Chapter 28 Elodie #2
“I don't have a harem,” I grumble, still confused about what she's actually getting at, and it earns me a pointed look from each of them as Ocean finally cuts to the chase, planting her hand on Rion's shoulder.
“What I'm trying to say is, Rion could help you become a wolf.”
“That's insane,” Kael blurts, but nobody else moves as each of us lets her idea soak in.
It's impressive, and no matter which way I look at it, I know it's a good idea. The best we’ve got, at least, but it’s asking too much of those I care about.
“We need to think this through if we want to make it happen,” Rion states, and I gape at him.
“You would do that for me?” I breathe, and he snickers.
“I would gouge my fucking eyeballs out for you. Draw a cross over my heart and rip the damn thing from my chest if that's what you needed,” he adds, making my knees go weak.
And we say Ocean's the psychotic one.
“I don't know how long it would last,” Ocean states, pulling me from my thoughts, and I nod.
“If it works, I’m going to end up with no clothes on the other side,” I add, trying to cover all bases.
“Where would we make a run for?” Kael asks, and Thorne clears his throat.
“The Academy building. The portal is the most obvious option, but since I can't tap into their magic, it’s about our best option for me to try and find a weak spot.
Otherwise, we could look at the second-floor basement of Institute One, but that could mean bringing down The Vale as a whole, and we don't know what's going to come with that,” he explains, silence swirling around us as my vampire pushes up off the wall, planting his hands on his hips as his gaze finds mine.
“I’ve got it. Let’s go.”
Rion looks at me nervously, an emotion I can feel deep in my core too.
“Are you ready?” he asks, and I nod, aware of the three sets of eyes watching us right now, but I pay no mind to them as I focus on the wolf before me.
He’s braced on his knees as I crouch, joining in the same position.
“Keep your hands on me until you're fully shifted.
I'm going to shift right along with you, okay?” he promises, and I nod again.
Shaking my hands out, I take a deep breath before I do as he says, and place my palms against his chest.
His cheeks hollow out as he tilts his head backwards, sucking in a breath, a complete contrast to the visual I had of Thorne earlier, and it makes me want to stop. But the only thing keeping me in place is the fact that I can practically feel him offering me his abilities eagerly.
There’s no war or strain between us; everything just flows, just as it did with Thorne.
I falter, taking my time to focus on him, but he's not giving me the signal to say he needs me to stop. So I do what I do best, and I take.
Heat radiates through my limbs, intensifying unbearably, and I consider yanking my hands back, silently pleading for the pain to stop, but one glance at Rion, and I insist this won’t all be for nothing. A scream rips from my throat and the sensation of bones breaking filters through my limbs.
My vision blurs, sweat beading at my temples as the world turns dark, and my sobs fall to a husky whisper. I fall to the floor, breathing heavily, but all I can think about is Rion.
Prying my eyes open, I startle when I find him trying to catch his breath beside me. Rich, hazel eyes bore into mine as fur clouds my vision, but it’s not his.
Panicked, I dare to move my arm, only to scare myself as my head rears back, and I find front legs and paws instead of arms and fingers.
A deep, red coat covers me from head to toe.
This is too surreal.
Nervously, I rise up onto all fours, scared I'm going to fall over as I try to keep my balance.
The world is different, the colors around me distorted, the smells stronger, my sight wider, and my ability to hear even greater.
“Beautiful,” Rion whispers, drawing my attention back to him.
Before my very eyes, I watch him go through the same motion without the whimpers and cries until he's standing before me on all fours as well.
Inching closer, he brushes the tip of his nose against mine, and I take a shuddery breath.
I can't deny there's a part of me that wants to explore this more as excitement blossoms in my chest. Another new. But I'm aware we don't know how much time we have, and every second counts.
Shaking my head, the movement feels so strange, but I’m quickly pulled from my confusion when I hear the door swiftly open and close. A quick glance over my shoulder confirms that it’s Ocean setting things in motion.
“Let's go,” Thorne says, leading the way.
I stay a step behind him, awkward as hell as I try to coordinate four legs. To my surprise, I make it down the stairs without slipping into a ball, finding myself in the garage with the others in no time.
The cars aren't coming out tonight, though. They would draw too much attention. Instead, Kael puts on his helmet, kicks his leg over the bike that's waiting patiently, and floors it the second the door is open enough.
He blasts out into the night air, causing an uproar in those waiting around, ready to attack, and that's when I need to move.
Slipping out into the shadows, I’m instantly disoriented by the feeling of the ground beneath my paws.
Everything I felt inside has become heightened.
The overwhelming onslaught of noise leaves me lightheaded, just like Rion told me it would, but it's the reminder of the other thing he said that comes to mind.
“Chase the feeling of running, Elodie. Don't let anything else distract you.”
Determined, I move, heading for the tree line as fast as I can. I almost tumble over my own little legs as I go. Like a deer trying to walk for the first time, I scramble as fast as I can.
The night sky is illuminated by the moon, leading the way as we somehow make it out of Institute Thirteen untouched.
