“Really? That would be awesome.” I smile before I add a playful pout, “I really miss my chucks.”
“You have Nun Chucks at The Keep?” Beck asks in puzzlement. Alice and Eric snicker with me at his confusion. “What?”
“Not Nun Chucks, Beck. Chuck Taylors. They’re my trusty black, high top sneakers.”
“Oh,” he frowns, and Solas pats him on the shoulder as he joins me and Alice at the sink.
“May I accompany you back to your room?” Solas whispers in my ear so low I think only Alice is close enough to hear him with her angelic hearing. It sends shivers of pleasure down my spine. I can’t speak and nod my head, biting my bottom lip.
“Ivy?” Evelyn calls out as I turn to leave. I spin around and fake a calm exterior as I face her. “Will you be attempting to see your visions again tonight?”
“Um… yeah. Solas is going to try to help me again.”
“Do you want us to assist you?”
“Actually, I think everyone being there will put too much pressure on me, and I need to relax and concentrate. I think it would be too much of a distraction,” I admit in all honesty.
“Ok, dear. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will.”
Solas starts a fire in the hearth of my room as I go out to the balcony to smoke a cigarette. I lean back against the terrace wall with my elbows propped on either side of me as I watch him ignite the logs and the flames dancing wildly across his face. His stunning physique rises and turns my direction. His gaze is warm as we study each other from a distance. Raw need for him engulfs me like a tempest. I drop my cigarette in the ashtray as I run past, jumping in his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist, and crush his mouth with mine. He carries me across the room and pushes me against the door of the bathroom.
“Ivy,” he breathes against my lips.
“Hmm?” I hum in question between my assault of kisses. My mouth moves over his strong jaw to the sensitive skin just beneath his earlobe.
“Ivy, I need to tell you something,” he utters, breathless.
I pull back from him to see his face. I note the worry in his eyes, as well as feel it, and I know he wants to tell me whatever secret he's been keeping from me. “Whatever it is Solas, it doesn’t matter. I know deep down my feelings for you are inexorable. They're like an electric current moving inside of me and ignite every time you touch me.” Solas mouth encompass mine and we become a force of nature caught in the undertow of our desire.
gh
In the comfort of Solas’ arms beneath the sheets, he pulls me closer to him and kisses my temple with a grumble. “I’m distracting you.”
I snuggle into him and sigh, “You are.” I look up to meet his eyes with a smile.
“Are you ready to do this?” he asks, and I take his question as a double entendre.
Is he asking me if I’m ready to really be with him? Maybe he’s only asking if I’m ready to seek out my vision again. “Yes.” I don’t know which question I’m truly answering. I want to be with Solas. Could I give myself over to him completely? My heart misses Jack. I kiss his bare shoulder before rolling out of bed. I pull a robe on and walk to my closet to borrow Alice's bathing suit.
“Are you sure you don’t want Evelyn or Alice to be here?” he implies from the bed as he props himself on an elbow.
“Why? Do you think they should be there?” I remark from the closet as I tie the back string of my bikini top.
“Well, I’m thinking that if you can tether to me before you begin and we both go under, I may be able to see what you’re not able to. But if we both go under, we'll need someone there to make sure we don’t drown in the tub.”
“I don’t know if I can do that,” I admit, reentering the bedroom as I tie a sheer red wrap on my hip.
Solas gets out of bed and pulls his jeans back on, “You're more capable than you believe.” He approaches me and places his hands on the tops of my arms. “I have no doubt you can do this.” I nod and he kisses my forehead. “I’ll go change quick and be right back.”
I stop him before he exits the room, “Not the bathtub.” He glances back at me with a raised brow. “When I had the vision under water before, my body temperature was extremely high. I think we’ll need the water to be a lot colder than my current body temperature to shock me into the vision. If we try to use ice to cool the tub, it may melt too fast. Plus, I really don’t think we'll both fit in the tub.”
“What do you suggest?”
“The pool. It’s been cold enough during the day that the water's freezing.”
“Ok. You can gather everyone, and I’ll meet you out there.”
After Solas leaves, I swipe my cellphone from the table in front of the fireplace. I send out a group text message to everyone.
