Ivy POV

I didn’t hear anything at first. It was so quiet that it made my skin crawl. Then I looked up and everything inside me broke.

Rick was in the center of the room, suspended in the air. Rings of fire circled him, moving slowly around his small body. Magic crackled around him like something alive. His skin glowed faintly, and his eyes were half-open as if he was drifting between sleep and pain.

I couldn’t hold myself back. “Rick!” I shouted and ran forward.

Lucien grabbed my arm ...