Page 58 of Wild Ivy
“We need to figure out where she’s going,” I say. “Because that didn’t feel like running away. It felt like she was running toward something.”
“Or someone,” Torin adds quietly.
We all exchange worried looks, knowing this is far from over. But at least for now, Lila is safe. One small victory in what I suspect will be a much larger war.
30
IVY
I approachLila’s bedside slowly, my heart heavy with guilt. She looks so fragile lying there, her skin almost translucent, and dark circles under her eyes, making her look older than she is. The Professor’s healing magick pulses steadily around her, but he steps back to give me space, sensing I need this moment.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, taking her hand. It’s cold, too cold, but at least it’s solid now. No more flickering between realities. “I should have realised sooner that it wasn’t you.”
My voice breaks. Behind me, I feel Bram’s presence, steady and supportive, but he doesn’t interrupt. None of them do.
“You didn’t deserve any of this,” I continue, squeezing her hand gently. “Being used as her puppet, being trapped in your own body while she... while she used you to hurt people. To hurt me.” I swallow hard. “It’s all my fault.”
Lila’s chest rises and falls steadily, but she shows no sign of waking.
“We’re going to find her,” I promise fiercely. “We’re going to end her, and then you can finally be free. You can heal without her poison lingering in your system.”
I feel Tate shift behind me. “Ivy,” he says gently. “We need to move. If Life’s heading somewhere specific...”
“I know.” I straighten up, but don’t let go of Lila’s hand just yet. “Just... keep her safe?” I look between the Professor and Vex. “Both of you. Please.”
“With our lives,” the Professor promises.
“Thank you, Professor…?”
“Blackthorn. Headmaster of MistHallow Academy. Sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier, time was of the essence.”
“Professor Blackthorn. I’m Ivy Hammond.”
“I know,” he says with a coy smile that widens my eyes. I glance at Vex, who snickers.
“Not me. You are legendary, little shifter.”
“Fuck off,” I mutter, my cheeks heating up when Blackthorn clears his throat, giving me a stern stare.
“Any idea which direction she went?” Torin asks Tate as I finally step back from the bed.
Blackthorn frowns. “Given the magickal disturbances I’ve been monitoring, she’s probably heading north of here.”
“What makes you say that?” I ask.
“There are many things that could possibly draw her attention, but only one thing that fits this particular situation.”
“What is it?” Bram asks.
“The Hollowed Grounds. Ancient ruins from before the Great Split. Temples, ritual sites, places where the veil between realities was deliberately weakened. The magick there is unstable at best, despite being protected.”
“That sounds exactly like somewhere Life would go,” I say, exchanging worried looks with the others. “How far?”
“A few miles through the forest,” Blackthorn answers. “But it’s not a journey to be taken lightly. The paths are treacherous, and the closer you get to the ruins, the more unpredictablereality becomes. The forest around the academy is… how can I put this succinctly?”
“Batshit crazy,” Vex chimes in with a grin.
Blackthorn glares at him. “That’s not quite how I would have phrased it, but yes. We can go with batshit crazy.”
