Page 18 of Wicked Dove (Institute Thirteen #1)

THIRTEEN

ELODIE

With the sound of the door slamming shut echoing behind me, I charge down the hallway, taking the first left turn, only to run straight into Ocean. She steadies me with a hand on each shoulder as she blinks at me in surprise. Her eyes run over me three times before she shakes her head.

“You’re here… are you okay?”

“I’m alright,” I breathe, taking a little strength from the words as I say them out loud.

“Your face, it’s—” She gapes at my cheek that was bleeding mere moments ago.

“It’s what?” I lift my hand, feeling for an imperfection, but if anything, my skin is the smoothest and softest it’s ever been. My pulse quickens with disbelief, I was so tangled up in his presence, I didn’t realize what was actually happening in there.

Whatever he did, it healed me, but even more, it confirmed all of this is real.

There’s no denying any of it.

Not me. Not any of it.

“Come,” she mutters urgently, linking her arm through mine as she tugs me down the hall. There are a few students around, but none of them seem to pay us any attention as she slips through the door near the exit.

Following her inside, I realize it’s the girls’ bathroom. She doesn’t ease up until we’re standing in front of the vanity, my reflection blinking back at me.

There’s not a single thing different about my features. I didn’t get to witness the mess that Willow caused, but I know it stung like a bitch. The blood staining my shirt and blazer are the only remaining remnants.

“I don’t think you understand,” Ocean says from beside me, her gaze flicking between the mirror and me, as if she’s checking me from all angles.

“I don’t think I do either,” I admit, and she offers me a tight smile.

“Your face was a mess, Elodie.”

“It didn’t feel that bad,” I reply softly, my eyebrows furrowing slightly as she shakes her head again.

“It was horrific.”

I cringe at how insistent she sounds. “Thanks.”

“Well, it was, but whatever Thorne did has made it look like it never happened.”

I tilt my face, despite the fact that I don’t truly know how bad it was, I know she’s right about that.

“Maybe I should have said thank you,” I mutter, and her eyes widen in surprise.

“You didn’t?”

“He was an ass,” I grumble with a shrug, and she snickers in amusement.

“I told you.”

Rolling my eyes at her, the tension in my shoulders relaxes a little. “Still, I probably should have.”

Ocean waves me off. “No, then he would probably find a way to put you in his debt, and that’s the last thing you want.”

I shudder. The thought of being in anyone’s debt makes me cringe.

That’s a no from me. I’ve seen what that looks like for others.

I’ve watched the men show up at our trailer, seen the beatings my father took for the drug money he owed.

Damn, I’ve paid the price for his stupidity too, but I have never and will never be in debt to someone.

Yet, despite the circumstances, there’s something mystical about Thorne that I can’t seem to shake, even if he is crazy as hell.

“What’s his deal anyway?”

“Do you really want to know?” she asks with her eyebrow raised, and I shrug, failing to downplay how intrigued I am.

“I get the feeling I don’t have a choice,” I murmur, recalling his lips on my cheek. It takes everything in me not to lift my fingers to trace the exact spot.

“Wait, you didn’t fuck him too, did you?” Ocean blurts, and I gape at her in surprise.

“If I did?” My shoulders sharpen, but I force myself to shake it off. Getting defensive over something I didn’t actually do is insane. But why does it matter?

“Then I would high-five you, but you would also get a stern talking to because you’re already in a messy situation with Kael,” she splutters, and the tinge of tension that remained melts away.

“Well, you’re safe, I didn’t fuck him.”

“I almost feel sad for you,” she says with a grin as she waves her hand in front of me.

I watch in the mirror as the crimson stains on my clothes disappear, stealing my breath as I witness her magic again. It’s impossible to comprehend, but even more undeniable.

“What should I know about him?” I murmur, running my fingers over the fresh silk. “Thank you,” I add, and she winks in acknowledgment.

“Honestly, I don’t know. No one really does.

Maybe Kael and Rion, but he’s elusive and arrogant; nobody has ever gotten close.

It’s probably going to be the talk of the entire Vale now that he’s made a scene by dragging you from the dining hall.

Especially when it was in response to something Willow did. ”

“Uh, I’m going to want her deal too, aren’t I?” I grimace, my hatred for the girl warranted, but the drama I know it’s going to come with is the last thing I want.

“That red hair… she gets it from her mother,” she states slowly, and my stomach clenches.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re referring to the redhead on the council?” I mutter, and she winces.

