all amused.

It’s the exact same spot he…

Shaking my head, I clear my throat, trying to will the heat from my cheeks to disappear.

“That was fast,” I ramble, and Teddy grins.

“We were waiting next door.” His eyebrows dance, making it clear they’ve been there a while.

“Of course you were,” I mutter under my breath before my stomach grumbles.

“Let’s make this quick,” Sax declares, and Teddy scoffs.

“That’s not what she said.”