Within their dreams (Reverse Harem)

Chapter 37

Leo's POV

Fear rushes through me at the sight of Ivy running into the room, her hair wild around her face. Her red cheeks stand out against her skin, highlighting how pale she's become. Even her eyes seem sunken in. What's happened to her?

"What's wrong?" I barely make it to her before she collapses and I rush forward to catch her in my arms. I can't hear with the blood pounding in my ears, but I see Owen run forward towards us. He reaches out and I growl, shifting her away from him. The mate bond is flooding my veins and all I can think about is protecting her from whoever harmed her. I close my eyes and breathe deeply, reminding myself that he's her mate too and not the one who put her in harm's way.

Once I have control of myself, I open my eyes again, staring down at Ivy. Her skin is cold and clammy, but the sound of her pulse helps simmer the pounding in my head. I remain tense, but no longer see my brother as a threat.

"I feel it too," Owen says softly, kneeling on the floor a few feet beside me. I turn to him, his expression focused on Ivy, who's breathing shallowly. Her fast heartbeats mirror my own as I look down at her. My eyes flick up to my brother, whose eyes have glossed over.

Slowly, I turn her towards him and he lunges forward, grasping one of her hands into his own and stroking her cheek. I tell him to bring some tea and blankets and scoop her up, laying her down on the sofa in my office.

Owen's back in seconds, sitting beside her with the tea balanced on his lap while I cover her in the blanket, tucking it around her body tightly.

Her eyes flutter open, taking in her surroundings before shooting up, almost throwing Owen to the floor.

"Relax," I say, as Owen tries to force her to lie back down.

"There's no time," she huffs, glaring at Owen who is trying to shove the tea in her hands. She takes it from him begrudgingly, her hands curling around the mug as the warmth seeps into her. She finally takes a sip after we stare at her for a few moments, the colour slowly returning back to her skin enough for Owen to allow her to put the cup down.

"Are you hurt?"

"What? No." She scoffs, crossing her arms.

"Then explain what just happened."

She avoids my gaze, picking at a loose thread on her cardigan.

"I overdid my magic today, that's all."

Owen and I share a look. I open my mouth to question her further when she stands up, wobbling slightly and holding onto Owen's shoulder for support.

"There's something important I have to tell you."

We both open our mouths to argue with her but the look on her face has us snapping our jaws closed. Even when fragile, our mate could command us without trying.

The blood in my ears roars again as she begins to tell us about Simon's scheme. I'd known of his thirst for power, but I didn't think he'd stoop so low as to try and get Ivy to betray us.

"Why you?" Owen asks. "I mean, why try to bribe you into supporting his plan? Surely he could've just refused to give you to us unless we gave the crown to him. What's his end goal with you?"

"I-I don't know." Ivy stutters. An emotion flickers on her face but quickly disappears before I can interpret it.

She's hiding something, but with the bond still blocked from her side, I can't tell what.

"What did you say?"

"I made it seem like I wanted to, then left so I could come and tell you." She rolls her eyes. "I couldn't exactly disagree with him. If I did, he'd never let me leave."

"We need a plan."

"Agreed," I sigh, running a hand down my face. My mind is already thinking up different plans and anticipating their outcomes. Simon is not an easy opponent, but he's not as powerful when he's on his own. If I can get the council to turn against him, perhaps I could remove him from the council and replace him with someone more open-minded.

"We should complete the bond," Owen says, Ivy's and my heads snapping towards him.

"It's a good idea," he holds his hands up.

"If you want them to take Ivy from us forever sure."

"Just listen. We can do it in secret, no one needs to know. Then once it's complete, they can't deny us any longer."

"And instead, they overthrow us," I counter, sighing heavily.

"We'd be stronger, and we can convince them to accept it."

"Stronger?" Ivy asks.

"Yes, we'd share all our powers once the bond is complete and they'd amplify to accommodate the three of us using them."

"Then I agree with Owen, it's the best plan we've got."

"And what about Simon? You think he'd give in just because the bond is complete?"

"I have an idea," she says. "But you have to trust me."

We share a long look. My heart trusts her implicitly, but I can't help the feeling that she's lying about something. She told us about Simon sure, but how can I know this isn't a trap?

"Please," she murmurs softly, taking my hands in hers.

I stare into her eyes, wide and bright. I hope to find what she hiding, but there's nothing but her. In all the time she's been here, she's never given me reason to doubt her. While I on the other hand, have given her plenty of doubt. Yet she loves me anyway. If she wants me to trust her, then I do.

I nod once, closing my eyes as she leans up and brushes her lips against mine. Her scent wafts over me, and I breathe it in, hoping to savour it before she leaves.

"Thank you." She breathes. She pulls away slightly as Owen speaks.

"When should we do this?"

"Tomorrow night," I say and they both nod in agreement.

"Will it take long? I don't want them to notice I'm missing."

"Hopefully not," I say. "Once it's done, we can hold a meeting with the council and somehow convince them to not remove us from the palace."

"I'm sorry," Ivy says. "I've caused you both so much trouble and I hate that I could be the reason you lose your inheritance too."
"We'd choose you over any crown gorgeous." Owen turns to me. "Wouldn't we?"

"Of course." I brush her hair to one should and press a kiss against her feeling, feeling her pulse spike. "Always."

"I-I should head back," she moans, as I leave a trail of kisses along her shoulder. "They'll notice I'm gone soon."

"We can be quick," Owen replies, smirking as he kneels in front of her.

The next few hours are filled with her sighs of pleasure, until orange and pink rays fill the sky and she finally convinces us to untangle ourselves from her embrace so she can return to the coven. After what she told us, we hate the idea of her going back, but she's assured us that Simon won't hurt her. Plus, in a few hours we'll get to see her for our supervised visit.

"You better be on your best behaviour," Ivy says as she pulls on her clothes. I frown, crossing my arms.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means no murdering Simon with your eyes." Owen laughs as I toss a pillow at his head.

"You're the one that argues with the council every time you see them."

His face turns serious then.

"They can't know about our plan, or that Ivy has told us what she knows." I nod in agreement. It'll be hard, but I've perfected hiding my true feelings from the council.

Ivy sighs, giving us one last look before she disappears. The room is filled with silence, our gazes locked onto where she once stood.

"We should get some sleep," I mutter. "It'll be a long day tomorrow."