Page 28 of Wicked Dove
Adrenaline flitters through my veins as I glance around the dreary open space, spying the path running in the opposite direction Kael has taken. If he’s heading toward danger, maybethat route will take me away from it, away from here, away from him.
I don’t have time to consider my options, I just run. The cobblestones are harsh beneath my bare feet as I hurry as fast as I can. I frantically search for an opening, an escape, but all I’m greeted with are more pathways. Until it’s Kael himself standing in my way.
I screech to a halt, gaping at him as I notice the shift to his eyes and teeth that will forever be burned into my memory, reminding me exactly what he is. Instead of cowering away like I should, I channel every drop of rage I feel and shove at his chest.
“Back. Off.” The snarl burns my throat, but is quickly outweighed by a deep groan from his lips. My hands remain plastered to his chest as he drops to his knees before me, the color slowly draining from his face as his cheeks hollow out.
“Kael!” I scream, a whole other kind of fear prickling my skin as I yank my hands back.
The second I do, he sags forward, but manages to catch himself on the cobbles before his face hits them first. His whole body ripples with every breath he takes before he glances up at me.
“What the hell was that?” I snap, eyes wide as I gape at him.
He stands, slowly wiping at his mouth as he looks at me with a snarl on his lips. “It seems you’re not as latent as they think you are,” he grunts, and I huff.
“I didn’t do anything. That wasn’t me,” I insist as he towers over me. He grabs my chin, but I keep my hands to myself. Not knowing whether that was actually me or not leaves me worried.
“And that’s the way it’s going to stay,” he mutters, looking deep into my eyes. His grasp on my chin grows tighter. “I’ll keep your little secret, and you’ll obey my every command. Understood?”
Panic floods my veins as his eyes shift, reminding me what I’m up against, and I nod, swallowing down my pride as I exhale.
“Understood.”
EIGHT
ELODIE
“You can get the hell off me now,” I grind out through clenched teeth, but Kael continues to ignore me as usual, tightening his fingers around my upper arm as he drags me along with him. Every step he takes brings us closer to the looming Institute building ahead.
When they mentioned Institute Thirteen earlier, I thought it was a bit of an exaggeration, but nothing good comes from a building like this. Now more than ever, ‘Institute’ feels like the most fitting word.
I try to dig my heels in, to yank back against his grip, but I’m clearly outmatched in both strength and determination. That realization does nothing to ease the rising stress inside me.
“Will you let me go?” I fume, insisting louder this time, but still receive nothing in response.
Looking up at his face, I find myself even more irritated by the tightness of his jaw as a slight flicker pulses in his cheek. He doesn’t care at all.
My chest tightens as we approach the black double door with wrought iron details on top. I briefly hope they’re somehow locked, but when Kael grabs the handle and it opens easily, my last shred of optimism goes up in flames.
Inside the dark entryway, I see nothing but dark wooden walls, but there's barely time to notice anything as Kael drags me down the dimly lit hallway, rushing toward the first door on the left. The moment it swings open, he shoves me inside and his grip finally loosens. Yet, the relief I feel is short-lived, as a second later, he shoves me an extra step inside and slams the door shut behind him, the click of the lock resonating through my bones just moments after, with me on one side of the door, and him on the other.
If I thought my heart had plummeted to my stomach before, it now rests at my feet.
Darkness seeps into my soul as fear tries to take over. I clench my fist and pound on the door forcefully, shouting his name at the top of my lungs. “Kael! Kael! Fuck Kael!”
Desperate, I stop banging to run my hand along the walls in search of a light switch. It takes a few moments, but the familiar click leaves me choking on blissful relief. The dull light does little to illuminate the room, but it’s enough to ease a tiny part of my panic. Although I don’t know whether knowing my surroundings calms me or frustrates me more.
He's locked me in a fucking broom closet.
It’s so small I wouldn’t even be able to lie down on the floor. Not that I would want to, but this is another damn cage and I need out of it.
Turning toward the door again, I pound my fist against the wood with all of my strength. “Kael, open the door right now!” I scream, my force unrelenting as desperation ricochets through me.
Cold sweat tingles at my temples, leaving me hollow as I realize it doesn't matter how much I don’t like it here; no one’s coming.
I collapse to the floor, my head in my hands, my heart pounding in my chest. I let my eyelids fall closed, but it doesn’tbring me any reprieve. If anything, it only drenches me in more pain.
All I see is a vision of Kael’s face. When I touched his chest, forcing him to kneel, I… damn.
