“Two?” I yelp with a gasp, and she snickers with a shrug.
“Yeah, but that was another life. One that never would have come because if I didn’t do what I did, I would have been dead, so I still wouldn’t have experienced it,” she states, the pep in her voice unwavering as she fixes her lip gloss in the mirror. “Ready?” she asks, and I run my hands over the lapels of my blazer.
My purple hair frames my face in natural waves, but without a drop of makeup on, I feel like I look a little paler than usual. I consider attempting to cover the stress evident on my face, but my stomach chooses that moment to grumble and my priority is confirmed.
“All set,” I murmur, following her out of our dorm room.
To my surprise, there aren’t three henchmen from across the hall waiting on us. Maybe because they’re already heading to the dining hall while we plan on boycotting it altogether and sneaking to the coffee shop for a little pick me up before we have to go and endure combat class again.
“You never ask,” Ocean murmurs as we head down the lane toward The Vale, and I frown at her.
“About what?”
“About what I did,” she explains, and I shrug.
“I figure if you wanted me to know you would tell me eventually, and if you didn’t, then that was your prerogative.” We’re both in the same boat. I know what it’s like to be a murderer, too, and I’m not overly fond of having to think about it, never mind talk about it.
A soft smile curls her lip. “You’re a good friend, Elodie,” she murmurs, and I scoff.
“I don’t even know how to be a friend, but I’m trying,” I admit, feeling embarrassed, and she squeezes my arm.
“You’re cooler than you know, but to address the elephant that’s in my head and not actually around us, I killed my cousin because he didn’t understand the word no.”
My eyes widen to saucers as I gape at her, while somehow managing to keep in step. “It’s a good thing that fucker is dead, otherwise I’d do it for you,” I grumble, returning the sentimental touch of squeezing her arm in comfort. It feels a little awkward, and I’m sure she can tell it’s not something I normally do, but I do it anyway.
“Thanks,” she breathes, and that’s that, the air cleared of whatever she needed.
We approach the coffee shop in comfortable silence and place our order before joining the few students gathered at the pickup area, waiting for our names to be called. I take her in from the corner of my eye and spot a little sheen over her eyes. I move on instinct, wrapping my arms around her in a quiet embrace. She melts into me instantly, her palms flat against my back, and as much as I offer her some sense of comfort and healing, she returns it tenfold.
When our names are called and we part, I know I feel more whole. Neither of us says anything, with a hot drink in one hand and a chocolate croissant in the other, as we beeline for combat class that’s due to start in a few minutes. My stomach starts to twist in knots.
It’s only just dawning on me that combat class is run by Professor Drayker, and the last time I sawher… well, I basically defiled her desk between a vampire and a wolf.
Discarding my trash in the closest bin, I take a deep breath, eyeing the entrance to the combat field, which is now back to its original state after Friday evening, when an arm drapes around my shoulder and I’m tugged against a hard chest. The woodsy scent that fills my senses is instantly familiar, and I peer up to find Rion grinning down at me.
He winks, making my muscles clench for an entirely different reason as we saunter into class. There’s no time to bat him off or put some distance between us before Drayker focuses her attention our way.
I can practically touch her foul mood from here as she takes us in. Her hands ball into fists at her sides, her nostrils flaring with rage as her lips set in a thin line.
I’m so screwed.
“Gather, students. Now,” she snaps, drawing the sea of bodies closer as they wait for her next command.
“Maybe you should stand somewhere else,” I mutter, glancing at the wolf draping me in his scent, and he scoffs as Kael and Thorne appear on his other side.
“Maybe I shouldn’t,” he retorts, making Oceansnicker from my right, which somehow has Drayker glaring at me.
“I hope you’re ready for today’s class. I think it’s time we experienced some full-body contact fighting,” she declares, garnering a mixture of emotions from around the field. Some seem excited, but the general air of trepidation is apparent. “Pairings are: Willow from Institute One and Elodie from Institute Thirteen.” My pulse rings in my ears, her voice fading to nothing as my gaze latches on to the redhead in question.
Her grin spreads with excitement as Tiran high-fives her, but my view is quickly blocked by Kael, who tips up my chin so I meet his gaze. Anger flickers across his face as he sighs, muttering something about time left, but nothing makes sense until he calls my name, snapping me from my thoughts.
“Pay attention, Elodie. Whatever you do, don’t use your fucking magic.”
“I won’t,” I grumble, tugging the leather gloves from my blazer pocket as I reply, and he shakes his head.
“She’s going to get under your skin on purpose to try and get a reaction out of you. Don’t give her one,” he insists, and I push his hand away, taking a step back as everyone else starts to pair off with their assigned opponent.
“I’m fine. Stop stressing, you’re getting under my skin,” I grumble, and his nostrils flare with irritation, but he doesn’t stop me when I step around him.
