Enchanted Ivy

'Block his eyes!' she said. 'Fill his mouth. Blind him. Gag him.'

Pulled by the branches and the vines, the dragon tumbled to the ground. He crashed into the fountain in the center of the gardens. The tulips shot toward him. Brilliant yellow and red petals filled his eyes and mouth. Above, Tye's dragon hovered, silhouetted by the moon, blocking the Chained Dragon's escape.

The dragon thrashed, and the force of his flailing snapped trees and crushed flowers. Lily saw the vines strain. She needed more!

Lily sprinted up the hill to the rosebushes. She thrust her hands into the leaves. Thorns scraped her palms, but she ignored them. 'Pierce him,' she ordered. She felt her muscles shake as the magic flooded out of her and into the roses.

The rosebushes spread down the slope toward the heart of the gardens. They wove themselves around the fallen dragon. He fought them off, breaking the branches. Lily concentrated, picturing the magic pouring out of her and into the rosebushes. 'More!' she cried.

Filled with her magic, the roses multiplied as they flowed down the hill, over the gardens, and to the dragon. Blossoms burst into red and white bloom as they snaked around the beast.

'Thorns, grow,' she commanded. She imagined the thorns thickening and stretching until each was a living sword.

The thorn swords stabbed the dragon.

She heard the dragon scream, and for an instant, she faltered. The roses felt her hesitation and withdrew.

'Don't stop!' Tye shouted down at her. 'He killed your father! He killed my mother! You have to end this now!'

Closing her eyes, she sent more thorns into the dragon.

Rose thorns pierced the dragon's heart.

In the distance, dimly, she heard men and women shouting. The dragon screamed as the Princeton knights burst into the gardens. Releasing the roses, Lily sagged to the ground.

The rosebushes retreated up the hill. The tulips fell out of the dragon's mouth and slipped from his eyes. The vines shrank and slithered back to their trees, and the trees themselves rose to stand tall around the gardens like silent, broken sentinels.

Swords raised, the knights, led by Jake, raced toward the downed dragon.

In the center of the gardens, covered in petals and blood, the dragon lay still.

CHAPTER Eighteen

Six months later

Lily straightened her sword arm. 'Is this right?'

On the benches behind Vineyard Club, Tye lounged as he bit into a cheesesteak. 'Sure,' he said around the oozing ketchup, 'if you want to topple over.'

She glared at him. 'Very funny,' she said. She pushed her hair out of her eyes. She'd been sweating so much that it had started to frizz. She wished she'd worn short sleeves, but she hadn't expected to sweat so much in December. It was all Jake's fault, of course. He thought she needed extra practice.

'Jake, wanna show her?'

Flashing her a smile, Jake rammed his shoulder into hers.

Naturally, she flew sideways. She landed on the frozen grass with a thud. 'Ow,' she said. 'Totally proves nothing. He could topple an elephant.'

Always the gentleman, Jake held out his hand to help her back onto her feet. 'You are nothing like an elephant,' he said gravely.

As compliments went, it wasn't impressive, but she'd accept it. She dusted flecks of dirt off her shirt and jeans as she smiled at him. 'Thanks, Jake.'

Tye scowled. 'You're flirting with my girlfriend again,' he complained.

Jake's ears turned pink as he blushed. 'I'll, um, get the practice swords.'

Putting down his cheesesteak, Tye jumped off the bench and crossed to Lily as Jake went inside the club. He wrapped his arms around her waist. 'Just so you know,' he said, 'I am planning on sweeping you away tonight, feeding you ice cream, and then taking you to watch a phoenix rise.'

Lily grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. 'Not the traditional dinner and a movie?'

'No dinner. Just an ice-cream cone,' he said. 'Your grandfather thinks I'm a bad influence. I have to maintain my reputation.'

'He said that?' She'd have to talk with him. Again.

'Not in so many words.' Tye wound his fingers through Lily's hair and then cupped her cheek in his hand. She felt the familiar tingle as their magic fizzed over her skin. He drew her closer and kissed her. His lips were soft and gentle and wonderful.

A familiar voice interrupted them. 'I do think you're a bad influence. Please refrain from slobbering over my granddaughter in public.' Tye and Lily jumped apart as Grandpa strode out of Vineyard Club. 'Jake said I'd find you back here.'

'Thanks, brother o' mine,' Tye muttered.

'Grandpa ...,' Lily began.

He held up a hand. 'You have a letter,' he said.

Lily felt her heart hammer faster. 'Oh?'

'You're delivering—,' Tye started. 'Ooh. Right. The letter.'

Lily wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans and told herself to quit being nervous. The Old Boys had promised, and her application had been solid. She'd transferred to Princeton High School for senior year in order to be closer to Mom, but she'd kept up her grades and even taken on an extra AP class. 'Big envelope or small?' she asked.

Grandpa's face was blank as he handed her a business-size envelope. She held it to her chest for a moment, trying to force her heart to calm down. It couldn't be a rejection, could it?

'Seriously? You're nervous?' Tye asked.

It was such a small envelope!

'Lily, you're amazing,' Tye said. 'Any school would say yes.'

She studied the seal on the return address, and then she flipped the envelope over and ran her fingers over the back. Just open it, she told herself. Quit it with the melodrama. It has to be a yes. Unless the Old Boys didn't have the pull they thought they had ... Unless that 'unprepared' in gym class hurt her GPA too much ...

Tye rolled his eyes at her. 'Bet you submitted other college applications, too,' he said. 'Just in case.'

She blushed.

'Lily!'

'Only Harvard,' she said.

Grandpa frowned. 'Why?'

'Well ... everyone needs a safety school.'

Grandpa guffawed, slapping his thigh.

Tye plucked the envelope out of Lily's hands, ripped it open, and handed the letter to her unread. Taking a deep breath, she read the first sentence, and then she punched her fist with the letter into the air. 'Yes!' she yelled.

'Congratulations, Princeton girl,' Tye said. He grabbed her and kissed her forehead.

Brushing Tye aside, Grandpa scooped Lily up and swung her in a circle exactly as he had when she was a little girl. 'I am so proud of you, my tigerlily.'

She beamed at him.

'Never mind the ice-cream cone,' Tye said. 'I'm buying you a banana split.'

Over Grandpa's shoulder, she said, 'You're on.'

Lily read through the entire letter to make sure the first sentence hadn't lied. She couldn't stop smiling.