Page 45 of Wicked Dove
“Why do I get the feeling you’re referring to the redhead on the council?” I mutter, and she winces.
“Ding, ding, ding.”
“Why is she here?” I ask, trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’ve been sentenced here, yet a literal child of someone from The Sanctum is here too.
“The Vale is for all supernaturals. She’s in Institute One, so she’s living a life of luxury in comparison to our squalor,” Ocean explains, and I shake my head.
“It’s not really squalor, though,” I mumble, and her brows knit together in confusion.
“Huh?”
I shrug it off, not wanting to get too deep into it. “I’ve lived in worse,” I admit, and her eyes widen as she shudders at the mere thought of it.
“I didn’t think that was possible,” she admits as the bell rings, reminding us both that there’s somewhere we need to be. “Ready for class?” she asks, pulling a lip gloss from her blazer pocket, and I take a deep breath.
“No, but I’m going anyway.”
Instead of leadingme to the exit and away from this place altogether, Ocean guides me back down the hall where I was with Thorne. Thankfully, she bypasses the room I was in, giving me no time to check if he’s still in there as she approaches a door on the far end of the hallway.
Students spill into the room, deep in their own conversations, but I notice a few glances my way that make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Trying to ignore it, I shake it off and take a deep breath, but before I can step over the threshold, a man appears before me, blocking my path.
“Miss Elodie Blackwood, I presume,” he states, inching his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he frowns up at me. He’s a few inches shorter than my five-foot nine height, but the frown on his face makes it clear he disapproves of me already.
Clearing my throat, I try to sound as chipper as I can. “That’s me.”
His lips purse as he straightens his worn tweed jacket. “I’m Professor Grimm.”That sounds promising.“I believe your magic to be latent,” he states quickly, assessing me as he tilts his head, and I gulp nervously.
“That’s correct.” The answer comes from behind me. I don’t need to look. It seems I’m accustomed to the vampire now.
“Ah, I’m also aware that Kael here is your guardian,” the professor states, and I nod sharply, still irritated by the fact.
“Anything else, Grimm?” Kael pushes, and the professor waves him off.
“No, that will be all.”
Professor Grimm heads inside, but before I take a step over the threshold, I glance over my shoulder, glaring at the vampirein question. Rion and Thorne are a step behind him, but I avert my gaze before I do something stupid like make eye contact and say thank you.
Ocean tugs at my arm, bringing my attention back to the classroom, and I follow her willingly.
The room is enormous, far bigger than what you’d expected from the outside, and nothing at all like the classrooms back home. It’s more like an auditorium. The same thirteen colors decorate the fabric of the chairs around the room, making it clear where I’m expected to sit, but I’m slightly more surprised by the fact that we’re going to have classes with the other Institutes. With the hierarchy around here, I would have expected to be segregated entirely, to ensure I receive less training than those deemed more worthy than myself.
A hand shoves at my back, encouraging me forward a step. I know it’s Kael, but I refuse to acknowledge him. Instead, I hurry along with Ocean, bypassing all the other colors until we arrive at the far right end of the room, where everything is purple. A lot of the seats are already filled from the back, so when Ocean shuffles down to the second row, I don’t argue and follow after her.
I hear footsteps right behind me, but I take my time getting into my seat, praying that it’s not Kael, until I finally take a peek to my right to see it’s not him at all.
It’s Rion.
I’m not sure if that’s better or worse.
He grins at me, relaxing in his seat as he spreads his thighs, and I glare at him in response. Turning my attention to Professor Grimm, I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end again. Peering over my shoulder, it all makes sense when I find Kael and Thorne in the seats right behind me.
Perfect.
“Why don’t you go and sit with your friends?” I grumble, turning my attention back to Rion, who winks.
“Nah, I’m good, Petal.”
“Will you stop calling me that?” I mutter, biting my tongue, and his grin grows wider.
