Chapter 30 Elodie
ELODIE
My feet can't carry me fast enough as I run barefoot outside. Dusk settles and casts an array of purples and pinks across the sky. Rion and Ocean are hot on my tail as I swing around to the back of the Institute building to where the basement door awaits.
Screeching to a halt, I turn to Rion, who holds the door key high.
I consider taking it from him, but instead, I take a step back to allow him to open the door, knowing it’s the quicker option.
The second I hear the latch click, my patience evaporates and I storm ahead, racing to the bottom of the cold stone steps, only to have to press my back against the wall to let Rion unlock this door too.
I probably should have just used my angry magic to knock the wood out of place again, but I’m glad I opted against it when the door swings open and it takes a moment for the room to come into view.
Blinking, I struggle to see in the darkness until Rion hits the lights, illuminating the space, along with a rocking Kael in the far corner of the room.
His hands curl into fists as he launches to his feet, a scowl cutting across his face. “Stay back,” he warns, backing up against the wall behind him.
He looks exhausted, tired to the bone, and I hate it.
I lift my hands in surrender as I take a step toward him.
“Kael, it's going to be okay,” I breathe, and he shakes his head.
His breath comes in short, sharp puffs as his eyes flicker between green and black.
“How about you listen to what we have to say before you come to your own conclusions,” I add before he can verbally refuse.
Ocean takes a step toward me so we’re standing side by side, while Rion flanks my right, lacing his fingers with mine, sharing his strength and giving me the support I didn’t know I needed.
My friend clears her throat as she blinks at Kael. “I was able to catch up with Thorne before they took him away, and—”
“Took him away?” Kael interjects. “Who took him where?” he grinds out, and Ocean tries to wave him off, but he’s not having any of it. “No. If you want me to listen, then you’d better start talking. Who's taken him, and where the hell did they go?” he insists, and Rion sighs.
“Willow and Tiran tried to attack Elodie. All I really understand is that Tiran is dead and they carted Thorne away as punishment.”
Kael’s eyes drag to mine and I nod. That's the simple version of it. The details don't matter right now, and we've got other things to face.
“What happened when you caught up with him, Ocean?” Rion asks, trying to guide the conversation back to where we want it to go.
Shaking her head, Ocean tries to refocus, mumbling something under her breath about giving Thorne a high-five for his slaying efforts when she next sees him. “He said two words to me,” she explains, and Kael scoffs.
“How ominous of the fucking fae,” the vampire grumbles, pinching the bridge of his nose, and I scoff despite the seriousness of the situation. “And what two words might they have been?” he adds, and Ocean clears her throat once again.
“Oblivisci. Aeternum.”
Kael’s eyebrows gather in confusion, the level of bewilderment mirroring the facial expression I had when she told me.
“Am I supposed to know what that means?” he snarls, and I glare at him, giving him a pointed look that makes him roll his eyes when his gaze connects with mine.
“I’m sorry,” he reiterates. “Please explain,” he tries again, and I almost skip over the distance between us and high-five him, but I decide against it since he seems quite temperamental as it is.
“You’re just about forgiven,” Ocean replies, folding her arms over her chest. “It means he thinks there's a spell that we can use. Instead of just barricading Jude from being able to continue to harm you, it possibly means that whatever is hidden in your brain will be forgotten forever.”
“That doesn't sound very positive,” Kael mumbles, and Ocean shrugs.
“It sounds like he understands there's a route to this, a starting point, and we might need to get to that source to stop your mind and body from falling under his control,” she explains, and Kael runs a hand through his hair, deep in thought.
“What did Thorne think about this, exactly?” he questions after a moment, and Ocean shrugs again.
“I don't know. He said two words to me, and then he was carted off. That's all I have.”
“It sounds like it's worth a try to me,” Rion states, and Kael runs his hand through his hair before planting his hands on his hips. I watch, locked in as he takes a deep breath, considering his options.
My fingers flex at my sides, itching to reach out to him, desperate to soothe him, but I don’t want to push my luck with him either.
As if sensing my thoughts, Kael’s eyes land on mine as he speaks to Ocean. “Do it,” he orders, dragging the wooden seat to the center of the room before he flops down in it. An air of defeat clings to his every move.
Rion and I take a step back, giving Ocean the space to pull out the few trinkets she already had in her hand when she made her way over to Rion's dorm. She takes a few moments combining things I don’t even understand, then holds up a small vial in her hand.
