Page 36 of Wicked Dove (Institute Thirteen #1)

TWENTY-SEVEN

ELODIE

Asnore rumbles from my chest, waking me, and I quickly realize it’s me.

The sun peeks through the curtains, dusting over the room in a pretty glow that I don’t have the energy to absorb right now.

Instead, I bury my head in my pillow, hitching my covers higher to darken my surroundings, but I already know my hopes of falling back asleep are gone.

If I woke myself up snoring, then I definitely slept hard.

It takes a moment for me to consider how or why before I’m flooded with the memories of last night.

My muscles ache in the best possible way as I clench my thighs together, and I dust my hands over my waist, mentally visualizing the marks I know are there.

Last night was insane. Hot, but definitely insane.

I don’t know what it is about the three guys across the hall, but hell, they’re feeding a side of me I never knew existed.

Maybe it’s because I never had the space to explore and find out, or maybe I’m just turning more psychotic with every day I spend here.

I rode on a motorcycle in a way I never thought possible before Kael fucked me into the abandoned lawn in front of Institute Nine.

Spent, neither of us took our helmets off as we straightened ourselves out and climbed back on his motorcycle, except this time, he removed the toy, securing it in the case attached to the back.

He didn’t head straight back to Thirteen; instead, he did a final drive around The Vale, only this time my legs were down, my arms were wrapped around his middle, and I leaned into him with every turn.

We didn’t speak. Not a single word. Not even when we made it back to Thirteen.

He rolled to a stop in front of the building and I hopped off as gracefully as I could.

We stared at each other for a fleeting moment, visors still down, before I stepped back and he disappeared.

Ocean was passed out when I got back, and I slipped under my sheets and did the same.

Nuzzling deeper into my pillow, I sigh with contentment, but as I lift my hands to tuck them under my cheek, I feel a slight resistance on top of the covers.

My eyebrows gather in confusion as I attempt to pry my eyes open.

It takes me a few moments to wade through the blurriness as I untuck my hand, and when I can finally focus my gaze, I freeze.

There’s a piece of paper and a rectangular white box perched beside me.

Nerves rattle through my limbs as I gulp, running my hand over the paper before I build the courage to unfold it.

Scratchy handwriting awaits inside, my name scrawled across the top.

I run my tongue over my bottom lip as I nervously read each word slowly.

Elodie,

Being gracious in defeat comes with some perks.

Frowning, I run my thumb across the dried ink, confused, but there’s no name signing it off. Refolding it, I turn my attention to the box, and my eyes widen in surprise.

It’s a cell phone.

What the hell?

I bolt upright, adjusting my pillow behind me so I can lean back against the headboard, tentatively reaching for the box to rest it in my lap.

Peeling the seal, I open the box to reveal a brand new cell phone inside.

My fingers tremble as I take it out, the color on the back the same shade of my purple hair, and I gape in disbelief.

I don’t understand. Last night, I lost. I shake my head. If I were back home and I lost at a game of pool, Walker would never have let me live it down, but here, I somehow end up with my prize anyway.

The reminder of my best friend claws at my gut, but it doesn’t ache as much as it did even just yesterday. I’m either becoming immune to my pain or worse… enjoying the distractions here.

Shaking my head, I look for the on button, holding my breath as the screen comes to life.

“Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?”

My gaze snaps to Ocean, who peers at me from across the room.

“What do you think you’re seeing?” I ask, still in disbelief.

“A phone?” I nod, my eyes widen, and she leans up on her elbow to meet my gaze. “To clarify, was that there when you woke up?”

“Yes.”

“But it wasn’t there when you fell asleep.”

“No,” I confirm, and she snickers.

“So they broke into our room to gift you a cell phone that you need to hook up to your camera so you can see who is breaking in? With the chances of that said person being the one who left you the cell phone to begin with?”

Her questions hang in the air as I exhale slowly, shaking my head again. “Exactly that,” I breathe, and she cackles, flopping back on her bed with a sigh.

“Did you have fun last night?” she asks, staring up at the ceiling.

“Surprisingly, yes,” I admit, forgoing the extracurricular activities that took place on Kael’s bike, and thankfully, she doesn’t pry for more.

“Rion didn’t shut up about you all the way home,” she states, and I fail to control the blush that creeps over my cheeks.

“That seems unlikely.”

“I swear it. He was a straight-up chatter box,” she insists as I tuck a loose curl behind my ear.

