Page 71 of Hero of Havoc

IVY

Apparently, when Archer sets his mind to something, there’s no turning back.

Not when he decides he’s got the solution to all our problems, he springs into action and two minutes later, the rest of my hated mates fill my room.

I have never realized it until now.

Teddy dives onto my bed, leaning back against the headboard, which is becoming his usual spot, while Sax perches against my desk in front of the window, leaving Archer at the foot of my bed and Baron leaning against the wall behind the door.

I should feel suffocated like I have so many times before, but after the rollercoaster the relic took us on, I’m almost thankful for their presence.

Archer speaks animatedly with his hands, replaying our lives over the past hour or so while I remain quiet, digesting it from his perspective as he brings the others up to speed.

“And that brings me to the reason why you’re all here,” Archer states, planting his hands on his hips.

“With the urgency, I thought Ivy was in need of grounding,” Teddy muses, dancing his eyebrows at me, and I roll my eyes.

“This is serious,” Baron grumbles, dragging a hand down his face as he shakes his head at the Water Protector.

“I know that. I’m trying to lighten the mood. She looks tense,” he insists, waving a hand at me, and four pairs of eyes settle in my direction.

I gulp, attempting to school my features, but once again, it proves difficult in their presence. It’s as if my mind is becoming more willing to let my walls down around them, which is great on one hand, but it’s making it increasingly harder to put them back up.

Archer sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tries to compose himself before he clears his throat. “What does Ivy desire most?”

“Me!” Teddy replies with ease, earning a round of sighs from the others, but I can’t help but snicker. His attempts to lighten the mood are working, whether they like it or not.

“That sounds like a perfect answer to me,” Sax says, struggling to hide his amusement as he dusts his hands off. “If you’re thinking in the direction I’m guessing you are, all we have to do is lock down or sacrifice what Ivy desires most, so it takes it out of the equation.” He winks at me before tilting his head in Teddy’s direction. “I say we sacrifice Teddy and be done with it.”

“Hey!” Teddy protests, eyes widening as he slaps his hands down on the sheets beside him in a mini temper tantrum, and I snort with laughter. “Defend me, Ivy,” he insists, and I shake my head.

“Your ego got you into this mess; it can get you back out too.”

He huffs, folding his arms over his chest. “We’re obviously not going to sacrifice me so⁠—”

“Why is it obvious?” Baron interjects, cocking a brow at him. “I think it sounds like a great idea.”

“You’re all terrible,” Teddy grumbles. “But seriously, Archer, is that what we’re doing? Figuring out what he could try to use against her? Or for her, depending on which way you look at it.”

I shudder, hating every aspect of this situation as Archer nods in agreement.

All eyes turn to me expectantly and I curl in on myself, attempting to appear invisible, but that’s not an ability The Fates blessed me with.

My jaw falls slack, an answer balanced on the tip of my tongue, when Baron speaks first.

“Where is the to-do list you made with my mom? That might be of use.”

My lips purse for a beat, considering whether to share it with them, but I quickly concede, aware that he’s right: it’s the best place to start.

Slipping past Archer, I edge toward Sax, who moves out of the way as I approach the desk. With a slow exhale, I open the top drawer and reveal the small piece of paper. Sax silently takes it from me, spreading it out on the wooden top as the others appear, crowding around to see it for themselves.

I don’t need to look; it’s engraved into my mind.

I want to find myself.

I want to control my fire without setting myself on fire.

I want to feel a sense of pride in being a phoenix.