Page 43 of Wicked Dove

“Tell me who I am,” I order, nostrils flaring as I try to contain my instincts.

“Thorne,” she states, and I cock a brow. She knows what I mean, and the eye roll that comes next confirms it. “A shadow fae,” she admits, but I let the silence stretch out, waiting for one last word to be added to that statement, and she huffs. “Thelastshadow fae.”

“And what does that mean?” I push and she scoffs, blinking up at me in confusion.

“How am I supposed to know?”

There’s no elevation in her heart rate, no nervous eye contact, no sense of fear or uncertainty. I have to believe her.

Before I can think better of it and change my mind, I lift my hand to her wound and let my magic consume me. My eyelids fall closed as a slight hiss parts her lips. I’m eager to check on her, but instead, I focus on the task at hand.

She doesn't move an inch. If anything, she embraces the touch, encouraging the healing until my magic coils back up my arm, returning to me.

When I finally open my eyes, there's not a single blemish on her face, just blood on her shirt, the only evidence that any harm was caused here today. My fingers are still splayed across her cheek, and I can't seem to pull them away.

Despite my efforts, my thumb strokes across her delicate skin, like I'm lured closer; her magic drawing me nearer as I lean in without realizing it. Her chest heaves in short, shallow puffs as my lips ghost her cheek, sealing the wound, but the contact is too much and I bolt to the other end of the room.

With my hands splayed on the walls behind me, I heave every breath, my heart almost ripping from my chest at her proximity.

Fuck.

Her touch against my lips is something I can’t even comprehend.

She gapes at me in surprise, a flicker of uncertainty, and I latch onto it.

“Keep the hell away from me,” I snap, already regretting healing her instead of killing her, but I know I can't do that now, not with the emotions running through me. “I mean it, stay away from me,” I repeat as she lifts her hand to her healed cheek.

I snarl at her, baring my teeth as my magic begins to flood the room, and she hurries for the door as the tendrils of my magic threaten to reach her.

Will she let me catch her, lure her into my trap? Definitely not.

Instead, she glares over her shoulder at me, uttering two words before she disappears.

“With pleasure.”

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.