Me: Change n plans. Meet @ pool.
My phone starts to beep sporadically with their replies. I take a deep breath and make my way outside. Everyone's already standing around the swimming pool. Their faces illuminate from the lights under the water's surface, and white streaks dance and glimmer over them from its reflection. Beckett whistles at me as I approach in Alice's red string bikini. Cass elbows him hard in the chest, and a low growl stirs from Solas standing next to Eric with his arms crossed over his chest.
“So what’s the plan?” Alice hints, taking everyone's attention from the fight brewing between Solas and Beck.
“Just like I shared my memory with you, I’m going to try to connect with Solas before I go under so he can see what I’m seeing. He may be able to sense things I can’t, but he needs to go under with me.” Alice and Evelyn appear nervous with the idea as the guys pay close attention. They're unmoving as if I'm giving them orders for a battle plan. I address each of them, “Cass and Beck, I need you to keep Solas under with me. You'll have to hold him under so he doesn’t surface. If he does, we may lose the connection. Eric, I need you to hold me under as well. You’ll know when I’m ready to come back up, but don’t let me drown,” I tease to lighten the mood. He nods his head mirroring my visage. I turn to Alice and Evelyn, “I need you two to monitor the time and make sure nothing goes wrong. If either of us start to bleed, pull us out. Also, make sure we're not under for longer than four minutes.” I'd found that with my new angelic capabilities I'm able to hold my breath a lot longer, and I'm certain it'll help in this situation.
Evelyn voices her concern, “This water is freezing, Ivy. Are you sure?”
Untying my wrap and handing it to Alice, I make my way towards the steps leading into the frigid water, “Yeah. I think one of the common factors in my vision is the shock of the temperature difference between my body and the element I’m using as a medium. Yesterday, I used fire to help me meditate. The heat took over my body and induced the vision more intensely. I think that’s why I was able to be harmed. The cold water should keep that from happening.” I hope.
“Ok,” Evelyn sighs.
Solas joins me on the edge of the pool before we step into the water. Eric comes to my other side, and the Griffins stand behind us. “You’ve got this, princess. Just relax and open up,” Solas instructs me as he takes my hand.
I take a deep breath and gradually release it before we take our first steps into the frigid glowing water. Sucking in air through my teeth, I wince at the sting of its glacial temperature. “Shit, that’s cold,” I growl. Solas shows no sign of discomfort as he urges me further into the water. Beck grumbles as he, Cass, and Eric enter the pool behind us fully clothed. When the water reaches just below my breasts, Solas and I face each other. His brilliant blue eyes sparkle with the glow of water around us. “Ready?” I mumble through my chattering teeth.
“I won’t let you go,” he utters smoothly as if the freezing water doesn't faze him. Ignoring the cold seeping into my bones, I release the tension in my body as Eric steps behind me and places his hands on my shoulders. Beck and Cass take their positions behind Solas and place a hand on each of his bare shoulders.
I squeeze his hands
tight in mine. Are you here? I probe to test our mental connection.
“I’m here,” he answers.
Don’t let go.
“Never.”
My skin becomes numb, and I look up to Alice and Evelyn—my two momma birds. “Four minutes,” I remind them. They each give me a single nod. Focusing back on Solas, I lose myself in his gaze, and let its warmth consume me, chasing the chill away. A final shiver trails down my spine. “Here we go,” I breathe before we take a deep breath and sink under the water’s surface. Eric’s hands keep me from floating as Cass and Beck hold Solas firm underwater.
I continue to stare into Solas’ eyes and hear him speak to me in my mind, “Close your eyes and let the water guide you there.” I close my eyes and imagine myself as liquid. My lungs begin to burn, but I let the icy water extinguish the fire before it escalates. I tremble as the cold spreads through my body, and Solas guides me closer, wrapping his arms around me. I squeeze him tight, and my mind fades. “Let go, I’ve got you,” he coaxes, his voice becoming distant. And I do. The darkness smothers me with a tightness in my chest, and I surrender myself over to it.
