Heads or Tails (21 page)

‘Oh.’ Ivyanne bit her lip. ‘Sorry.’

‘It’s okay. I’ve got a great view from up here! Want to know some gossip?’

‘
Do
I?’ Ivyanne asked warily.

He chuckled again. ‘It doesn’t involve you.’

Ivyanne relaxed. ‘Then shoot.’

Lincoln’s teeth gleamed in the darkness. ‘Bane and Marcus were making out in the spa before they left.’

Ivyanne laughed. ‘So they crossed the line, huh?’

‘Yep! Though I don’t know why they bothered hiding it.’

‘Maybe they’re afraid of catching relationship over-exposure from me.’ She pointed out. ‘I wouldn’t blame them for trying to stay under the radar.’

‘That’s possible,’ Lincoln agreed. ‘They’re funny together. Still grosses me out a bit though...’

‘Link…’ Ivyanne cautioned him.

But Lincoln made a shooing gesture. ‘Not because they’re the same sex-because Marcus is almost
seventy
! I just can’t get my head around the age gap thing.’

‘You’ll get used to it,’ Ivyanne said softly. ‘You just need to evaluate the person based on how they look and act, rather than the number of years they’ve been alive for. Just stop asking people their ages-
period
.’

‘But I’m used to treating people differently
because
of their age,’ he said. ‘What about respecting your elders and all of that?’

‘You can still tell which are older than the others-Aubrielle and Remi are far more reserved than Saraya, aren’t they?’ Ivyanne shrugged. ‘Besides, I’ve met plenty of fifty-something human men who don’t deserve an inch of respect-so why give it to them automatically and deny a level-headed fifteen year old?’

‘Good point.’ Lincoln looked down at her hand, then up at her face, as though it had suddenly dawned on him why she’d come to the window. ‘Ivyanne, I can’t let you go out. You know that.’

Ivyanne sighed and sat on the sill, hugging herself. ‘I guessed as much.’

‘Yeah well, I’m sorry. I’ve already been in trouble for breaking the rules once today. If Garridan sacks me, I’ll be lost.’

‘He won’t,’ Ivyanne said quickly. ‘I
am
the queen, you know. I get final say.’

Lincoln smiled at her. ‘So why don’t you just
go
?’

Ivyanne glanced out at the horizon. ‘Not used to doing as I please,
yet
. I keep waiting for mum to-’ her voice broke and she looked down at her lap.

Lincoln’s hand grabbed hers, intertwining her fingers with his. ‘Please don’t cry,’ he appealed. ‘Ivyanne I’ve heard you cry twice through the door and this window now-and to hear you in such pain, yet being unable to hold you and kiss your tears away…’

Ivyanne sniffled. ‘I’m sorry,’ she croaked out.

‘You don’t have to be sorry,’ Lincoln said. ‘You just have to be you. I miss you Ivyanne. Actually no, I miss
Ivanna
.’

Ivyanne lifted her eyes to his. ‘That’s silly.’

He smiled. ‘Maybe to you it is, but to me, there
is
a difference. As Ivanna, you were always so carefree... so light. You laughed all the time. You smiled constantly…. I know you were looking over your shoulder a lot, but what sixteen year old doesn’t?’ He sighed. ‘You’ve been through a lot, but you need to remember that you
should
still feel sixteen, at least for another ten years. I mean, Grace is so-’

Ivyanne’s head snapped up. ‘
Grace
?’

Lincoln paled noticeably. ‘I don’t think I meant that the way you seem to think I did.’

Ivyanne narrowed her eyes. ‘I hope not, because it sounds like you were asking me to act like an actual eighteen year old with no responsibilities, no troubles, no dead family members and no love triangle driving her nuts!’ She scowled at him. ‘I’ve never asked
you
to be more like
Tristan
.’

‘
Tristan
!’ Lincoln made a frustrated sound. ‘I am
so
sick of his name! The love we have is once in a lifetime Ivyanne, it should be enough to overshadow your fling with that
bimbo
! You’re an idiot for letting him get to you like this! And
I’m
a weakling for tolerating it!

