Engel shakes Ivy awake and she groggily looks at him, and then around. Her brain was clouded in confusions as she remembered so well she died… it all seemed a mere dream now and Engel was here with her.
That's right. She glanced up at Engel and hugged him immediately as some tears fell down her eyes, onto her cheeks.
"It was just a dream," he says.
"Not a dream, but a nightmare," Ivy corrects while huffing as if she had run a marathon, still crying and burying the side of her face into his chest.
Engel brings a glass of water to her lips to help her drink since he doubts, she has any strength to do so looking at how she was still shivering.
He had come last night to give her a heads up about Nyx, Theon and Xade talking to her tomorrow but he was late as she had already fallen asleep.
As usual, he spent the night hugging her as she slept over the duvet when he felt her move uneasily. Her brows were furrowed as she curled her fingers into a fist and her nails slowly digging into her flesh, even her forehead was covered with sweat as she started shivering.
He tried talking to her in her sleep and also uncurling her fist but failed in calming her. Not being able to control himself anymore seeing her hurting, he had no choice but to wake her up.
Ivy drank huge gulps of water with her hands still around Engel, holding onto him tightly while he continuously patted her back.
After drinking water, she wiped off her tears and stabilized her breathing and emotions before excusing herself to the washroom.
She came out after a couple minutes and there was no sign of Engel except his sweet scent and a note on the bed saying 'SOMETHIN CAME UP SO I GOTTA GO. TAKE CARE N DON'T THINK TOO MUCH.'
'this is sweet,' she giggles before reprimanding herself for acting like a teenage in love.
And-
"BOOOOO!"
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"STOPPP! STOPPP! IT'S MEEE!"
*flashback*
While Ivy was scolding herself in her head and making all sorts of foolish expression, a certain someone was standing at the door.
No, that's wrong. Four people were standing at the door of the penthouse, one inside and three on the outside.
Cristian raised a brow, "you want me to believe that MY SISTER, who I have known for the past many decades, actually spoke to ALL of you and you are so close TO HER to come to place to see MY SISTER, IVY and that she won't beat you black and blue?" ridicule written all over his face as he stressed some words.
The trio at the other side just stared at him.
"of course, she'll be really mad. So, don't call us in," Xade turned around to the other two before saying, "let's leave while we still have a chance."
"Are you kidding me? She isn't that bad."
Nyx couldn't tolerate a word against Ivy even if he wasn't happy with her having so many mates. It wasn't like she chose this. It isn't her fault. But he still couldn't get himself to say anything and regretted it instantly when Theon spoke on her behalf.
"Admire you, gentleman. May I have your name?"
"Theon Phenix. If you tell her it's me then she would happily see us." Theon smiled and was dancing in his head knowing he pushed Nyx's buttons.
Cristian searched his mind for this name but couldn't get anything. he did not want to appear rude in case one of them ended up becoming his brother-in-law.
"do come in."
As the trio took a seat on the spacious couches in the living room, Cristian shut the door before giving them an overly polite smile.
"I'll go check on my sister, if she even is awake."
"sure. Afterall, it was late last night."
Cristian walked up to Ivy's room and was going to knock but decided to just peek in case she was asleep.
Opening the door halfway, he saw Ivy standing by bedside table putting some paper there lost in her own world when he came up with a mischievous idea.
He sneaked up behind her, controlling his laughter seeing the funny faces she was making.
And-
"BOOO!"
he wanted to scare Ivy but instead got elbowed on the stomach and punched on his face.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"
After getting hit, he got no sympathy but rather anger.
Laughing awkwardly, he spoke, "some people are here to see you." And pointed at the door, "Men, to be exact," he raised a brow.
Ivy narrowed her eyes and walked to the living room with Cristian tagging behind.
When they reached the living room, Cristian spoke again, "I'm running late already so I'll take my leave."
"Don't forget the compensation," he spoke right before exiting the door and winked at Ivy and hurriedly left before she could refute.
Ivy simply sighed in response, which of course, went unheard by Cristian but was heard by the trio seated.
Taking a seat, "to what do I owe the displeasure of seeing your ugly faces so early in the morning?" she mocked.
"we have serious business here, okay? And you aren't the only one feeling the displeasure. I don't wanna be here either but thanks to you, I don't really have a choice."
"okay! Enough!" Nyx was unhappy about the mate drama but also a little happy seeing Xade's clear displeasure hoping Xade would leave Ivy on her own and find another to mate.
"We're here for business, my lady." Theon winked with a charming smile.
Ivy stared at him remembering the electrifying feeling she got when she held his hand last night.
'if I hold his hand, will I feel it again?' And then, she felt it. But no, she was untouched.
Theon shifted to her side and whispered in her ear, "thinking about me?"
It was as if the little whispers carried current.
He was so close. she could feel him from the distance. His scent clouded her senses and she shut her eyes lightly, breathing deeply to smell more of him when she felt it all disappear.
Opening her eyes, she saw Theon leaning to the back of the couch and Nyx's fingers wrapped around his throat.
"KEEP.YOUR.DISTANCE." Every word was spoken through gritted teeth and each of them could smell something burn.
Theon tugged Ivy's fingers and Nyx tightened his fingers, chocking Theon more but the latter had a faint mocking smile on his smile.
"Stop!" Ivy pried Nyx's fingers open and pushed him away with all the strength she could gather.
Nyx wasn't prepared and stumbled back before falling onto the couch he was seated on and Xade immediately held him down asking him to calm down.
The skin on Theon's throat was burnt and he was coughing after the hold on his throat was released.
Meanwhile, Ivy rushed to the kitchen to get water and Theon followed.
After filling a glass of water from the tap, she turned around and saw Theon a standing behind her as his burns glared harshly on his pale skin making her eyes widened.
She hurried over, "You should have remained seated," she said concerned as she handed the glass of water to him and patted his back lightly
"Are you okay?" she asked as soon Theon finished drinking every last drop of water from the glass.
"Are you concerned about me?" a small smiled played along his lips.