I sigh with relief as we make it to the fourth floor, no interruptions on the way, and Rion reaches their dorm room door first. I’m ready to collapse as he reaches for the handle, but before he can wrap his fingers around the metal, he pauses, gaping in disbelief as it turns on its own.
Instinctively, Rion shoves me behind him, shielding me as the door slowly swings open.
I don’t have any supernatural hearing, but even I can hear the pounding of Rion’s heart as he stills, his muscles tense before melting into nothing. There’s no chance to ask what’s going on before he takes a step to the side, clearing my view so I can see for myself.
My gaze collides with the last person in theworld I was expecting to see, and I sway on the spot.
“What’s the hold—what the fuck?” Thorne blurts, rejoining us as he takes in the sight before him, in just as much disbelief as I am.
A sob tears from my chest as I move, launching myself at him. Curling my arms tightly around his neck, I inhale his familiar scent.
“Kael.”
He holds me just as tight, clearing my feet off the floor as he bands his arms around my middle, pinning me to his chest.
“Hey, Elodie,” he whispers, offering one of the warmest embraces I’ve ever been lucky enough to experience.
“How are you here right now?” I breathe, my fingers curling into the fabric of his t-shirt.
“Let me get you inside first, okay?” He moves without waiting for an answer, his hold tightening, and I relish in it, in him.
I hear the door click shut behind us, but I’m too caught up in the way he relaxes, slowly running his hand up and down my spine as I cling to him, too scared to let go in case he’s not real.
“It’s good to see you, man,” Rion murmurs, patting him on the back as he offers me a wink.
“It really is,” Thorne adds, and Kael exhales, a hint of relief in the air.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am. I even missed the psychotic witch,” he offers, squeezing me a little harder for a brief moment before he relaxes his hold. I take the nudge and do the same, but my hands linger on his shoulders as he lowers me to the floor.
“Right back at you, Vamp,” Ocean murmurs as a calmness settles over the room.
Blinking up at him, I take him in. Every single inch of him. His eyes are heavy, like he hasn’t slept at all since he left, but the way his muscles remain bunched around his neck leaves me worried.
“There’s a lot to catch up on,” Thorne mutters, and Kael nods, taking a deep breath as his hands drop to his sides, but before he can speak, I step back and nod at him.
“You go first.” He scrubs a hand down his face, and I can’t decide if he’s happy to start or not. “Start from the beginning, don’t leave anything out,” I add, desperate to hear every single thing as his eyebrows crinkle with concern.
“Do we have time for that?” He directs the question to Thorne, who nods in response.
“We’re safein here.”
Kael pinches the bridge of his nose, taking a few deep breaths before he stands tall. “He’s imprisoning so many people, but you know that already,” he starts, waving a hand at me. “I just wasn’t anticipating that many people in one room. And even more, I’m still racking my brain over the fact that Jenkins was there.” His eyes widen as they settle on me.
Understanding quickly washes over me as I recall that name. “Your cellmate before me?” I clarify, and he nods as my chest tightens. Those days trapped in that damn room feel like another lifetime ago.
“The things those people can do…” he murmurs, pulling me from my thoughts as he shakes his head. “Like the girl sitting beside Jenkins, the breathing lie detector…” he adds, and Ocean gasps as Rion’s mouth sets in a thin line.
“He knew straight away,” my wolf confirms, earning another nod from Kael, who squints at his friend.
“Do you need me to wait a second so you can get dressed?” he offers, waving a hand at Rion, who swiftly waves him off.
“It’s only an issue if you’re looking,” he scoffs inresponse, making Ocean snicker as he looks up at the ceiling.
“Aren’t you bothered that he’s butt naked in the same room as your friend?” Kael asks, turning to me for an answer, and I shrug.
“My best friend just killed Drayker to save him. Then she helped take down some witchy asshole who was hurting him. He’s standing in this room right now because of her, and I’m not about to make it any more awkward than it has to be.”
“Well, thank you for the praise, Elodie, but I don’t deserve it. I was only there to assist you. Regardless, I have no interest in looking at his little weiner,” Ocean says with a snicker, winking at me as Rion gasps, his usual sassy self.
