Page 3 of Wild Ivy
“Pretty much,” I confirm with a shrug. “Though the job description’s a bit more complex than that.”
“And you didn’t think to, oh, I don’t know, discuss this with us first?” Torin’s voice rises in anger.
“There wasn’t exactly time for a group pow-wow,” I snap back. “It was kind of a now or never situation.”
“Bullshit,” Torin snarls. “You made a unilateral decision that affects all of us without even considering?—”
“Considering what?” I cut him off. “That it might inconvenience you? That it might complicate our relationship? Sorry if preserving the balance of life and death trumps your hurt feelings, Torin.”
He recoils like I’ve slapped him. Maybe I have, verbally, at least. “Considering that we might lose you.”
It hits me square in the heart, and I close my eyes and inhale deeply. “I did consider that. But this is world-ending kind of shit. The greater good.”
“The greater good,” he mutters. “Right.”
“Okay, the greater bad, then. Whatever. Either way, Life cannot simply stop death from happening. If everything and everyone just carried on living, reproducing, and so on and so forth, what would happen to the realms? They would be bursting at the seams with creatures and nature. How would that work? And what if people still got sick, but then never died? Whatthen? They just keep on being in pain and suffering for eternity? This is bigger than us, Torin. I know you know that and are just being an alpha dick because I didn’t consult you about it. Even if I had, the decision isn’t yours to make. It’s mine, and I made it for all the reasons I’ve outlined and more. Can you understand that?”
Torin’s jaw clenches as he processes my words. For a moment, I think he might argue further, but then his shoulders slump slightly.
“I understand,” he says grudgingly. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“None of us like it,” Tate interjects. “But Ivy’s right. This is bigger than us.”
I shoot him a grateful look. At least someone gets it.
Bram finally speaks up. “So what now? We just sit around waiting for Life to attack?”
I turn to face him, seeing the barely contained violence in his eyes. “Not exactly. I have an army of souls at my disposal now. We need to strategise, figure out how to use them effectively.”
“An army of souls,” Tate muses. “That’s some serious firepower.”
“An army of the worst souls imaginable. But we’re going to need it,” I mutter. “Life’s had millennia to perfect her end game, and she knows me better than I thought.”
The reality of Lila’s betrayal hits me again, making my chest ache. All those years, all those memories - tainted now by the knowledge that it was all a lie.
Torin must see something in my expression because his face softens slightly. “I get it, Ivy. I just don’t want to lose you now that we’ve got you.”
“I know.” I want to sink into their arms and let them shoulder some of this crushing weight. But I can’t.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay strong. “I’m still me,” I say. “I’m just more now. This power, this responsibility, is a part of me. But it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
Tate pulls me into a hug. “We’re with you, Ivy. No matter what.”
I melt into his embrace for a moment before pulling back. “Thanks. But you need to understand that this isn’t going to be easy. Life isn’t going to stop. She’ll keep coming for me, for all of us. I can’t guarantee I’ll always be able to protect you.”
“We can protect ourselves,” Bram growls.
I shake my head. “Not against her. You saw how easily she appeared and disappeared. She’s ancient, powerful, and she knows me. That is deeply concerning.”
“So we learn,” Torin says firmly. “We prepare.”
A lump forms in my throat at their unwavering support.
“So what’s our first move, oh mighty Death?” Tate asks with a wry grin.
I snort, grateful for his attempt at levity. “Unfortunately, the first thing we have to check out is what damage we did when we reversed time during the ritual.”
Bram catches my eye, and the depth of his darkness shows. It has grown exponentially, and that is also a concern.
