“Who says it's a he?” I retort, and he sighs.
“Fine. What'stheirname?”
I smile, glancing down at my new bestie. “Hamish. Hamish, the Highland Cow,” I sing, and Kael looks at me, bewildered, a glimmer of something dancing in his eyes.
“You're unpredictable, Elodie,” he muses, and I shrug as Ocean appears at my side.
“Or is she just learning to piece herself back together again?”
My eyes lock on the vampire, heat rising in my cheeks as Ocean saunters off, presumably toward Kael’s car. Yet the man before me doesn't move an inch as he looks deep into my eyes, penetrating my soul.
“You don't have to do that alone, you know,” he mutters, stealing my next breath as he pulls at my heartstrings.
“What would you know about piecing yourself back together?”
FOURTEEN
ELODIE
“Are you guys coming?” Ocean asks as she swings the car door open.
“Not yet,” Kael grunts, clamping his hand on my thigh the moment I try to move for the passenger side door. I glare at him before glancing back over my shoulder to make eyes at Ocean.
“Yes, we are,” I blurt insistently as Kael’s fingertips dig deeper into my thigh. He shakes his head but keeps his gaze on my friend.
“She'll meet you up there.”
“No, I won’t,” I retort, his cockiness delving under my skin, all while Ocean’s eyes dance with amusement.
They’re both going to be the death of me.
Ready for some space, I curl my fingers aroundthe door handle at the same time Kael hits the locks.
Ocean grins, ignoring me as she turns her attention to Kael. “Well, for that, you can carry my bags too,” she declares, making the vampire beside me roll his eyes.
“Whatever,” he mutters, waving her off.
With a passing wink, Ocean goes, leaving me to fend for myself with the enemy.
“Was that necessary?” I mutter once she's out of sight and it's just the two of us.
“Which part?” Kael asks, leaning back in his seat. He doesn't make any effort to move his hand as he takes me in, his words still lingering in the air from earlier.
“You don't have to do that alone, you know?”
“All of it,” I grumble, and he shrugs.
“We're just talking,” he states, and my throat starts to dry under his attention.
I’ve known him longer than I’ve known anyone else here, and I’m aware that talking isnotour specialty.
“I didn’t know we knew how,” I muse, and his lips twist slightly as he bites back a smile, but it quickly melts away as he clears his throat.
“You asked me what I would know about piecing myself back together.”
“And you didn't answer,” I mumble, feeling my pulse quicken as I earn myself another eye roll. I watch as his Adam's apple bobs before he clears his throat again.
Overwhelmed as the air thickens, I look straight ahead, staring at the garage of Institute Thirteen. Once upon a time, I would be completely obsessed with the fact that I'm in this car at all. A freaking mustang with a full-throttle five-liter engine, but right now, it's his touch on my thigh that consumes me.
