Page 25 of Wicked Dove (Institute Thirteen #1)

NINETEEN

ELODIE

Ican’t breathe. Kael is suffocating me and I can’t decide whether I want to succumb to it or fight my way out of the confines I find myself in.

At first, in our potion’s class, it almost made me feel like I was caught under his spell, wrapped up in his attention, his subtle touches, and his air of care, but now, I don’t know whether he’s trying to purposely piss me off or if he’s a control freak. Maybe both.

My nostrils flare as I glance to my left, spying the man in question, before I try to peer around him to where Ocean is.

I’ve asked a handful of times if he has an issue with Ocean, since he seems to be splitting us up so much, but his nonchalant shrug and shake of his head makes it clear every time that he doesn’t care about that at all.

I can’t pinpoint his problem, but whatever it is, it has him sandwiched between the two of us. Sighing, I turn my attention back to the front of the class, where Professor Bratt mumbles in his monotone voice, and that’s when the bell chimes through the air.

I’m on my feet in an instant, acutely aware of the fact that nothing the professor has said for the past hour has registered in my mind. I’ve been too caught up in the press of Kael’s thigh against mine. Which is ridiculous because I never let myself get twisted up inside like this.

It’s his fault, and I need some air.

Bolting for the door before I can get caught in his web once again, I dart through the sea of students, not bothering to apologize as I shoulder barge a few people.

It’s only when I make it outside that I manage to take a deep breath, and I sag with relief as I exhale slowly before repeating the motion.

I make sure to move out of the way of everyone spilling out and find a quieter spot a few steps to the left, away from everyone heading toward the dining hall.

I’m more than happy to join them in a few minutes, but first, I need to bask in the sun that beams overhead and let it warm my bones before I do something stupid, reckless, or worse… nice.

Closing my eyes, I preen under the sun’s heat across my skin, marveling in another deep breath, until a shadow casts over me. Reluctantly, I pry my eyes open to find a random guy looking down at me. My gaze immediately darts to the pocket of his blazer to find orange stitching making up the emblem.

Orange.

I think that’s Institute Five, but I can’t be sure. Regardless, he’s standing way too close, which makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Yeah, I definitely don’t like that.

His thin lips curl into a dark smile that manages to taint the heat from the sun, sending a shiver down my spine.

His mousey blond hair is swept back off his face and held in place with too much gel.

He needs to rein it in by a gallon at least. But it’s the strong, almost powdery aftershave that clings to him that makes me want to gag.

“You’re new,” he states, and I fight back an eye roll as I remain rooted to the spot, refusing to look weak before him. There’s something about him that makes me think he’d only use it to his advantage.

“You’re observant,” I mutter in response, and he snickers, the sound hollow as my shoulders grow tighter with tension.

“I’m Berkly,” he states, his eyebrows wiggling enough to make me cringe, but I try my best to hide it as I nod.

“That’s great.”

“What’s your name?” he pushes when I don’t automatically offer it to him, and I shrug, wanting out of his space now. I just need to achieve it without looking weak or unnerved by him.

With a tight smile locked across my lips, I attempt to push past him, but he plants a hand on my shoulder, making it impossible to slip away.

“I’m late,” I explain, and his fingers curl into my blazer as his smile grows more rigid.

“I just want your name,” he insists, and I shake my head.

“I promise, you won’t need it.” I spread my lips wider, the smile likely maniacal at this stage as I try to brush him off, but he only holds me tighter, digging his fingertips into my flesh until I know there will be bruises tomorrow.

Panic sets in and instinct takes over as my hands ball into fists, both sets of knuckles ready to plow into his face, but as I rear my free arm back, a fist sails between us, landing with a thud against Berkly’s jaw.

“What the fuck?” he snarls, stumbling back a few steps as he cups his cheek, eyes darting around, looking for the culprit who would dare lay hands on him. But it doesn’t take long, not when he’s more than happy to make himself known.

“Don’t touch what isn’t yours,” Kael warns, and I gape at him with wide eyes and disbelief thrumming through me.

“Are you insane?” I blurt, unable to wrap my head around what he just said, never mind the fact that he just hit someone because of me.