Ivyanne recoiled. ‘I’m an
idiot
?’

‘Yes and a shallow one if you think his penis size alone qualifies him as a good husband!’

‘
Shallow too
?!’ Ivyanne put her hand up for the curtain, and smiled in surprise when it drifted into her hand, as though drawn by some invisible force.

That’s four times now! Could I really have something here?
Then she remembered her anger. ‘If all I wanted from Tristan was a shag, I would have done it again by now. He has value-and you insult my judgement by saying otherwise!’

Lincoln sighed. ‘So do it already! Shag him. And then in the morning when you can think straight again-you know
exactly
where to come crawling!’

‘Excuse me?!’

‘You heard me!’ Lincoln glared at her. ‘I know you want to-and I also know that you’ll regret it once you do, and realize the only thing you two share, is chemistry. Which
fades
. So if you have to push your fist through my heart to find yours-be my guest!’ He shook his head. ‘I already forgave it once-if it ends this and gets him out of your system-then fine!’

Ivyanne pulled the curtains shut, but left the window open, breathing in deeply to calm herself. She could count the number of times she’d had sex on two hands and yet suddenly everyone was treating her like some kind of succubi! Was her craving for skin on skin contact influencing her emotions? Yes! But how long would she have to abstain for to prove that she was trying to see past it? That she knew other things mattered more?

Besides, Lincoln hadn’t been so high or mighty about her drive when his hand had been attempting to gain advantage from it the night before!

That’s it!
she thought, shaking with rage.
I’m getting out of here!
She rested back on the bed, closed her eyes and began to hum an old Dido song : ‘White Flag,’
loud
. Loud enough for the sound to carry out to Lincoln, but not so loud that whoever was in the hallway might hear.

Ivyanne was
getting
her swim. And if Lincoln wouldn’t get out of her way willingly, she’d just have to move him. She was queen-and she was sick to death of being told what to do.

*

When Tristan discovered Lincoln passed out on the roof, he had half a mind to kick him-
hard
. But when Lincoln didn’t respond after a violent shake, Tristan put two and two together instantly.

‘Oi!’ he barked, shaking Lincoln again. ‘Comfortable there pal?’

Lincoln’s eyes fluttered open. ‘Tristan?’ he croaked. ‘Go back to your own bed.’

Tristan really did kick him this time-only softly in the ribs. It had the desired effect-Lincoln jolted upright.

‘What the-’

‘You’re not in your bed,’ Tristan said, crouching next to him. The tin roof as slippery from dew. ‘You’re on the roof, and her royal highness put the whammy on you to sneak out.’

Lincoln’s eyes flew open. He immediately turned to the wide open window. ‘Are you serious?’

‘As a stone fish.’ Tristan stepped over Lincoln and peered through Ivyanne’s window. Her clothes were neatly folded on the bed. No way had she been abducted. ‘Price you can leave the door! She’s flown the coup, and left Link unconscious!’

‘What a crazy-’ Lincoln got to his feet, swaying. ‘Oh wow... dizzy.’

‘She got you good.’ Tristan sighed. ‘Don’t you know to cover your ears when you hear a mermaid singing?’

‘I do
now
.’ Lincoln muttered dryly. ‘I didn’t even realize what it was-it sounded so pretty! I thought it was a C. D or something.’

‘Yes well that’s part of the Siren deal, you know?’

‘Not first hand. She’s never sung at
me
. In fact, I haven’t even tried it myself!’ Lincoln glanced out at the water. ‘She said she wanted to swim,’ his dark eyes looked anxious. ‘Tristan-what if she…?’

‘
She’s fine
!’

Lincoln and Tristan both whipped to their right and saw Ivyanne, naked and wet, clinging to the side of the chimney. Her hair fell over her breasts, and shadows concealed her lower body, but it was still an image that made Tristan’s body spark in all the right places. Especially the way her eyes were sparkling in contrast to the blackness blanketing everything above her-she was a vision.