“I’m sure if he were that bad, Thorne would have made him shut up,” I grumble, and she turns to look at me.

“Thorne wasn’t there. He left immediately after you guys did, something about keeping an eye on things.”

I still, my veins warming at the memory of eyes in the shadows last night, and my chest churns. I was right, I know it in my soul. He was there, he was watching.

Damn.

I like that too much.

“So, what’s the plan for today since I’m not making a run for it?” I ask, desperate to redirect my thoughts before I get lost in them again.

“I don’t know if I have one,” she answers with a shrug. “Although, we could go to the gym,” she offers, and I gape at her.

“You mean… exercise by choice?”

The only time I’ve ever seen someone run that wasn’t in track at school was from the police, or their dealer, or their violent partner. Never by choice.

“Yeah, we can shake off our endorphins, then we can eat tubs of ice cream and watch television for the rest of the day,” she offers, and I half consider it. After Professor Drayker’s lesson, I know I need to work on my strength and endurance if I have any hope of surviving this place.

“That almost sounds exciting,” I admit, and she perks up, beaming at me.

“Are you in?”

“Do I get to choose the show?” I push, and she giggles.

“If it means you’ll say yes, then absolutely.”

I grin back at her. “Honestly, you already had me at ice cream.”

Sweat clings to me everywhere. Literally everywhere. Even in places where sweat shouldn’t exist. My tank top sticks to me despite its oversized design, and my chest is flushed from all of the exercise.

Ocean was on a mission. Apparently, someone actually loves working out; she’s just never had anyone to do it with.

Cue my part. This girl had circuits locked down tight.

I didn’t even know there was a damn gym in the building, but she has had me running, using some stair climbing wall of death thing, and swinging dumbbells in every direction.

I don’t know how I’m not already looking stacked. My muscles should have muscles by now, but alas, I’m just aching in places I didn’t know existed.

“Get me off this damn thing,” I groan as the treadmill rolls to a stop.

Apparently, it was a cool-down walk, but I don’t feel any cooler.

“Ice cream is definitely allowed now, right?” I ask, half sobbing as I lean forward and press my hands into my thighs, while Ocean grins at me, dabbing a towel at her temples all lady-like.

I consider hating her.

“What are we watching?” she asks as she flicks her blonde braid over her shoulder, and I sigh.

“Something funny. I feel like we deserve a good laugh after the torture you just put me through,” I grumble, making her grin.

“As long as you’ve got a good sense of humor,” she retorts, and I gape at her with a hand on my chest in shock.

“Don’t doubt me.”

She shakes her head at me as I tug the headphones from around my neck and offer them to her, but she waves me off dismissively.

“Keep them,” she insists, and a knot forms in my gut. “Don’t start,” she warns before I can even open my mouth. “I’m certain I’ll be able to convince you to come back down here again. You’ll need them. Besides, I’ve got these too,” she explains, waving her own headphones at me.

The only reason she kept me down here so long is because she lent me them; the beat was addictive, and it kept me in rhythm. God knows what I would be like without them.

Instead of wallowing over another handout, I suck it up and nod. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she says with a smile, heading for the door, and I follow after her.

We fall into step with one another as we head back toward the staircase that leads up from the basement, but as we near them, I spot one of the doors sitting slightly ajar. It was closed earlier, but now I can see inside. I’m curious.

Nudging the door open, my gaze immediately latches onto Kael’s motorcycle. My tongue sweeps across my bottom lip, but I tamp down the thoughts of last night as I take in the rest of the room. There are two more vehicles beside the bike, a blacked-out truck, and a—

“Holy crap, it’s almost as pretty as a stingray,” I breathe, rushing to the sleek black car that has hearts forming in my eyes.

“Isn’t a stingray a sea animal?” she asks, and I wave her off.

“Sure, but it’s also the prettiest car you will ever see,” I gush, looking down at the Corvette Z06 before me.

“If you say so,” she murmurs from beside me, clearly not seeing the beauty that I do, when my brand-new cell phone chimes from my pocket.

Frowning, I pull it out to see a text notification from Kael. I didn’t even know I had his number. Gnawing at my bottom lip, I open it to find a text has been sent to a group chat. I don’t need any guesses to know who else might be in here.

Kael: Where are you?

I consider ignoring it, but once again, curiosity leads me down a dangerous path.

Elodie: Why?

Kael: Where?

