Page 69 of Wicked Dove
TWENTY-TWO
ELODIE
The breathing space Rion promised continues right through breakfast. None of the guys show up at the Institute Thirteen section in the dining hall, but even in their absence, the attendants wave us to take a seat and food is brought to us again. Today it’s French toast and crispy bacon with a mini jug of maple syrup. I almost decline it, but the look of disbelief and wonder on Ocean’s face makes my decision for me.
I feel Willow’s withering stare on me the entire time, but ignoring her seems to work, and we’re off toward our first class of the day without interruption. My fingers itch slightly from my new gloves, the ones I’m still not sure about, but something tells me they’re a good idea, so I’m rolling with that for now.
Instead of leading me to the main academy building like she did yesterday, Ocean takes the path to the right, and I frown, trying to remember the name of the class for the day, but my brain’s got nothing.
“What is this class?” I ask as she moves toward a gym and a built-up arena that looks like a sports venue in the city near my home.
“Strenuous,” she answers, her nose crinkling in distaste, and my features mirror hers as we step around the corner to reveal a huge open field.
“Like gym class?” I ask, and she turns to me with puckered brows.
“What’s that?”
My eyes bug out of my head as I gape at the seriousness on her face. It feels weird being the one in the know on something around here. It’s a shame it’s about gym class and nothing more exciting. “It’s like track or sports.”
She blinks at me once as she comes to a stop in the center of the field before her head falls back with a laugh. I watch her with wide eyes as she slaps a hand to her stomach, chuckling like I told the best joke, but it doesn’t fill me with humor.
When she finally calms down, she shakes her head at me. “It’s active, sure, but a lot more… intense,” she states, and I gulp, glancing around at the gathering crowd of students forming.
“Like a high intensity workout?” I push. I’ve never done one of those before; they always look brutal, but I guess I could suck it up while I’m here.
Ocean snickers. “If that means fighting in a controlled environment, then yes.”
“Fighting?” I blurt, and she gives me a pointed look as she runs her fingers through her blonde hair, pulling it back into a secure ponytail.
“How else are you going to prepare for the rebellion?” she asks, offering me another hair tie from her pocket, and I take it, despite the uncertainty warring inside of me.
“I’d rather we didn’t have to,” I mumble, twisting my purple strands into a makeshift bun at the base of my neck. “Can we get changed?” I ask, peering down at my uniform with a grimace, and when my gaze meets hers again, her eyebrows gathering once more.
“Change?”
I nod. “Yeah, like, into more appropriate clothing.”
“Do you think the rebellion will wait for you to change before they attack?”
I startle, the voice behind me firm and unwavering. I turn slowly to find an older woman standing before me with a pointed look on her face. She’s pretty. Her eyes are wide and soft, but the thin set of her lips darkens her features, making it clear she’s not impressed. Her brown hair is tied in a braid down her back as she plants her hands on her hips.
She’s dressed in a black tank top and khaki combat pants. I want to say that she looks far more dressed for the occasion than we are, but instead, I opt to answer her question, desperate to avoid any unnecessary drama for the day.
“No, probably not,” I admit, and she nods.
“So it’s best I don’t either,” she snaps, stalking off without another word, and all I can do is watch her leave.
“That’s the professor, isn’t it?” I ask, tilting my gaze to Ocean as I wait for confirmation, and she hums in agreement.
“You bet. She’s vicious too. That was nothing. She was once a recruit for the actual army until The Sanctum decided to train us instead.”
I peer back in her direction to find her standing off to the side with Rion. I don’t know when he appeared, or why it matters that I need to know, but I can’t help but stare. They’re toe to toe, heads tilted slightly as they talk. The softness in her eyes and the gentle curl to her lips are far from the version of her I got, but whatever she says doesn’t seem to please Rion.
He steps back, jaw tight and hands clenched at his sides, before storming off to my right, where Thorne and Kael are standing. A look passes between them, making it clear there’s a hint of concern in the air, but it doesn’t last long before Kael’s gaze finds mine and his eyes narrow.
Dammit.
Glancing away as fast as I can, I turn my attention to Ocean, eager not to have to deal with any more of their bullshit for the day. Thorne was already enough this morning; I don’t need anything else.
