“Yeah. Do you think I’m insane?” I ask the question playing on repeat in my head, and she turns to me with a raised eyebrow.
“No. We’re psychotic queens, remember?” Her smile is infectious as I nod in agreement, letting her words settle in. “I brought you some pastries. Do you want them, or would you like to go to the dining hall?” she offers, and I shrug.
“Both?”
“That hungry, huh?” She hums, her smile growing wider as my stomach grumbles.
I’ve slept enough to last a lifetime, that I do know. It’s been five days since I tried to escape this place, four since The Sanctum took me, and two since Thorne erased my tattoo for good. I’ve barely eaten in that time, and now I’m ready to make up for it.
“I’m hungry for more than just food,” I admit,seeing the intrigue in her eyes as she links her arm through mine.
“Tell me more on the way.”
“Is he still there?”I mumble, fighting the urge to glance back over my shoulder as Ocean snickers.
“Of course he’s still there.”
I sigh, a hint of guilt threatening to tighten around my neck, but I force myself to loosen it. Maybe I should feel bad. He apparently camped outside of my room all night, making sure I was okay, but I need a second to lick my wounds and shake the embarrassment that continues to weigh on me.
When I was losing at life and Walker was there to save me, I put on a front, portraying the whole ‘fake it til you make it’ vibe. He never saw me cry, weak, or desperate, unlike those three. I don’t know how to handle it, so I’m choosing not to.
Taking a deep breath, I give myself five seconds before I jab a pin in my little pity party.
“He’s driving me insane,” I mumble, knowing it’s a lie as I fold my arms over my chest.
“Honey, this is nothing. I think he might besmitten,” she insists, and I drag my hand down my face, trying to hide the smile that wants to break free.
“He doesn’t even know the meaning of the word,” I retort, and she cocks a brow at me.
“Are you sure? Wolves are the cutest, if you ask me,” she states casually, making me frown.
“How do you figure?”
She shrugs. “You know, the whole imprinting on their one true love, and?—”
“They do what?” I interject, making her giggle under her breath as the dining hall comes into view and the crowd of students moving around us grows.
“It’s their forever mate, like two little otters floating in the water together forever,” she says whimsically, and I frown at her, certain she’s delusional.
“If you say so,” I mutter, and she nods.
“I do.”
It might be insane, but this is precisely the kind of thing that’s been gnawing at me, the kind of thing I need to start learning.
I suck in a breath as we enter the large space, all thirteen colors shining bright as the hierarchy of the institutes makes itself known. I brace for impact, expecting someone to jump out and attack. Why? I don’t know, but I’m on edge as we move throughthe allotted sections, the purple drawing closer with every step.
“Actually, do you have any other fun facts?” I murmur, glancing at my friend out of the corner of my eye, and she looks to me in confusion.
“About what?”
I clear my throat. “About… everything.” It feels like I’m admitting I’m clueless, but as uneducated as I might be, I need to figure this world out.
A smile grows across her face as she takes her seat at the end of the table, and I hurry the few extra steps to round the edge and sit across from her.
“You’re really ready to absorb it all, huh?” she clarifies, and I nod.
“I don’t see an alternative. If I want to survive, I need to educate myself. Not just on who or what I am, but this place as a whole. Each supernatural, the hierarchy, The Sanctum, ascension; all of it,” I rattle off, and she nods in agreement.
