Page 34 of Wicked Dove (Institute Thirteen #1)

TWENTY-SIX

ELODIE

Ashudder runs down my spine at the sound of pool balls rattling around the felt as Kael breaks.

Every pool table was taken as we entered the segregated area, but the second Kael approached the one at the far end of the room, the people using it dispersed so fast I didn’t catch a single one of their faces.

Now we have the open spot to play, a black leather sofa along the right wall, and two high-top tables on the other side.

It feels like I can breathe better now. That is, until one of them gets too close, then I’m suffocating all over again. I try my hardest to compose myself, but the draw I feel toward them is undeniable.

Ocean lounges on the sofa, peering at the next table, while Thorne leans against one of the high-tops. Rion is tracking my every move from his spot on the arm of the sofa, leaving Kael to dominate the table like he owns it.

He manages to sink a stripe on his break, along with two more, leaving me with the solids. His eyes don’t find mine until he misses, making it my turn.

“Ready?”

“I was half expecting you to clear the table before I got a chance,” I admit, eyeing my shot, and he smirks but keeps his mouth shut as I lean forward, lining up my cue.

Exhaling just like Walker taught me, I breeze through the motion, and the tip of my cue hits the white ball firmly, sending the orange ball straight into the pocket.

I desperately want to lift my gaze and see if I’ve surprised him, but I don’t, forcing myself to keep my cool, but the chuckle that comes from Rion makes my skin prickle with a sense of pride.

I round the table, lining up my next shot, which I put away with ease, managing two more before the purple ball rattles against the edge of the pocket, refusing to go in. Only then do I lift my gaze to his.

Kael’s emerald eyes glisten with mischief, but his emotions are locked down as always. Almost pouting, I turn to Rion, who is grinning at me. He winks and I clench my thighs, but before I do something stupid, I press my back against the wall, watching Kael take his shot.

We go back and forth three more times until I’m left with only the eight ball, while he still has his yellow striped nine ball to play too. Excitement gathers in my chest and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip to hide the smile on my face.

“You show him, Elodie,” Ocean hollers, making my cheeks heat as I line up what I hope is my final shot.

It’s not going to be the easiest move, but I’ve pulled it off before. I just have to take my time. Lining up my cue, I exhale as I place it against my fingers, trying to judge how much power I need to put behind the shot. I’ve nearly got it when someone presses up behind me and I freeze.

No hands, nothing to send me into a spiral, but they press their entire front to my back. His familiar scent envelops me and I bite back a groan. “You’ve got this, Petal. Show him who the winner is,” he breathes against the shell of my ear, making it impossible for me to think.

I try to block him out, focusing all of my attention on my shot when he presses his length against me, making me gasp as I slip forward just an inch, knocking the white ball. I stare in disbelief at the table, aware there’s no redo, before I whirl around to face the wolf in question.

He saunters back with a grin firmly in place, telling me he knew exactly what he was doing.

Before I can even give him a piece of my mind, the sound of a shot being taken right behind me cuts through the air, followed swiftly by another, and I turn just in time to watch the eight ball sink into the pocket.

If I thought the shit-eating grin on Rion’s face was bad, it pales in comparison to the vampire who I didn’t even think knew how to smile.

Thorne remains impassive as Ocean covers her mouth with her hand, failing to hide her laugh while Kael cuts the few steps between us effortlessly.

“Time to cash in on my prize,” he breathes when we’re toe to toe.

“Now?” I blurt, eyes wide in surprise, and he nods.

“Right now,” he clarifies, and I shake my head.

“I’m not wearing the right clothes,” I mutter, looking down at myself. When I tilt my face back up to meet his eyes, he doesn’t seem fazed at all.

“I think I’ll be the judge of that, as your guardian, of course,” he states, tapping his finger under my chin. “Say goodbye to your friend. Rion and Thorne will make sure she gets home safely,” he adds, and I gulp, turning to her in a slight state of shock.

“Bye, Ocean,” I rasp, silently pleading with her to insist on not being separated, but if anything, she seems to applaud my current situation.

“Bye, Elodie,” she says with a wink, waving for good measure, and I glare at her.

I’m sure she warned me about this exact same guy when I got here. Look at her now.

Before I can come up with an excuse for myself, Kael’s fingers wrap around my hand as he tugs me toward the exit.