“Take this,” she mumbles to Kael, who looks down at it with caution. “Oh, don't be such a baby,” she flusters, giving him a pointed look. “Do you need me to add a little flavoring to it so you can swallow it like we do for the children?” she says with smug amusement, making Kael glare at her.
It’s no surprise when he takes the bait, slamming the liquid down in a single gulp before his face scrunches in disgust. “That's fucking awful,” he gripes, and she shushes him as she sweeps her hand over his eyes, closing his lids before she brings her fingertips to his temples.
“In aeternum oblitus. In aeternum verus. In aeternum vincula rupta. In aeternum oblitus. In aeternum verus. In aeternum vincula rupta. In aeternum oblitus. In aeternum verus. In aeternum vincula rupta.” Her words swirl through the air as I watch, but nothing visibly happens.
There's no glitter or sparkle in the air, no smoke like Thorne; there’s absolutely nothing until Kael snaps his head back, inhaling sharply before his shoulders slump and his chin finds his chest.
Ocean takes a few steps back, looking at me with uncertainty. “That's it,” she whispers.
I release Rion's hand to hurry toward the vampire in question, stopping a foot away from his lap, desperate to eliminate the remaining distance, but I don't want to overwhelm him.
His eyebrows gather in confusion, but when his gaze sets on mine, they’re that perfect shade of green I love. “I feel weird,” he slurs, his head still not lifting, but I spy his eyelids fluttering, so I crouch down enough to meet his stare.
“In a good way or bad?” I ask, my pulse thundering through my veins as I blink at him.
He uncurls his hand in his lap, palm up, asking for mine, and I gingerly place it against his skin, shivering as I bask in his touch before he pulls me into his lap. His mouth finds mine, the graze of his lips searing as I cling to him.
All too quickly, he pulls his mouth from mine, aware that there is an audience in Rion and Ocean, and I sigh.
“What am I going to do with the three of you in one day?” I breathe under my breath as I shake my head, and Kael stiffens beneath me.
“Three?” he repeats, and I blush.
“Thorne, too, Brother,” Rion states, and Kael’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Thorne?” he asks, his gaze boring deep into mine, and I nod. “Holy fuck,” he blurts before he leans in close, pressing his forehead against mine as he whispers. “Have you fucked them both today already?”
My instincts are to shy away from the question, but instead, I lean in close, pressing my lips against his ear as I reply. “No, just the shadow fae, but if Ocean hadn't interrupted earlier, I may have had a different answer,” I admit, and his fingers dig into my hips.
“You're telling me that your pussy has already been stretched ready for me?” he rasps, and I nod, hiding my face in the crook of his neck as he addresses the other two in the room. “Give us a minute, and shut the door behind you.”
“Fuck no! I'm not leaving her here with you right now,” Rion retorts with a scoff, and Kael grows more frustrated.
“Ocean’s magic works, man. I’m sure. Just give me a minute.”
Understanding must wash over Rion, over Kael’s intention, and he snickers.
“Only a minute, huh? I’m going to have to help you up your stamina,” he muses.
“Come on, Ocean, let the boy have his two pumps and run fun,” he cackles before the door slams shut, followed swiftly by the sound of retreating footsteps disappearing in the distance.
“He's not wrong, you know,” he breathes, ghosting his lips over my throat.
“About what?”
“I’m probably about two pumps away from exploding. I’ve been craving you so much.”
I shiver as I smile. “Is that so?” I ask, and he nods.
“That pussy is mine, Elodie Blackwood, but right now I understand exactly where our focus and attention need to be, and that's not on me and my cock getting precisely what we want, or you and that sweet little pussy rippling with euphoria.” I almost pout even though I agree with him.
“It'll come. You will come,” he insists, slamming his mouth to mine.
“But right now, Thorne needs us, and I vowed to serve you in every way.
So let's work on your mind and heart first, since I can practically feel your worry inside my soul, and then I'll make sure to appease your body.”
Heat vibrates through me, the different kind in comparison to the moment I had with Thorne earlier, but it's enough to leave my legs weak once again.
Standing takes a moment, but once I’m stable, I offer my hand out to him, letting him place his palm against mine this time.
“Are you ready to leave these four walls?” I ask, and he nods.
“I’m ready for it all.”