Wow. He’s a pot of joy this morning. Note to self: don’t have sex with him anymore because it does nothing to relax him and everything to piss him off. I’m about to stuff my cell phone back into my pocket when it goes off again.

Rion: Don’t stress him, Petal. He’s already lost it.

Elodie: What’s going on?

Kael: Where. Are. You.

“Is everything okay?” Ocean asks, and I blink at her in confusion.

“I don’t even know. Just Kael being Kael, I guess.”

She rolls her eyes, understanding my statement, and I consider pissing him off, but I really just want to hide away in bed and watch some television, so I attempt to cut whatever this is as short as possible.

Opening my camera, I snap a picture of the Corvette in front of me and add it to the group chat. Not even two seconds later, footsteps are hurrying toward us.

Kael storms the garage first, Rion hot on his tail, while Thorne strolls in without a care in the world.

“What’s going on?” I breathe, uncertainty warring inside of me as Kael rounds the car and stands between Ocean and me with his finger aimed in my face.

“You’re driving me insane. I don’t know why I agreed to this,” he snaps, and I lift my hands in surrender.

“Do you want to explain what you’re talking about? Because I don’t have a clue,” I murmur, and he scoffs.

“Where should I begin?” he growls, nostrils flaring as he glares down at me, but I’m still no wiser to what the hell is going on.

“Why don’t you drop a fucking clue to what you’re freaking out about,” I grind out through gritted teeth, my own temper raging inside of me as he scoffs, swiping a hand down his face.

“In the future, you don’t go anywhere without me knowing.”

“Like hell,” I snap back, and he somehow manages to loom even higher above me.

“I’m your fucking guardian. You’ll do as I say.”

He’s delusional.

Peering around him, I meet Rion’s gaze, and he grimaces, dipping his chin slightly as he silently confirms that he’s not going to call his friend out for being an ass.

Beyond him, I find Ocean, who is gaping at the pair of us in shock while Thorne leans against the door frame, arms folded across his chest as he blinks at me.

No one is going to help me with this asshole’s ego right now.

Great.

Bringing my attention back to Kael, I stuff my cell phone back in my pocket and clench my hands at my sides to avoid strangling him.

“I’m going to say this once, Kael. On paper, you might be my guardian, but I haven’t lived my life beneath the steel fist of one abusive man just to fall under the thumb of another one.

You don’t get to tell me what to do, and I definitely don’t have to listen to your bullshit. Now, back the hell off.”

I step to move around him, but he follows, blocking my path as he grabs my chin.

“You’re more trouble than you’re worth,” he bites, his words cutting deeper than I care to admit, but I refuse to let it show. Instead, I slap at his arm, knocking his hold from my chin.

“Well, you keep coming back, so obviously, I’m not the problem,” I grunt, attempting to move around him once again, but he makes it impossible, backing me up three steps without even touching me.

He doesn’t stop until my back presses against the garage door and he plants his hands on either side of my head. “You don’t even see the danger you are in, having no stable magic to defend yourself.”

“From what?” I frown in confusion, and he shakes his head.

“Willow.”

I roll my eyes before pinching the bridge of my nose as I take a deep breath. “Even if I had a pocket full of fucks to give, I still wouldn’t give her one, so why does she matter?”

He snickers and the noise cuts like ice through the room as he pushes off the wall and takes a step back, “You’re too fucking much.”

“What did you say?” A chill runs down my spine, agitation morphing into anger as footsteps draw closer.

“Kael,” Rion warns, but I wave him off, refusing to let him try and help now. This asshole has already gone too far for no goddamn reason.

Pointing a finger at Kael’s face, I sneer at him. “If I’m too much for you, have you ever considered that you’re not enough for me?”

“I don’t want to be anything to you,” he retorts, his words hitting their mark again.

I nod. “Cool. Are you going to get to the point of why you’re here then, or can I leave now?” My tone is impassive; I refuse to waste any more energy on him, fury included.

“You need to figure out your magic,” he snaps, and I jut my chin in acknowledgment.

“Anything else?” My chest heaves with every breath as I fail to remain calm.

“I’m going to help you.” It’s an order, not an offer, and it’s not one I’m interested in.

I scoff, side-stepping him, and he lets me go this time. When I’m just out of arm’s reach, I peer back to find him already facing my direction with a devilish snarl to his lips. “Fuck you. I’ll do it myself. You’ll only let me down anyway.”