It calms my rattled soul, quilling the fear thrumming through me.
As he lifts his free hand, mine follows suit until we’re a reflection of one another. His hand curls into a fist abruptly, and I watch in disbelief as mine does the same and the four of them drop to the floor.
Exhaling sharply, I drag my hand away from his chest, falling against the wall that manages to prop me up.
I blink in disbelief.
“Are you okay?” he asks, and I shake my head in disbelief.
“Me? Areyouokay?” I retort, my voice sharp with panic as he runs his fingers through his hair and smiles.
“I’ve never been better,” he replies as I turn my attention to my trembling hands.
“What was that?” I ask, and he shrugs.
“I’m not back up to one hundred percent yet. As much as sleep invigorated me, I thought it was a good idea to try something I'd been thinking about,” he explains, but it still doesn’t make any sense to me.
“You could have been hurt, Thorne,” I grumble, my eyebrows furrowed as he wraps his arm around my waist, lifting me clear off my feet so we’re chest to chest.
Taking another deep breath, I cautiously wrap my arms around his neck, making sure not to touch him with my palms. Only then do I let my gaze settle on his, and it’s overwhelming to see how heated his eyes are.
“You are so hot when you’re lethal, Echo.” My breath lurches. “I can't wait to see what else we can achieve,” he breathes before leaning into me.
His lips brush against mine and I melt into him, but the second his touch deepens, the sound of a door swinging open cuts through the space, snapping our attention toward the noise.
We turn to find Kael, Rion, and Ocean peering out into the hallway, confusion marking their foreheads as they blink to us. Rion’s eyebrows rise as he stares at the lifeless bodies on the floor.
“We've got a clean up on aisle four. Clean up on aisle four,” he hollers, and I snicker, clapping my hand over my mouth as Thorne lowers me to my feet.
It’s startling how little I feel when I look down at them. Murder brought me here, and now it’s everywhere I look, but if I don’t defend myself, it’ll only be me lying on the floor.
“I didn't think anybody could get in,” Kael grunts, folding his arms over his chest as he leans against the door, and Thorne rolls his eyes.
“I didn't realize we needed to protect ourselves from other Institute Thirteen students. Alas, they've been dealt with, but I think it's time we come up with a plan to leave, because there's only so much it can hold off, and I'm sure others will find a way soon enough.”
Ocean nods in agreement as she tucks a curl ofhair behind her ear, and I get that familiar sense when it comes to my friend.
“What are you thinking?” I holler, and she shakes her head.
“Nothing. Honestly, it's insane. Don't worry about it.”
“Share it with the group. It’s got to be better than what we have so far, which is nothing,” Thorne states, and Ocean nervously shuffles from foot to foot. “And nothing is too far out there. We did just share my magic to make this happen,” he adds, making everybody's eyes widen, but I wave my hand for Ocean to carry on.
“The reality is, we all know we need to leave, and we all know that the people waiting on the other side of those doors are looking for Elodie. But what if we could get Elodie to leave without her looking like Elodie?” she offers, alluding to, but not confirming, what she’s talking about.
Rion shakes his head. “If you're talking about doing some more weird with your magic and somebody else's blood, I don’t?—”
Ocean scoffs as she interrupts. “You can't do stuff like that.”
Rion throws his hands up. “Who knows when itcomes to you? You’re psychotic, remember?” he grumbles, earning a smile from my friend.
Ourfriend.
“I was thinking more along the furry line,” she clarifies, and I frown.
“Furry line?” I repeat, and she nods.
“It seems it might be a good idea for you to take some abilities from another one of your harem members.”
