Page 51 of Wild Ivy
“That’s not possible,” I mutter, pushing my senses further. I can feel every supernatural being in the network of realms. I can trace the path of every soul still streaming overhead to their new destinations. But Life is simply... gone.
Bram’s shadow-touched energy ripples beside me. “Let me try.” His power reaches out, diving into the spaces between realities where he can move freely. After a moment, he shakes his head. “Nothing.”
Tate’s hand finds mine, our fated marks burning brightly in sync. “Could she have somehow hidden herself from you?”
“Maybe. Or maybe she’s already gone through the cycle. Maybe in trying to stop death completely, she triggered her own rebirth.”
We sit with that possibility for a moment, watching more souls streak across the morning sky.
“Nah,” I say, shaking my head and dismissing my own theory. “She’s hiding. Somewhere. She’s scared.”
“Lila,” Tate murmurs.
“Hmm?” I ask with a frown. “You think she is hiding as Lila?”
“You know that Lila is a real creature?” he ventures.
“Yeah, I know. We should find her, warn her.”
“She’s at MistHallow. We went there looking for Vex to help us with this… thing. The Headmaster is something else. He told us Lila was there recovering.”
“Oh, really?” I ask, my heart thumping. “How bad is she?”
“Not good,” Bram mutters. “But I believe she is safe at MistHallow.”
“Okay, good. I need to see her.”
“Maybe after the dust settles?” Tate says in a weird tone.
But I get it. Lila was used and put in harm’s way because of me. I’m probably the last person she wants to see, but I have to go and apologise, if nothing else, so she knows I’m sorry.
“Okay, later,” I whisper.
“So what now?” Torin asks. “We just sit around and wait for Life to show up?”
“Well, we aren’t sitting around here naked and covered in cum,” I retort as my stomach rumbles with an embarrassinglyloud growl. “Cosmic transformation apparently works up an appetite.”
Bram chuckles and helps me to my feet. My legs feel wobbly, both from the transformation and our passionate reunion. Looking around at our scattered, torn clothing, I grimace.
“Uh, guys? We might have a small problem.”
Torin waves his hand, chaos magick swirls around him, and I gawp. He catches me and snickers. “You aren’t the only badass in town now, princess.”
“Wow. Did that come from… me?”
He nods. “Yes. When we became your anchors here earlier, the mage magick inside me evolved….” He holds his hand up as I cringe, “… I know you hate that word, but it is what it is.”
Suddenly, we’re all clean and dressed, and I grin. “Well, look at you. All chaos-magey. Your mum is going to have a shitfit.”
He chuckles. “One can only hope.” He gives me a curious stare.
“What?” I ask, straightening my clothes.
“Did you see my dad in there? Was he one that got set free?”
“You care?” I ask carefully.
“Only if I have to look out for him.”