‘How did you sneak up here?’ Tristan demanded.

‘I can’t believe you did that to me!’ Lincoln erupted at the same time.

Ivyanne smiled, her teeth glinting in he darkness. ‘Apparently, I have a gift I wasn’t aware of... one I’m slowly working out.’

Tristan’s heart skipped a beat. ‘That magnet thing?’

‘
What
magnet thing?’ Lincoln asked.

Ivyanne smiled at Tristan. ‘Yes that. Only I figured out tonight that if the thing I want is too heavy to move-
I
go to
it
. Watch.’ Ivyanne stuck her hand out, her fingers reaching towards the window. Almost imperceptibly, her fingertips were lightly glowing red, like the element on a stove after it’s first been turned off. There was a quick blur and suddenly, she was inside the window, holding a curtain around herself.

‘Ta da! I practically
flew
up here! Isn’t this great?’

Tristan was astounded. ‘Ivyanne, that’s incredible! When did you figure it out?’

Ivyanne glanced at Lincoln. ‘When I was trying to work out how to get off the roof without anyone downstairs hearing me. I was staring and staring at that tree over there, and then bang-I was on it. It freaked me out and I scraped my knee trying not to fall off, but I’ve spent the last hour practicing. Works underwater too, only slower.’

‘Hence your good mood.’ Tristan commented.

‘
Great
mood!’ Ivyanne corrected him. ‘If I was a T. V girl, I’d never have to look for the remote again! It works with fish too-can you imagine that? I caught like, five.’ She blushed. ‘Okay I was so surprised every time that they slipped out, but it still
worked
.’

‘I can’t believe this!’ Lincoln exploded, breaking the gaiety of the moment. ‘How could you keep such a big secret from everyone but him?’

‘Tristan saw it happen, and Garridan and Camus have known for a few days now.’ Ivyanne frowned. ‘I didn’t say much before then because I didn’t know there was anything to
tell
. It only happened twice before tonight-the objects I wanted just
came
to me. I’ve tried exercising it, but that’s been uneventful until tonight. Obviously, desperation is the key.’

You know you’re desperate to get on this!
Tristan thought smartly, happy to be referenced as an object she wanted-even if she didn’t enlighten Lincoln on that fact.

‘This will make it harder for Ardhi to get you now, I suppose...’ Lincoln said, though his tone was still resentful. ‘You know, if you can fly.’

‘Not fly. I lose control pretty quickly. But it should make it real easy for
me
to catch
him
.’ Ivyanne smiled serenely. ‘I may have to knight
myself
! Maybe I don’t need a man to do
anything
for me!’

Tristan chuckled, glancing up and down her lithe curtain-shrouded figure, appreciating the view before he wrecked it. ‘Well right now, you need a man to remind you that that curtain is transparent,
Sir
Court.’

Ivyanne glanced down at herself, then shrieked, twisting away. The curtains fell closed, moving slightly, allowing Tristan and Lincoln to watch her silhouette scramble for the robe on the back of the door-which they both did without attempting to hide it.

‘Get out of here you guys!’ she yelped.

A fist pounded on the door. ‘Ivyanne Court!’ A man’s voice bellowed. ‘Let me in-this minute young lady!’

Ivyanne froze in the middle of the room, then glanced back at them, belting the robe. ‘Either of you willing to swear that I was here the whole time?’ She hissed.

‘Too late. Tristan sold us both out to Price when he found me.’ Lincoln said with mirth. ‘And considering that you just mind-fucked me, I’m sort of happy about it!’

Tristan blew her a kiss. ‘Besides, you don’t need a
man’s
help, your highness, remember?’ With that, he pulled the window shut, dropping the exterior lock for good measure. Ivyanne was really and truly in for it, and the only thing he was sorry for, was the fact that he couldn’t stick around to watch. After all, he was officially on duty now, and had a dock to guard.