Ivy stood in the middle of the room, her arms crossed tight over her chest. Her jaw was set. Her eyes were hard. She looked at Cassien first, then Darius, then Damien. None of them spoke right away. The silence stretched, thick and heavy.

“No,” Ivy said at last.

Cassien lifted his head. “Ivy”

“No,” she said again, louder this time. “I’m not doing that.”

Darius frowned. “Doing what?”

“I’m not losing my kids,” Ivy said. “And I’m not sending you away on some ...