Page 70 of Poison Ivy
He nods, his eyes still smouldering with desire. “You’re right. But Ivy, promise me you’ll be careful. Torin is dangerous when he’s fixated on something.”
“I know,” I say softly. “I will be.”
We climb down from the clock tower in silence, both lost in our own thoughts. As we reach the bottom, Tate pulls me in for one last quick kiss before we part ways.
I jog back to my house, my mind racing. I need a plan, and fast. If Torin really is onto me, I don’t have much time before he makes his move.
35
TATE
I watchIvy disappear into the darkness, my heart conflicted. Part of me wants to chase after her, to convince her that running away together is our best option. But I know she’s right. The Syndicate would never let her go that easily. Not to mention, Torin would hunt me down and strip my skin off inch by inch, if I abandoned him and took Poison with me. He likes to play tough, but he’s got that thing. I wouldn’t call it a vulnerability, but he needs me.
With a sigh, I start making my way back to the townhouse. My mind races, trying to come up with a plan that doesn’t end with Ivy getting hurt or killed. Nothing comes to mind.
As I approach the house, I see a figure lurking in the shadows near the front door. My guard instantly goes up.
“You up for a fight, arsehole?” I call out, magick crackling at my fingertips.
“Relax, it’s just me,” Bram says, stepping into the light, a rare cigarette dangling from his lips. His eyes narrow as he takes in my dishevelled appearance, drawing deep on the smoke before he chucks it on the floor and crushes it with his heel. “Where have you been?”
I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. “Just went for a walk. Needed to clear my head after everything that happened today. You smoking for a reason or just because?”
Bram studies me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “Just because. Torin wants to talk to us. He’s in the living room.”
My stomach sinks. This can’t be good. “What about?”
“He didn’t say. Just that it was important.”
I nod, following Bram inside. Torin is pacing in front of the fireplace, a tumbler of blood in his hand. I scrutinise it for a moment, trying to remember the last time I saw him drink blood straight from a living creature. It’s been a while. Ivy stopped him from drinking from her, but he tried. Before that… I can't remember. I find that incredibly odd, but I don’t say anything.
“Problem?” Torin barks at me, seeing my gaze on the glass.
My eyes snap up. “Nope. You?”
Torin’s eyes narrow as he studies me. “Sit down. Both of you.”
I exchange a wary glance with Bram as we takeseats on the couch. Torin remains standing, looming over us with an intensity that sets me on edge.
“I’ve been doing some thinking,” Torin begins, swirling the blood in his glass. “About our little Poison problem.”
My heart rate picks up, but I keep my expression neutral. “Oh?”
Torin nods slowly. “I think we’ve been going about this all wrong. Chasing her, trying to trap her... it’s not working. We need a new approach.”
“What did you have in mind?” Bram asks, leaning forward with interest.
A cold smile spreads across Torin’s face. “We’re going to make her come to us.”
I force myself to stay calm, even as alarm bells start ringing in my head. “How exactly do you plan to do that?”
Torin’s gaze locks onto mine, and I have to fight the urge to look away. “By giving her something she can’t resist. A target too tempting to pass up.”
“And what target would that be?” I ask, dreading the answer.
Torin’s smile widens, revealing his fangs. “Me.”
I blink in surprise. “You? How does that work?”
