7
ELODIE
Disappointment claws through me.
Kael is gone.
He left without saying goodbye, and as much as everybody tries to comfort me, it doesn't take away the ache in my chest.
Sitting on the sofabed, refusing to get on with the day, I play with the hem of the oversized t-shirt I'm wearing.Hist-shirt.
He's risking himself for me. An act of selflessness I don't feel I deserve. I’m blaming that on some of the trauma that continues to poison my mind, but labeling it doesn’t make it go away.
Thorne appears at my side, jarring me from my thoughts, with a mug extended in my direction. Ittakes me a second to realize they actually have a mini kitchen set up in here.
I mumble my thanks as I take it from his hand, only to find a hot chocolate warming the ceramic. A lump lodges in my throat as I hate, yet secretly love, how I feel seen from such a small act. My stomach churns, but I take a sip regardless, letting the sweetness soothe me the best it can.
“We're going to get through this, Petal,” Rion says, hands on his hips as he stands fully dressed by the door.
“I hope so,” I rasp, looking at him over the rim of my mug, and he shakes his head.
“No,” he retorts firmly, but the softness in his eyes stops my defenses from rising. “The attitude we have is, Iknowso. And for that, I’m going to need backup. So I'm going to get Ocean,” he declares, turning on the spot and disappearing a moment later.
I take another sip of the hot chocolate, basking in the deliciousness with the hopes that it will help lift me from the pain I’m sinking into.
The moment I remove the mug from my lips, Thorne grabs my chin, tilting my head back for me to meet his gaze.
“I’m sorry this is hurting you, Echo,” he says, and I gulp, offering a subtle nod.
The gentleness in his eyes wraps around me like a soft blanket, attempting to keep me safe despite the storm we now face.
I manage a tight smile, my mind swirling with so many conversations I’ve yet to have with each of them—especially my vampire—and the fear of something getting in the way of that fills me with more terror than I can even begin to understand.
“That self-centered, grumpy-ass, knobby little vampire,” Ocean rants as she barges through the door. Rion is hot on her heels with his hand over his mouth, trying to suppress the laugh that threatens to part his lips.
“He probably thought this would be better,” Thorne says calmly, releasing my chin as he turns his attention to my best friend, who scoffs.
“It's selfish. So classic Kael. Really, should we have expected anything else?” she grumbles with an eye roll, and a warmth blossoms in my chest as I shake my head at her. That little movement earns me her attention as she points a finger in my direction. “And you, my little badass bestie, are the only reason he is nice. Genuinely. That fucker is beyond insufferable, until it comes to you. So we'regoing to buckle up, we’re going to unite, and we’re going to get through this, but let it be known that the first time I see him, I'm gonna clip that motherfucker upside the head. Okay? You do not need any more stress.”
I nod.
She slaps her hands down at her sides with a huff before hurrying toward me and taking the seat next to me on the sofabed.
“Oh, hot chocolate? Is there any left to spare?”
Thorne rolls his eyes, moving back to the makeshift kitchen without a word as she beams at me with an outrageous smile.
“So what are we supposed to do now?” she asks, adding a new lease of life in the solemn room, and I can't keep up.
Rion clears his throat. “We didn't get this far into the plan,” he admits, and I hum in agreement.
“I was too consumed with worry over Kael,” I explain, my chest tightening once again as I admit another truth. “I still am.”
Thorne reappears with a fresh mug, offering it to Ocean, who whispers her thanks before taking a sip.
“I think we need to solve the riddle,” he blurts, eyes focused on me as my jaw falls slack. “It will bethe perfect distraction.” I press my fingers into my temples as I try to take a deep breath. “But before that,” Thorne adds, making me still. “We need to go about our day.”
My eyes widen as I rear back to gape at him. “You mean, go to class?” I grouch, and he nods. “Why? Is that even necessary anymore?” I push, and Rion crouches before me, placing his hand on my knee as a soft smile ghosts his lips.
