Page 26 of Wild Ivy
“Further in then. I don’t want to be too far from the place where I recalled them.”
“When?” Torin asks.
“Now,” I say decisively. “We don’t have time to waste, but first, why are you so sad?”
He blinks. “Sad? I’m not sad.”
“You are solemn, then. What’s on your mind?”
“My mother is outside, waiting in her car. I’m contemplating what the fuck she wants.”
Suspiciously, I peer out to see a fancy black Rolls Royce parked up. “We’d better go see what she wants.”
“We?” he asks, turning to me.
“Yes. We. We aren’t splitting up any more than we already have. This is life or death now, pardon the pun. We stick together.”
His face relaxes as he nods, and we turn away from the window to head downstairs to see whatever it is his mother wants. I can only hope it isn’t more bad news.
13
TORIN
Ivy’s facehardens as we approach my mother’s car. She’s right - we need to stick together. But part of me wishes I could shield her from whatever fresh hell my mother’s about to unleash.
The back window rolls down smoothly, revealing Mom’s cold blue eyes.
“Darling,” she purrs, ignoring Ivy completely. “Do get in. We have matters to discuss.”
Ivy bristles beside me. “Anything you have to say can be said to all of us.”
Mom’s lip curls. “Death.”
Her eyes never leave Ivy’s, and I see that this was her whole reason for coming. She is aligned with Life in a bid to be a true immortal, and she is checking out the competition.
“You heard?” Ivy drawls, unconcerned. “Did Life send you to have a look, to see if you could spot any weaknesses? Hmm? Too fucking bad, I don’t have any.”
Mom raises an eyebrow. “No? Seems to me you have three.” She holds three fingers up and waggles them.
“Did you just threaten my guys?” Ivy splutters as I press my lips together, trying not to laugh. “You utter bitch. Try it, and you will see who wins that fight.”
Mom’s eyes narrow dangerously. “Such language. I see you’ve been a terrible influence on my son.”
I can’t hold back my snort of laughter this time. “Trust me, it’s the other way around.”
Ivy shoots me an amused glance before turning back to my mother. “Look, we don’t have time for cryptic threats and family drama. Either say what you came to say or fuck off.”
Mom hisses softly but recovers quickly. “Very well. I came to offer you a choice, Torin. Join us—join Life in this fight—and secure your place in the new world order. Or stay with... this,” she waves a dismissive hand at Ivy, “and face extinction.”
“Wow,” I drawl. “Such a tempting offer. Let me think...erm, how about no?”
“Don’t be foolish. You have no idea the power Life wields. Those who stand with her will rule. Those who don’t...” She lets the threat hang in the air.
“Will die?” Ivy asks, arms crossed. “Kind of smacks Life’s agenda right in the big, fat lips, doesn’t it?”
“Pretty much,” I murmur and lock gazes with Tate. Pretty fucking much. Have we just cracked something open here, even if we don’t know what yet? Tate raises an eyebrow as he seems to think so too.
Mom’s eyes flash with rage. “You little cun?—”