My insides are boiling, not with heat, but anger. I'm pissed off. I’m wearing the forged midnight armor with large scales, and my gloved hands are bound to my ankles, restraining my wings tight against my back as the cold concrete digs into my knees through my leather pants. Lucian stalks forward in slow controlled anger from the shadows. He wears a fitted black suit with a black shirt and a skinny black tie. I imagine seeing him in an Armani advertisement. The spotlight above shines on a red jewel pinned just below the tie's Half Windsor as he approaches.
“I have to admit, Lilim, I thought you'd be much harder to capture. I’m a little disappointed,” he sighs, and his wolfish smile falls. “But you destroyed my uncle, and for that… I'll make you suffer.” He growls low and menacing as he begins to circle me. I smell the slightest tinge of sulfur in his wake. “Would you like to hear my plans for you, Lilim?” I refuse to answer him, and he gloats, “First, I'll hunt down everyone you care about. I'll torture them while you watch, for as long as it entertains me. When I’m finished with them, I'll hand them over to Sasha—she’s my hellhound—and she loves Divine blood.” He stops before me and crouches with a nefarious smirk. “Then, I'll make you my slave. I'll own you. You'll do exactly what I tell you to. You’ll kill my father, and I'll rise in his place.” He stands and looks down at me like I’m the most disgusting thing he’s ever laid eyes on. Rage ignites through my veins. I growl up at him in defiance.
Lucian’s hand grips a fistful of my hair and wrenches my head back to look him in the face. He bares his teeth, growling in my face with flames in his eyes. “You will suffer,” he snarls with a vibration in his chest, reminding me of a rattlesnake. Raising his free hand, he backhands me across the face, and my head snaps to the side as the taste of salted copper fills my mouth. Rustling of feathers echoes off of the aluminum roof above us. I glance around. “No one's coming to save you,” his voice rumbles and hums in my ears as his raging eyes scowl at my weakness. A raven flies into an open window at the end of the warehouse and lands on its sill. An echo of rustling feathers tremor in the air around me. I begin to notice silhouettes of Fallen surrounding us. Lucian scowls at me, and I smile at him. He produces a blade from behind him and depresses its sharp point into my chest between my armor’s plates. The tip never penetrates my skin as he slowly tries to twist it deeper. He jerks my head back and releases my hair to grip my chin. “Relinquish your essence to me,” he demands.
I chuckle under my breath at his annoyance. “Never,” I smirk with unwavering audacity.
“Then I'll watch you die.” He arcs the blade in the air, intent on plunging it into my chest, but a large hand seizes his wrist from behind. I can’t detect who it is, and my vision fades out.
Solas and I are launched above the surface as the water shoots towards the sky around me. I gasp for air wrapped in his embrace. As we come back down, blood rushes to my head and I squeeze my eyes shut to stabilize my equilibrium. Eric, Beck, and Cass separate and haul us to the steps of the pool. I climb on my weak hands and knees out of the water before collapsing on my back, breathing hard with uncontrollable shivering. Evelyn and Alice throw towels over my body and wrap one around Solas’ shoulders.
Solas hovers over me, his skin containing a blue tinge and wipes my wet hair from my face. “You ok?” he huffs, out of breath. I briskly nod because I can’t speak. My entire body stings with numbness, and my teeth clack with convulsions. Solas demands over his shoulder, “Everyone get cleaned up and meet us in the entertainment room. Evelyn, will you start a fire for us, please?” Evelyn agrees, and Solas lifts me into his arms. I rest my head against his chest as he flees to my room with angelic speed.
I dry off and change into warm clothes while Solas changes in his room down the hall. I pull my hair into a high plaited ponytail and let its length fall over my shoulder. Solas exits his room the same time I do, and we make our way downstairs. Alice brings thick blankets and quilts to help warm everyone up. “Your lips are blue,” she observes with worry as she lays a blanket over my shoulders and guides me to sit in a high backed chair in front of the fire. Solas takes a spot at my feet and leans against the leg of my chair. The Griffins sit down across from me on the sofa, and Eric and Alice hold each other next to them. Evelyn brings us warm tea and sits rigid in the chair beside mine as she searches my face.
