Chapter 1
rune
. . .
Humans branded us monsters, but they were the ones who ripped the DNA from my veins and replicated it to murder us.
Rage simmered through me every time I thought about it.
Even as I stood in the common area of House of Twilight with my housemates around me, anger flared hot in my gut, seeping into my matebonds.
“Okay, little spies, it’s time to vote on House Head for the House of Twilight.” Vel’s voice rolled over us, sweetness leaking into every word.
Her pheromones drifted through the common room in a soft, spiced-vanilla haze that clung to the back of my throat. Her smoky lavender eyes slid over our reduced group.
I stood between Dimitri and Cora, my pinky hooked with Dimitri’s. On Cora’s other side, Ominous stood like he had no care in the world. Seth stood beside him with a professional expression.
There were too many empty spaces in the circle. We’d started in House of Twilight with ten students. The fact that we were down to half felt weird.
Vel folded her arms, hip cocked. “Who are we voting for this year?”
“Dimitri,” I blurted.
He snapped his gaze to me, red eyes flaring with surprise that echoed along our bond.
I grinned.
“Yeah, I agree,” Cora chimed in, brushing her long blonde hair back over one shoulder. “He’s always making us study. We might as well make it official.”
Ominous snorted. “Yeah, no, that checks out. He’s already bossy.”
Seth gave a solemn nod. “I agree. It should be Dimitri. He’s practically the dad of the house, anyway.”
Vel giggled, and the look she gave my mate made something in me twitch.
Dimitri was my mate.
I laced my fingers fully with his.
He tightened his grip instantly, tugging me closer until my shoulder brushed his chest.
Vel’s smirk grew. “If there are no objections, then Dimitri Nocturnus will be House Head for the year.”
I felt his resigned huff against my hair.
“Congratulations, Dad,” Ominous muttered.
Dimitri shot him a look.
Vel’s gaze softened. “I know everyone is concerned about the humans’ civil war and the DNA threat they announced.”
My fangs dropped on instinct. Venom burned under my tongue.
Dimitri’s hand crushed mine as his comfort came through the bond.
Vel spread her hands. “Regardless of what is going on out there, in here, you still have exams, missions, and evaluations. So hurry up and learn, little spies, so you can help out there when it’s time.”
“Easier said than done,” I muttered.
“Right, well, carry on and go to your advisor meetings. The House of Twilight’s advisor, or guidance counselor, if you will, is a temporary one.
He’s from Cursinia’s Academy of the Enchanted Arts, standing in because your last advisor quit.
Anyways, I’m going to let Dimitri handle the rest. Don’t forget to let the other years know who you are,” she added.
“And I’ll go assign the other House Heads.
” She winked at him and turned away, heels clicking against the stone floor as she stalked out.
I hissed under my breath.
Dimitri let out a low chuckle. “Don’t worry, lethal darling. I’m yours.”
“And we have an advising meeting to get to.” Shadows spilled off Ominous and coiled around our ankles.
The common room blinked out.
Shadows clamped over my senses and peeled away.
The scent of magic and industrial cleaner slapped me in the face.
We stood inside the Advising Office within Apex Nexus.
“Must be nice to be able to do that,” Dimitri muttered.
Ominous shrugged. “Faster than walking.”
The door to one suite opened before any of us could knock.
The man who stepped through the doorway said my name, “Rune Bloodwyne.”
I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. Bright, unnatural blue eyes and jet-black hair, slicked back away from his angular face.
He was a siren.
Cora went utterly still beside me.
“Oh,” she muttered, head tipping to the side as she looked him over with clear disdain. “You.”
His gaze flicked to her, and he bowed his head, tension rippling through his shoulders. “Coralynn. I saw your name on the roster, but I must admit that I’m still surprised to see you here.”
“Yeah, I bet,” she snapped. “Considering you were with the pod when we were cursed and thrown into the sea.”
Shame flickered across his face. He bowed his head further.
“I genuinely apologize,” he murmured. “I voted against the curse. I tried to stop it. But my mother is sick, and they threatened her if I didn’t comply.”
Cora’s eyes softened for just a second, but she turned her head away.
“Doesn’t change what happened,” she said quietly.
“No,” he agreed. “It doesn’t.” His eyes came back to me. “Rune, if you will.”
He gestured into the office.
Dimitri’s hand squeezed mine, and the bond pulled taut with reluctance.
I squeezed back before I stepped into the office.
It wasn’t very inviting. Black shelves lined the black walls. An obsidian desk was situated in the center, with a single fae orb light casting everything in a cold glow. The temperature dropped a few degrees once the door shut behind me.