I grimace as we step into the main area of the club, which is somehow even busier than it was before. At least we’re heading outside. I feel eyes on us with every step we take, and when I peer to my left, none other than Willow herself is glowering at me.

The petty side of me that wants to rub it in her face rears its ugly head, but I manage to squish it down as we step out into the crisp night air. It’s delicious against my skin. I expect Kael to release my hand once we step outside, but when I try to pull it away, he only tightens his grip.

“Where did you park?” I ask when he starts to walk us around the back of the building, where there’s no one around.

“It’s at Thirteen, but if you wait here, I’ll be back in a flash,” he states, before disappearing into thin air, leaving me to blink at the spot he was standing in moments ago.

The second he’s gone, I’m acutely aware of the fact that I’m alone, around the back of a dimly lit building where anyone could attack me.

I shiver with uncertainty, folding my arms over my chest nervously as I dart my eyes into every shadow and strain my hearing for anything out of the ordinary.

The tiniest sliver of movement to the left piques my attention, but I don’t feel any fear.

Running my tongue over my bottom lip, I take a deep breath, settling my racing heart as I peer into the darkness. Eyes flash back at me, blacker than black, with tousled hair dusting across his eyebrows.

It’s Thorne. I know it is.

He’s watching me watch him, but he doesn’t move, he just observes.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to call out to him, if only for me to feel a little safer, when the rumble of a motorcycle echoes in the air.

I turn to my right just in time to see Kael roll around the corner and come to a stop in front of me.

He’s wearing a blacked-out helmet, and there’s a silver one dangling from his handlebars.

I gulp, nerves getting the better of me as he climbs off his bike and saunters toward me with the spare helmet in hand. I take it, but refuse to put it on as I clear my throat.

“Where are we even going?” I breathe as he towers over me, consuming my vision as he flicks up his visor so I can see his eyes.

“We can just drive around the limits of The Vale. It’ll be fun,” he promises, and a shiver runs down my spine. I didn’t think he knew what fun was, but I opt to keep that assessment to myself.

“If you say so, but I really don’t think I’m wearing the right gear for this,” I insist again, glancing down at my cropped top and denim skirt, but his eyes light up with amusement.

“Oh, I think you’re wearing the perfect gear for it,” he says, tugging at the hair tie holding my hair back off my face before taking the helmet from my hands and placing it over my head.

I flick my visor up to glare at him, but he doesn’t seem to notice as he edges back toward the bike. I want to fight it and change his mind, but there’s a part of me that’s excited too. Stepping toward him, I run my tongue along my bottom lip as he straddles the bike.

My heart stops dead in my chest as I reach the back. “What the fuck is that?” I blurt, and he glances back at me, the amusement in his eyes brighter than ever.

“Your ride.”

I shake my head in disbelief at what I’m seeing and his casual tone.

“Is that a freaking toy attached to the back of your bike?” I gasp, looking from him to the attachment in question before looking back at him again.

“Aren’t you perceptive?” he breathes, and I glare at him.

“This is why you want me to ride with you,” I mutter, daring to look at the thick length that is nestled exactly where I’m supposed to sit.

I shake my head, expecting it to be a figment of my imagination, but it remains.

Turning my attention back to him. I watch as his eyes darken, and my thighs clench together.

The challenge is clear. He doesn’t think I will.

“I think it’s only fair since you spent the night in Rion’s bed,” he states, arching a brow at me, and I want to knock the visor down on his helmet so he can’t give me that look.

“Alone. I slept in there alone,” I grumble, but I know the tremble that runs down my spine isn’t from frustration, but desire.

“I also took the fall earlier. I have no idea why Rion wants your father, but I get the feeling you do,” he states, and I gulp back my nerves. His hand finds its way to my waist, locking me in place. “You don’t have to, but I know you want to.”

He’s not wrong.

With his free hand, he revs the engine for good measure, and I feel dizzy.

This is insane.

Feeling eyes on me, I peer off to the left again, remembering where I saw Thorne a moment ago, but with the light from the bike, I can’t tell if he’s still there or not. The ripple along my skin tells me he is, but I’ll never really know.

Fueled by desire, I place my hand on Kael’s arm.

“This hasn’t been used by anyone else, right?” I blurt, and he glowers at me.

“I would never,” he snaps, mad that I would even think it, but I have to be sure. He shakes his head before nodding at the rear seat that sticks out a little wider.