Rion appears a step ahead of me, taking the lead, and I bask in the moment, acknowledging it’s just the two of us. We coast through the shrubbery and trees until The Vale appears in the distance.
It's strange to think I've never really seen a wolf out here. All I can do is hope everyone is still camped outside Institute Thirteen or too distracted by Kael’s bike to be here.
When Rion gives the all clear and darts out across the pathway, I follow after him.
Hope blossoms in my stomach as we make it all the way to the Academy building.
By some stroke of luck, the second I hear the double doors click closed behind me, a pained groan rips from my throat as I shift back into my human form.
Panting, I lie on the floor staring up at the ceiling in disbelief.
“Holy shit, Elodie.” Ocean beams, appearing at my side with a little bag in her hand, reminding me of just how naked I am right now. She silently offers me the bag we'd filled before we set everything into motion. “Have fun?” she asks, and I nod.
“That was insane,” I breathe, pushing up onto my feet, only to sway with jelly legs as I clutch the bag to my naked body.
“Use the classroom beside the portal room to get changed.
Rion's just circling the property to make sure everything's safe. Thorne’s already in the portal room, trying to get everything sorted, and I can hear Kael in the distance now,” she explains, and I nod again, following her advice and seeking out the room I need.
It takes me a moment to walk with confidence again, but I quickly find the room she’s referring to and step inside, flicking the light on and paying no mind to the space around me.
A shiver runs down my spine, encouraging me to get dressed. Rifling through the bag, I pull out fresh underwear, a random t-shirt, joggers, and an oversized hoodie, along with my sneakers.
I can still feel the adrenaline running through my veins as I get dressed, slipping my sneakers on before I reach for my hoodie. As I pull it over my head, my spine freezes, fear turning to ice in my veins.
I’ve always been terrified when putting my hoodie on. It shields my view, dulling my ability to protect myself, and the panic is valid as my head slips through and the hoodie rests on my shoulders to reveal that I’m, indeed, not alone.
“Miss Blackwood, how does it feel to almost escape?”
I clear my throat, standing as tall as I can while I glare at the woman before me. Her deep-red nails match her crimson lips as she sneers at me. Her icy white hair is pulled back off her face like usual, but the loose tendrils falling haphazardly around her face hold my attention.
She's always put together, but not now.
Offering the fakest smile I can muster, I shrug. “Unfortunately, Cordelia, I can't answer that, because I'll never know. And so we’re clear, it’s Elodie Silverthorne.”
She scoffs, planting her hand on her hips. “I can't let you leave.” The look of disdain on her face is withering.
I brush my hair back off my face. “And I can't let you stop me.”
Today has been a fucking whirlwind already—the past hour being some of the worst of it—and dealing with her now only tops it all off.
She's moving fast and I've got nowhere to run.
All I can do is brace for impact, and as she curls her fingers around my upper arms, my hands connect with her chest. Her scream is ferocious, but the anger in her eyes burns even brighter, and before I can dodge out of the way, her teeth elongate, ripping into my throat.
A gargled scream of fury rips from my lungs, and it's quickly mixed with the pain of my teeth matching hers as my eyes darken and the thirst for blood becomes real.
My magic is going haywire.
I've connected to a shadow fae, I’ve turned into a wolf, and now the essence of a vampire runs through my veins.
The thirst is undeniable, and the rage is uncontainable, consuming me as the magic acts of its own accord.
Curling my fingers into her shirt, I yank her closer, sinking my teeth into her throat, matching her actions. But where I screamed in rage, she cries in pain, writhing as she clatters to the floor, but I don't stop.
Her blood is like sweet liquor on my tongue, and I can't get enough of it.
Frenzied and panicked, I close my eyes, unable to stop myself as I feast on my attacker.
I hear the moment her pulse stops, her heart flatlining, and the quietness in my ears is overbearing.
A hand presses against my shoulder blades as my fangs shrink, and my desire for her blood ceases. With wild eyes, I turn my frantic stare on the person beside me, ready to see disgust and hatred.
“It's okay, Elodie. I'm here. It's okay,” he soothes, stroking his hand down my back as I blink up at him, acutely aware of the volume of blood I'm dripping in. But he doesn't see it.
He just sees me.
“Kael,” I breathe, and he continues his soothing rhythm down my back.
“She's gone now, she's not going to hurt you anymore.”
I follow his line of sight and nausea rattles in my gut as I take in the state of her.
“I shouldn't have done that,” I garble.
The taste in my mouth turns into acid as my stomach churns.
“She shouldn't have attacked you to begin with.”
I heave, but nothing comes back.
“It doesn't taste good. Don't worry, it's not just you. Let's focus on getting you away from here,” he encourages, slipping his hands under my arms as he lifts me to my feet.
He cradles me to his chest, despite the blood I’m drenched in. As if sensing my thoughts, he smiles down at me. “Luckily for you, I have an extra bag of clothes, just in case. Now, let’s get Thorne to clean up your neck and go find your family, yeah?”