“Need this?” The voice is haunting as it cuts through the air, the owner wearing a proud sneer as he lifts his bloody hand that contains the ogre’s heart.
My chest tightens as I realize who it is, but as my breath stutters, my vision is obstructed when Thorne takes a defensive step in front of me. One by one, the lead rebel from the beach stares each of us down. His gaze burns into each of us before he tosses the heart through the air. It lands at my feet with a thud and he winks at me.
“It looks like you owe me one. See you soon, Little Weapon,” he promises, blowing a kiss with his crimson-stained hand before he disappears from sight.
TWENTY-NINE
ELODIE
“See you soon, Little Weapon.”
“See you soon, Little Weapon.”
“See you soon, Little Weapon.”
I can’t get his parting words out of my head, or the way he puckered his lips, knowingly getting under my skin. Those words rattled in my head as a siren blared through the air, cutting the game short. They consumed me as professors hurried to gather all of the students. They choked me as the illusion disappeared, returning us to the potions classroom. Even now, safely back in my room, they torture me still.
Shaking my head, it does little to clear the visual from my mind, but I push through, riffling through my fresh pajamas. I settle on a soft, pale-blue ribbed set. As I quickly change, I feel a slight shift in theheaviness on my shoulders. Moving toward the bedroom, my bed calls to me immediately, and I automatically flop back on the sheets with a groan as the mattress takes my weight.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Ocean asks, still perched on her bed, and I tilt my face in her direction, my eyes half closed as I offer her a soft smile.
“I told you to go already,” I reiterate for the tenth time, and she sighs.
“I know. I just don’t want to leave you. That was a lot for everyone, especially for you. Nathaniel can wait if you need me,” she insists, and I shake my head at her.
“Ocean, go, spend time with your guy, I’m fine. He seemed sad on the phone, but that was more for you. If anything, you’re doing him a favor by letting him see you’re okay.”
“Are you definitely sure? It’s not every day you run into a rebellion group, never mind twice in such a short span of time.”
Leaning up on my elbow, I give her a pointed look. “I’m sure. They have us on high alert. Just do me a favor and message me when you get there, okay?”
Amusement dances in her eyes as she jumps to her feet, her blonde hair swinging from side to side as she grins at me. “Oh, you care.”
“I do not,” I retort quickly, but she pays me no mind as she cuts the distance between us, settling on my bed beside me.
“It’s cute.”
“Just go, you crazy woman,” I grumble, waving her off as her hand slams against her chest and she gapes at me.
“I’m not crazy, I’m?—”
“Psychotic, I know. Lock the door behind you,” I interject, making the pair of us smile before she heads for the door.
I relax as the sound of the lock turning into place rings through the silence, but the moment I close my eyes, the vision of the rebel rears its ugly head again.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I take a deep breath, aware that I desperately need a distraction. Prying my eyes open, I glance around the room. It takes a moment, but I spy the remote control on Ocean’s bed. My gaze narrows and I aim my hand in that direction, squinting more with every second that passes as I will the device to come to me, but it doesn’t budge. It definitely doesn’t look like I’m blessed with such powers.
Reluctantly, I stand with a groan, scurrying across the room, but before I can get my hands on the remote control, a knock sounds from the door,freezing me in my tracks. I take a moment, considering whether to answer it or not, but I quickly roll my eyes and choose to ignore it.
Securing the device, I turn back for my bed, but two steps away from the sheets beckoning me closer, another knock echoes from the door. With a huff, I toss the remote control on my bed and storm toward the offensive piece of wood. Twisting the lock, I swing it open to come face to face with Rion.
My lips part, but before I can speak a word, he sweeps me off my feet and I squeal. “Put me down.”
“With pleasure, Petal,” he replies, swatting my butt, but instead of placing me back on my feet, he turns, cutting across the hallway, drawing me farther away from the comfort of my bed.
“Hey, Rion. Rion!” I grumble, trying to wiggle out of his hold, but it’s futile; his clasp is iron tight, and I know enough to admit I have no chance of fighting against it.
He kicks the dorm door shut behind us, confirming I’m in his shared room with Kael and Thorne, and he brings me down off his shoulder without letting my feet touch the floor.