I sip the warm tea before I begin, “It was different this time. Something changed.”
“Changed how?” Evelyn inquires.
“Well, it started further back, and it didn’t end the same.”
“There are Fallen everywhere,” Solas adds.
“Could you see how many from the window?” I ask.
“I only experienced what you did, but I could hear them all around you.”
“That changed too. You weren’t there in your raven form before.”
Eric contributes, “Maybe that proves we can change the outcome. If he wasn’t there before, but he is now, then something changes that.”
“Yeah, because in this version, when Lucian tried to stab me with his knife, it never penetrated my skin. I imagine we alter the armor so he can’t. I also wasn’t afraid of him this time. I was laughing at him, and it pissed him off. It was like I knew something he didn’t.”
Cassius shifts into a more comfortable position on the floor, “How was the end different?”
“Someone comes up behind him and stops his hand from plunging the knife into my chest since he couldn't penetrate the armor. I don’t die.” The room stills. The only sound is the crackling of the fire as it glows across our faces.
“It’s me,” Solas reveals.
Alice scoffs, “How do you know?”
Solas ignores her tone, “Because I wasn’t there before. And knowing now that I'll be there, I've formed a plan of action.” I hang on his every word. He rises from the ground and paces in front of the blazing hearth. “In the vision, Lucian explains he wants to use Ivy to get rid of his father. He knows without her in his control he'll forever live in his father's shadow. He fears him. As well as he should. Since I know I'll be there, I plan to sneak through the open window Ivy saw and shapeshift into Lucifer. I can stop Lucian from harming her and set up a ruse that I'll be taking her from him. It’s me that stops him.”
“That’s brilliant!” Beckett shouts.
“There’s one problem,” Evelyn thwarts, and we all snap our heads in her direction. “We still don’t know the when or where. How's Solas going to know where you are?”
I think about the new incomplete bond I now have with Solas from our intimacy. I don't know if Evelyn ever knew about the incomplete bond I shared with Jack, but I don't want to bring it up. “I’m not sure yet. Maybe we can try again after Cass and Beck get back from The Keep this weekend. I’m drained and need a break for a while.”
“Ok, dear. In the meantime, I'll try to communicate with Mi
chael and see if he can tell us anything."
Solas helps me stand, and we all bid each other goodnight. A huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders, knowing we can defeat Lucian now. There's no wonder I was being so cocky to him. He'll lose. What my family doesn’t know is, I plan to take his essence from him so he can never be a threat to anyone again. I fall asleep in Solas’ arms and sleep better than I have in a long time.
Chapter 24
Friday morning, I'm accompanied by Beck to the Music building. The sky is gray, but Red Meadow is anything but lacking in color. The leaves have turned shades of red, orange, and yellow, decorating the campus in warm colors that make me look forward to changes and new beginnings. I’m thankful for the chilly weather. It gives me an excuse to wear long sleeves and jackets to cover the permanent ink on my forearm representing my rank. While I know other students will only see it as a new and bold tattoo choice, I don’t want to take the chance of a covert enemy discovering it and revealing my identity to others. And wearing a leather cuff at all times isn't a fashion statement I wish to make. I feel refreshed with a new shine on my future.
Beck casually rests his arm over my shoulders as we trudge up the hill. He’s in a good mood today, and his emotions further brighten my morning. “So…” he drawls, and I peer up to him in question. He gives me a sidelong glance, “You and Chief, huh?”
My cheeks flush as I jerk my head forward in embarrassment and bite my lip. “That obvious?” I keep my focus on the short hike before us.
Beckett chortles, “Not until last night.” His smile meets his gray eyes, identical to the sky.
“What do you mean?”
As we reach the top of the hill and stop outside of the doors, Beckett explains, “He growled at me when I whistled at you last night. In a way, he was claiming you as his.” He wiggles his eyebrows, suggesting my intimacy with Solas.
“What!” My heart beats faster, and I cover my face with my hands. “Oh, no,” I mutter through my palms as the heat in my face intensifies. Evelyn must have heard him. What does she think of me seeing someone else?
MIDNIGHT DIVINE (The Helio Trilogy Book 1) Page 30
