Rion claps him on the back, breaking the moment, and I shake my head, trying to refocus as Ocean snickers from beside me. Turning to her, I find a knowing grin spread across her face.
“What?” I grumble defensively, and it only turns her snicker into a giggle.
“Anyone else in the world would have just called your name, but not Thorne, and you fucking love it.”
I wave her off, feeling my cheeks heat. I don’t have a response, though, and she knows it.
Instead of torturing myself under her amused stare any longer, I turn back to Thorne, and it’s only then that I spot the bag in his hands. Finally finding my tongue, I move toward him.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, coming to a stop when we’re toe to toe, and he nods, his free hand no longer dancing with black magic, instead finding its way to my waist.
“Everything’s fine, Echo. Nothing to worryabout,” he soothes, but it’s the softness in his eyes that fills me with relief.
Nodding, I lean into his embrace, resting my head against his chest as I breathe him in. It’s rare for me to display affection, but for it to be with Thorne makes it even crazier. Yet I melt into him, unfazed by our surroundings. I’m just thankful that at least one of them is okay.
Reluctantly, I stand tall, peering up at him, but as I part my lips, sharp words snap through the air from behind me.
“This bitch!”
I’d know that screech anywhere.
Peering over my shoulder, I have the lackluster joy of finding Willow standing a few feet away.
“Great,” I mutter under my breath as she jabs a finger in my direction.
“She should have been placed before the sentencing council too,” she snarls, glaring at Thorne, but it’s her red-rimmed, puffy eyes that hold my attention, along with the words she just spat.
Sentencing council?
“What’s Willow talking about?” I ask, tilting my face to peer at Thorne, but he’s too busy snarling at the fiery red-headed wolf.
His entire demeanor changes as he drops his bag at my feet, his eyes blacker than black as he slips around me, taking measured steps in her direction. “You just watched me get away with murder. Want to see it happen again?” The threat is like ice through the air, chilling everyone to the bone as Willow shakes her head.
“It’sherI have a problem with,” she retorts, folding her arms over her chest defensively.
“You should fear her more than you fear me. Don’t forget, we both saw what she is capable of that day,” he rages as Willow’s gaze snaps between us, wide with panic.
“I could take her,” she finally grumbles, but her tone isn’t as firm as it was a moment ago.
“Well, unfortunately for you, Willow, we come as a whole package. Every. Single. One of us. So please, Willow. Fucking try me,” Ocean snarls before I get the chance to speak, but it seems I don’t need to when Willow takes a backward step, baring her teeth at us before hurrying inside.
When she’s completely out of sight, the tension finally dwindles. Rion scrubs a hand through his hair as he shakes his head in disbelief, while Thorne takes a moment to compose himself, and Ocean beams with pride.
This is madness.
Clearing my throat, I turn my attention to Thorne. “Is everything really okay?” I ask, and he nods.
“Of course,” he confirms, reaching for his bag.
“What did she mean when she said the sentencing council?” I ask, my words lingering in the air for a moment too long as Thorne sighs, staring down at the ground for a second before his gaze finds mine.
“I had to face them and stand against charges of murder.”
“The Sanctum?” I ask, and he shakes his head.
“The people who sentence those before being submitted to Institute Thirteen,” he explains, and my eyebrows pinch in confusion. “The same people who sentenced you,” he adds for clarity, but I shake my head.
“I faced The Sanctum, just like Kael did.”
