Within their dreams (Reverse Harem)

Chapter 42

Ivy's POV

"Are you crazy?!"

I huff, storming ahead of my mates and leaving them to trail behind me. The doors bang open from my magic as I make my way towards Leo's office. I make the guards startle in the corridors, hands to their belts ready to draw weapons. One look from me and they snake their gazes to the floor, ignoring my mates' bickering behind me. I understand their confusion; after what I told them about Simon, I wouldn't want them to be alone with Simon either. But I'm not the weak little human they met anymore. My magic is thriving and being around my mates has helped me regain the strength Simon tried to take from me.

I stride towards the doors of Leo's office, two guards lounging next to it. They stand straight when they spot us, bowing to the men behind me. I reach out to open the door and they block the handle. My mates' anger is already trickling through the bond, merging with mine. My magic is fizzling under my skin, begging for a fight with three people's emotions flooding my senses.

They gulp at my expression but turn their attention to Leo.

"Open the door for her." He orders and they comply. I barely take one step before I hear a choked gasp. I turn around to see them holding the guards by their throats, dangling them in the air as they press them against the cold concrete walls.

"Never prevent our mate from going where she pleases," Leo growls.

"As future Queen, you obey her the way you would us," Owen adds, squeezing the neck of the guard until he turns a dark purple. "Her word supersedes us."

I raise my brows at that, shock washing away some of the anger I had. I clear my throat before they can do anything more to the poor guards, who now look to me for mercy.

"Your anger is directed at me. Don't push it onto them over something silly."

"Silly," Owen repeats slowly, letting go of the guard who crumbles to the floor, gulping down big gulps of air. He stalks over to me until he's towering over me but I hold his gaze.

"They disrespected their Queen."

"I'm not Queen yet," I roll my eyes, stepping to the side and gesturing for them to enter the office. I raise a brow to Leo, who still has hold of his guard before he sighs, letting go and walking inside without a backward glance.

"You're relieved for the day," I murmur to the guards softly and they mutter their thanks with hoarse voices, stumbling to their feet.

I close the door as I step inside. They both stand on one side of Leo's desk, leaving his usual seat free for me. I round the desk and sit down with a sigh, tucking my legs under me. We regard each other in silence for a few moments before I break it.

"I told you, I have a plan. I can handle Simon."

"He spent the last month keeping you a prisoner as a way to control us!" Owen clenches his fists, pacing back and forth.

"What does he want?" Leo asks, seemingly calm but I spot the twitch in his jaw.

"Probably just to see whether I have you wrapped around my fingers yet." I shrug, while my stomach churns with guilt. Can they sense my lie now?

"That's all?" Leo searches my eyes and I force myself to hold his stare.

"How should I know? I'm not his bestie." I snap.

Owen lets out a breathy laugh, shaking his head.

"This is exactly why you can't be alone with him."

"I've been alone with him for over a month now and survived." I fold my arms, shooting them both a glare. Silence falls over the room at my blow but I see the pain in their eyes before it surges through me. I almost feel bad, almost. But the anger at them for underestimating me overpowers the mate bond.

I drop my arms with a sigh, trying a different approach.

"I'm not weak anymore."

"You were never weak!" Owen exclaims but I turn to Leo.

"You let me go there, and I survived. I can handle one meeting with Simon."
"Will you ever tell us what really happened there?" he asks. I hug my knees, picking at the skin around my fingers.

"When we saw you for the first time after you went there, you were different. You looked...haunted. Whatever it was, you can tell us."

"Another time," I say softly and although I can see they want to pry more, they both nod.

I stand, the exhaustion finally hitting me with full force that I almost fall back.

"I need to sleep," I say, not waiting for them to reply as I walk towards the door and leave the office. I head back to my room, changing into a baggy shirt and crawling into bed, sighing at the way my body moulds into the mattress.

The two of them stand at the end of my bed, seeming unsure. I lift myself up on my elbows, blowing a piece of hair that had fallen in front of my face.

"Are you coming to bed?"

That snapped them into action, each of them peeling off their clothes until they're just in boxers and crawling on either side of me on the bed. My body hums at the heat of their bodies next to mine, helping ebb the residual irritation left over from earlier. Wordlessly, we snuggle together, each of us holding back the conversation we know needs to be had. My eyes flutter closed at the sound of their breaths, lulling me to sleep like a lullaby.

—---------

The next few days pass by blissfully. I barely make it out of bed most days and when I do it's only to grab some food and take a shower. Scarlette has been hounding Leo to let her see me, but with so much time apart, they've both become rather possessive.

By day four I managed to convince them that leaving me alone for two hours with Isabella and Scarlette won't kill them. It still took thirty minutes of them whining before I made my way to the drawing room.

News has spread across the palace after our altercation the other night and each guard I pass bows and makes sure to acknowledge me. I'm not sure how to feel about the newfound position I have within the palace, but my mates' magic seems to enjoy it, warming my chest.

"Ivy!" Scarlette squeals as I enter the room, rushing over to me and engulfing me in a hug so tight I'm worried she might accidentally crack one of my ribs.

"Hi," I gasp, desperately trying to draw breath as I look over at Isabella for help. She just laughs, shaking her head. Scarlette gives me one last bone-crushing squeeze before finally letting me go enough for her to give a quick scan, her hands resting on my shoulders.

"You seem different." Her eyes scrutinize me before she steps back, her mouth gaping open.

"You completed the mate bond!" My eyes widen and I scramble to clamp my hand over her mouth before she says anything else. Even Isabella is now standing beside us, her eyes ping-ponging between the two of us.

"No one knows."