Despite how loud I am, he ignores me, aiming all of his anger at my new least favorite person in the world.

“Listen, Kael, you don’t—” Berkly’s words are cut off with another slam of Kael’s fist as I stumble back a step.

Is he for real right now?

Overwhelmed, I glance around me to find Ocean standing two steps away, gaping in a mixture of disbelief and delight.

Not her too.

“Please get me out of here,” I plead, aware of the growing crowd of students all turning to see what the commotion is, and I want to be as far away from it as possible.

Thankfully, Ocean grabs my arm, tugging me through the crowd and toward the dining hall. The moment we slip through the double doors, I realize my appetite is shot, but before I can explain that to her, she tugs me into the girls’ bathroom.

Eternally grateful, I brace myself on the closest sink, sucking in a deep breath as I try to calm the adrenaline thundering through my body.

My knuckles turn white as I hold on for dear life, unable to bring myself to glance in the mirror that hangs before me.

Instead, when I’m able to calm myself, I turn, leaning back against the sink to find Ocean standing against the opposite wall with her hands laced together in front of her.

“He’s into you,” she states, and I frown.

“Who?”

“Kael.”

I scoff. “He’s insane.”

“For you,” she insists, and I roll my eyes.

My denial is on the tip of my tongue when the bathroom door bursts open in a flurry and a tall figure looms in the open space. Swept back pale, blond hair, green eyes that shimmer with challenge, and lips pursed in a combination of rage and irritation. His deranged stare lands on me.

“You,” he starts, pointing a finger at me as I stand frozen in place.

“Not today, asshole,” Ocean hollers at the top of her lungs as she thrusts her hands in his direction, and before I can take another breath, Kael stumbles out of the bathroom with the force of the door swinging toward him.

It closes with a satisfying thud as I turn my slack jaw and wide eyes to my friend.

“I get the feeling I won’t be able to hold him back for long,” she admits, and I gulp with a slight nod. “You need to either take a deep breath and face him, or make a run for it,” she explains, nodding toward the large window to my left.

I glance between the door and the window three times, but my decision was locked in the moment she said it. The second I take a step away from her, she understands.

“Be quick.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, and she smiles.

“You saved me yesterday, it’s only fair I return the favor.”

My heart clenches with an emotion I’m not willing to consider right now, so I channel it all into running.

The window is already unlatched and swings open sideways, offering me enough space to clamber out.

I don’t wait around to see how much of a head start she can give me, I just take off running like my life depends on it, because it really feels like it does.

I stumble through the grass, jumping over a few small shrubs like I’m back home running through the forest, only this time, it’s not my father hot on my tail, but something that feels far, far, worse.

Making my way to the pathway, I’m thankful to find it empty, since everyone is likely filling up the dining hall, and after a few turns and hopeful guesses, I find the one that leads toward Institute Thirteen. I up my pace, but as I draw closer, I glance at the entryway to Institute Twelve instead.

I don’t think, I just run, bypassing my usual exit as I hurry toward the dangers that lurk in Twelve.

A shudder runs through me at the reminder of the magic that blasted me the last time I tried to run, but the suffocating sensation that claims me feels like it’s going to take more than running back to my room to shake off.

More than anything, if I can make a run for it, I’m going to feel bad that I didn’t get to say goodbye to Ocean, but it’s too late to turn back now; I’ve reached my limit.

My nerves start to get the better of me as I turn down the pathway to Twelve, the back of my thigh aching in reminder of the last time I was here and cut myself climbing over the fence, but to my surprise, the gate sits slightly ajar.

It feels like fate, like it’s meant to be, when I slip through the gap without hesitation, desperate to get around the back of the derelict building.

I dare to glance over my shoulder, and excitement floods me when I find myself alone.

Determined, I wind my way around the exterior in search of the two trees that held a glimmer of hope and a whole lot of pain last time.

Yet, when I screech to a halt at the back of the property, heart beating wildly in my chest, I find…

nothing. There’s not a single tree here. Not one.

My chest heaves with every breath as I swipe at my face, desperate for my eyes to reveal something different, but there’s nothing. Not even a blade of grass or a fallen leaf.