Page 69 of Wild Ivy
“Completely dismantled so far as we can tell,” Blackthorn assures me.
I manage a weak laugh that turns into a cough. “Well, that’s good. I think.”
He studies me with those ancient eyes. “Focus on healing, Miss Hammond. We can talk more later.”
The healer working on me clicks her tongue disapprovingly. “Multiple metaphysical fractures, severe energy depletion, temporal displacement strain...” she mutters. “What exactly are you and what were you doing?”
“Have you got a year?” I ask sarcastically, earning another tut from her. “Let’s just say I’m the centre of the universe, and I’ll live.”
Bram snorts. “Think quite highly of yourself, don’t you?”
“Says you, oh god of… whatever the hell you are.”
“Speaking of which,” Tate adds. “Do we want to know what happened to Morrigan?”
“Maybe not yet,” I mutter. “One thing at a time.”
The last thing I hear before exhaustion claims me is Torin’s grumble, but I know they are okay so that I can sleep.
I waketo weak sunlight streaming through tall windows and the smell of old books. I’m in a massive four-poster bed, thesheets softer than anything I’ve ever felt. The room around me is a curious blend of ancient and modern.
“Welcome back,” a familiar voice says.
I turn my head to see Vex lounging in a chair by the bed, his feet propped up on an antique table that probably costs more than my entire apartment.
“How long?” I ask, my throat dry.
He gets up to hand me a bottle of water. “Three days. The others woke up yesterday.”
I bolt upright, spilling water everywhere. “Three days? Where are they? Are they okay?”
“Relax. They’re fine. Recovering in their own rooms. Blackthorn insisted on keeping you all separated until the initial healing was complete. Something about your combined power being too unstable.”
“And Lila?”
“Stable. Better, actually, now that Life’s influence is completely gone.” He pauses. “She’s been asking for you.”
My heart clenches. “I’m not sure she should see me yet.”
“That’s not your decision to make,” he says firmly. “But it can wait until you’re stronger.”
I nod, sinking back into the pillows. Everything aches, but in a distant way, like my body is remembering pain rather than actively experiencing it.
“So,” Vex says after a moment, “want to tell me what it feels like to be a god?”
I throw a pillow at his head. He dodges, laughing.
“Not a god,” I mutter. “Just different.”
“Different enough to need a new school,” he says casually.
I look at him sharply. “Meaning?”
“You can’t kid a kidder, little shifter. I know you want to go here. Who wouldn’t? I’m pretty sure Blackthorn will give you entry based on your, well, whatever you want to call it.The illustrious Headmaster from Thornfield is in his office right now.”
“Really?” I’ve never even seen Thornfield’s Headmaster. No one has, as far as I know. “Who is it?”
He rolls his eyes. “You will never guess in a million years.”
