Page 27 of Wicked Dove (Institute Thirteen #1)

TWENTY

RION

Her lashes dust across her skin, bringing out a delicate side of her I’m sure very few have seen.

Yet here I am, watching her sleep in my bed like all is well in the world.

Her hands are tucked under her cheek as she lies on her side, still wearing her institute-issued white shirt and skirt, but her blazer and shoes are tucked over by my desk.

Nothing is out of place except for the crumpled sheets beneath her and the tray I brought in earlier. It doesn’t look like she’s peeked at my things, not that I would have cared if she did, but for as curious as she seems, it’s surprising.

Turning my attention back to the discarded tray, I’m relieved to see her plate is empty, along with her water bottle. A rerun of Daredevil plays softly in the background, and I grin. I fucking love that series.

I pause it so she doesn’t lose where she was, but as I place the remote on the nightstand, I can’t help but crouch down beside her, eager for a closer look.

She’s intoxicating. Maybe it’s because she’s new and mysterious, but there’s just something about her that draws me in again and again.

It could be the rogueness in me. I sense it in her too, like she was never able to trust those she was born to believe in.

The scars on her back certainly seem to support my theory.

Brushing her hair back off her face, I have to snatch my hand back quickly before I do something stupid and wake her. With a sigh, I rise to my feet, my cock straining in my pants as I exercise restraint and hurry to the door.

I’m on the verge of changing my mind when I hear the front door shut, quickly followed by grunts and grumbles from Kael and Thorne.

That’s my cue to let her be.

Stepping into the lounge, I close my bedroom door as quietly as I can. Kael’s tugging at his hair like it’s the only thing keeping him sane, while Thorne glares at him with pursed lips and tense shoulders.

“What’s going on?” I ask, cutting toward the small dining table in the far corner of the room. With my preferred chair in hand, I carry it toward my bedroom door and set it down.

“I can’t find Elodie,” Kael grunts, bowing his head further as Thorne tilts his gaze to me.

“Ocean doesn’t know where she is either.”

I nod in acknowledgment, but it seems my lack of response draws Kael’s attention to me as I take a seat in the chair, getting as comfortable as I can despite the circumstances.

“What are you doing?” he asks with a frown, lowering his hands, but I don’t miss the tightness that has his hands balling into fists at his sides.

“Getting comfortable,” I offer, aware I’m being more than vague, but I don’t give a shit.

“Most people choose to do that in their room,” Thorne says with a raised eyebrow, and I shrug, aware that the truth is going to come out regardless, but dragging it out a little longer feels like fun.

“It’s occupied.”

“Occupied?” Kael repeats, his eyebrows gathering as he turns to face me head-on.

“I didn’t stutter,” I bite, lacing my fingers together at the back of my head as I stretch my legs out and cross them at my ankles. I sense the shift. It comes from Thorne because Kael is too busy staring at me with narrowed eyes.

“Who is occupying your room?” the vampire asks, and I almost smirk, but Thorne answers him before I get the pleasure of doing so.

“Elodie.”

“She’s been with you the entire time?” Kael snarls, taking two steps toward me, but he remembers himself before he crosses the invisible line.

“Technically, no,” I explain, recalling the fact that I found her at Institute Twelve, then left her here to her own devices.

“Why is she in there and you’re out here?” he pushes, and I shrug again.

“Because.” It’s as simple as that, but it seems Kael disagrees.

“Wow, that makes so much sense,” he bites, eyes wide as he claps his hands together three times, and I glare at him.

“Wake her and I’ll snap your fucking neck,” I warn, and he scoffs, waving me off, but I see the slight surprise in his eyes.

It’s reflected in Thorne’s as well, despite his usually being the best at hiding his expressions.

I let the air settle for a moment, making sure they hear my warning before I offer a little more explanation. “She tried to run again.”

“What the fuck?” Kael snaps, confusion bunching his eyebrows together as he shakes his head in disbelief, but he manages to keep his outburst to a raged whisper.

“It’s because of you.”

“Whatever, let me in,” he grunts, cutting another step closer, and I shake my head, sitting taller in my seat, which is blocking the doorway perfectly.

“No.”

“Fuck off, Rion,” he snaps, nostrils flaring with anger as he moves to loom over me, but I don’t budge a single inch.

“I promised her some privacy and room to breathe, specifically away from you. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Where’s your loyalty, asshole?” He throws his arms out wide in frustration, making it clear he doesn’t like not having the upper hand here, but I’ll make good on my promise to her, even when it comes to these two.

“Wherever I want it to be, and that’s usually with me. That’s the kind of person Institute Thirteen invites, don’t you think?” I cock a brow, reminding him I’m not the only fool stuck here, and that it’s precisely why we were assigned to this goddamn institute to begin with.

“Are you going to sit there all night?” Thorne asks, heading toward his bedroom, and I nod, turning my full attention to Kael so he hears me loud and clear.

“All night.”