“Ding, ding, ding.”

“Why is she here?” I ask, trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’ve been sentenced here, yet a literal child of someone from The Sanctum is here too.

“The Vale is for all supernaturals. She’s in Institute One, so she’s living a life of luxury in comparison to our squalor,” Ocean explains, and I shake my head.

“It’s not really squalor, though,” I mumble, and her brows knit together in confusion.

“Huh?”

I shrug it off, not wanting to get too deep into it. “I’ve lived in worse,” I admit, and her eyes widen as she shudders at the mere thought of it.

“I didn’t think that was possible,” she admits as the bell rings, reminding us both that there’s somewhere we need to be. “Ready for class?” she asks, pulling a lip gloss from her blazer pocket, and I take a deep breath.

“No, but I’m going anyway.”

Instead of leading me to the exit and away from this place altogether, Ocean guides me back down the hall where I was with Thorne. Thankfully, she bypasses the room I was in, giving me no time to check if he’s still in there as she approaches a door on the far end of the hallway.

Students spill into the room, deep in their own conversations, but I notice a few glances my way that make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Trying to ignore it, I shake it off and take a deep breath, but before I can step over the threshold, a man appears before me, blocking my path.

“Miss Elodie Blackwood, I presume,” he states, inching his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he frowns up at me. He’s a few inches shorter than my five-foot nine height, but the frown on his face makes it clear he disapproves of me already.

Clearing my throat, I try to sound as chipper as I can. “That’s me.”

His lips purse as he straightens his worn tweed jacket. “I’m Professor Grimm.” That sounds promising. “I believe your magic to be latent,” he states quickly, assessing me as he tilts his head, and I gulp nervously.

“That’s correct.” The answer comes from behind me. I don’t need to look. It seems I’m accustomed to the vampire now.

“Ah, I’m also aware that Kael here is your guardian,” the professor states, and I nod sharply, still irritated by the fact.

“Anything else, Grimm?” Kael pushes, and the professor waves him off.

“No, that will be all.”

Professor Grimm heads inside, but before I take a step over the threshold, I glance over my shoulder, glaring at the vampire in question. Rion and Thorne are a step behind him, but I avert my gaze before I do something stupid like make eye contact and say thank you.

Ocean tugs at my arm, bringing my attention back to the classroom, and I follow her willingly.

The room is enormous, far bigger than what you’d expected from the outside, and nothing at all like the classrooms back home.

It’s more like an auditorium. The same thirteen colors decorate the fabric of the chairs around the room, making it clear where I’m expected to sit, but I’m slightly more surprised by the fact that we’re going to have classes with the other Institutes.

With the hierarchy around here, I would have expected to be segregated entirely, to ensure I receive less training than those deemed more worthy than myself.

A hand shoves at my back, encouraging me forward a step.

I know it’s Kael, but I refuse to acknowledge him.

Instead, I hurry along with Ocean, bypassing all the other colors until we arrive at the far right end of the room, where everything is purple.

A lot of the seats are already filled from the back, so when Ocean shuffles down to the second row, I don’t argue and follow after her.

I hear footsteps right behind me, but I take my time getting into my seat, praying that it’s not Kael, until I finally take a peek to my right to see it’s not him at all.

It’s Rion.

I’m not sure if that’s better or worse.

He grins at me, relaxing in his seat as he spreads his thighs, and I glare at him in response. Turning my attention to Professor Grimm, I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end again. Peering over my shoulder, it all makes sense when I find Kael and Thorne in the seats right behind me.

Perfect.

“Why don’t you go and sit with your friends?” I grumble, turning my attention back to Rion, who winks.

“Nah, I’m good, Petal.”

“Will you stop calling me that?” I mutter, biting my tongue, and his grin grows wider.

“No.”

Rolling my eyes, I block him out as I focus on Professor Grimm, who takes that moment to clear his throat, and the classroom falls silent.

“Today, we are learning about this,” Grimm starts, holding a wooden box in his hands. It’s a rich oaken color with golden fastenings and a matching key hole. “The Emberlock,” he explains, taking a moment to hold it up higher, making sure everyone can see. “Can anyone tell me what this is?”

A girl from the green section immediately lifts her hand in the air, waving it eagerly for attention, which Professor Grimm gives her. “Please, Miss Gardenia.”

She beams with pride before she even speaks. “It unleashes hellfire.”

It unleashes what now?