He moved around the obsidian desk with fluid grace and sat down in his black chair.
“Please, take a seat.” He gestured at the chair across the desk from him.
I walked over and sat. The seat was hard and cold.
“I’m Atlas Brinewater,” he said. “Temporary House of Twilight Advisor.”
“Nice to meet you,” I lied.
His mouth twitched. “Let’s pretend that’s true.”
“Cora and her sisters are my sisters-by-mating,” I informed him. “You clearly hurt her, and I’m protective of her.”
Understanding flickered through his expression. “I see.”
A holographic screen flickered to life above the desk, lines of text I couldn’t read from this angle scrolling past.
I could make out my name glowing at the top, though.
“How are you feeling about your last year at Apex Elite Academy?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Good. I won my House the House Gauntlet last year.”
“You did.” He tilted his head as he read.
“You also completed multiple real-world missions as a mentee. You survived a kidnapping by humans, during which they took your blood and DNA and are now using it to give themselves your power and inflict harm upon our kind.” He lifted his gaze to mine, expression infuriatingly calm. “Surely that stings.”
That fact hit something raw. I flinched before I could stop myself.
“Yeah,” I said, voice flat. “It stings. I hate humans now. So, there’s that.”
Atlas’s lips curved into a faint, amused smirk. “Don’t we all.”
I sighed. “I know it’s not all humans, but it usually is a human.”
“Valid point.” His gaze sharpened. “Are you still confident in your abilities as a spy?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes.”
He raised a brow. “It says here you’ve also been able to take on the role of an enforcer.”
“I have.” I sat back, crossing my arms loosely. “I’ve taken on an enforcer role a few times. Spies are supposed to step up when the enforcers can’t. Or won’t.”
He nodded, clearly satisfied. “Good answer.” His fingers tapped lightly against the desk. “Is there anything you need advice on when it comes to graduating and moving into a squad?”
“Not unless you can get me onto my mate’s squad,” I said, only half joking.
His smirk returned, eyes flicking to another line of text. “Jesper Wyvernheart. Dragon. That is your mate, yes?”
“Yes.” The matebond with Jesper warmed.
“I can see that.” Atlas’s tone was thoughtful. “It is actually noted in your file, confidentially, of course, that you’re being considered for placement on his squad after graduation.”
My heart lurched. “Seriously?”
“I did not say that,” he said smoothly. “But your mother is the agent coordinator. Surely, you aren’t that surprised.”
I snorted. “Right.”
“How do you feel about making it to year four?”
“I’m excited. We survived long enough to get here. We lost a lot of students along the way,” I mentioned.
He skimmed his screen again. “You started with ten in House of Twilight. One human student, who I imagine you do not mourn.”
“Definitely not that one,” I said dryly, thinking about Kraig’s fatal allergic reaction that had outed him.
A corner of his mouth lifted. “There is another name you do not mourn.”
“Correct.” My fangs pricked my lower lip. “There was a vampire who wanted my mate and wanted to kill me. I got to kill her instead.”
He chuckled softly. “Bloodthirsty. A great trait for an agent of the Supernatural Council.”
I flashed him a smile, letting my fangs show this time. “I thought so.”
His gaze softened a fraction. “Do you want to talk about the trauma of the humans taking you?”
“No.” The answer came fast and sharp. “I’m pissed they took my DNA, obviously. But I came out with something they didn’t intend, so…”
His brows lifted. “Which is?”
“I’m immune to tourmalyke now,” I replied. “I had some intense exposure while I was with them. They pumped me full of it. Didn’t work.”
Shock flickered openly across his face. “You are immune to tourmalyke?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“What about Tourmalyke Type II?” he asked.
“Also immune,” I said.
He leaned back, clearly impressed. “That is incredible. And dangerous, in the right hands.” A slow smile tugged at his lips. “Fortunately, you seem to be the right hands.”
“Somebody has to be.” I shrugged.
His gaze flicked back to his file on me. “What about the students you lost that you did like?”
I exhaled slowly. “They went out chasing something better. Trying to make a difference. The only ones that really fuck with me are Jonas and Zara.”
“And why is that?”
“Zara, because she was taken by that vampire cult, and we couldn’t save her, even when we had her,” I admitted quietly. “Jonas because he clearly wasn’t cut out for this, and we watched him break his neck slamming into a steel door.”
Silence spread for a few seconds.
Atlas’s expression was openly sympathetic now. “That is understandable. I could advise you to talk more about those things, but I can tell you’re not the type to open up to advisors and strangers.”
“Correct.”