Chapter 19
zuko
. . .
Victor perished today.
He’d been a good venomous spider, patient and vicious in all the right ways.
Unfortunately, though, even enchanted habitats couldn’t keep something alive forever. His little life had faded slowly over the last few months. This morning, I opened his enclosure and knew he was gone before I even tried to feed him breakfast.
Rune’s hand brushed mine as we walked, her fingers warm against my knuckles.
I turned my head and seared the sight of her into my memory. Her green hair had been pulled back into space buns, and she wore a black lace cami, leather skirt with fishnets, and a gray cardigan that hung around her shoulders.
She was way too pretty to be walking beside a sulking basilisk who’d lost his best torture partner.
“Thanks for coming with me,” I murmured.
She squeezed my hand. “I’m your mate, toxin. We have to make sure your torture kit stays fully stocked. I am sorry about your spider, though. He seemed cool.”
“He was,” I admitted, bitterness slipping into my voice. “Had him for eight years.”
Her brows shot up. “Eight years? Isn’t that like…um, a long time for a venomous spider?”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “For that species, at least.”
Sympathy rippled through our matebond. “I’m still sorry, Zuko. That sucks.”
“It’ll be fine, pretty little poison.” I rolled my shoulders, trying to shake off the heavy feeling in my chest. “At least it gives us an excuse to be out alone together for once.”
Her lips curved into a teasing smile. “I do like spending time with you.”
Warmth wrapped around my heart. I cleared my throat and focused on the path ahead before I did something stupid and dragged her into the nearest alley.
But…would that really be stupid? I believed it would be fun.
We were in the heart of the Apex Capital; the city expanded around us in layers of stone and magic.
Tall and small buildings of dark and light stone stretched toward the sky, their windows catching the gleam of the sun.
The path under our feet was also made of stone, worn smooth and slightly concave from centuries of footsteps.
The street led to the massive warded market, a five-story building that was nestled on the southeast side of the city. Its arched entryway was carved with scenes of trade and runes.
Inside, stores had rooms everywhere. It was a lot like the humans’ malls, but ours had enchantments and magic. Light poured in from a rune above, colored by wards into soft hues of amber and blue.
Voices of other supernaturals layered over each other as we slipped into the flow of them, shoulders brushing others, and the air thick with the scents of spiced meat, baked bread, potion fumes, hot stone, and ancient magic.
We walked up to the fifth floor.
“Where are we going?” She glanced around the mostly abandoned upper floor. “I didn’t realize they sold venomous creatures at the Market.”
“Most people don’t.” I steered her toward the back. “They keep this place quiet on purpose.”
The arachnid vendor was tucked into the corner near a potion store.
When we walked in, a wide, tiered table lined with terrariums and enchanted glass enclosures greeted us.
A sign read: VENOMOUS & NON-VENOMOUS CREATURES.
Rune gasped, and pure delight rippled through our matebond.
She stepped closer, palms pressed to the glass as she took in the rows of spiders and scuttling, slithering creatures.
Some enclosures had bark backgrounds and leaves, while others were dark burrows with faint eyes gleaming from within.
Webs shimmered with faint magic, threads glowing in patterns in others.
“Oh my Fates,” she whispered. “They’re beautiful.”
I realized then that bringing her here was probably the smartest date idea I’d ever had. Her love for poisons extended to venom, too, after all.
The shop merchant, an older warlock with gray streaks in his dark hair and small gold glasses perched on his nose, glanced up from the ledger he was writing in. “Well, hey there, Zuko,” he said. “Sorry to hear about Victor. Your dad told me. He was a good one.”
My chest tightened as I nodded. “Yeah. Me too. Thanks, Lance.”
Rune’s sympathy shot down the bond again before she wandered near a larger terrarium toward the middle with a little plaque under it.
Inside, a spider the size of my palm crawled along a piece of femur.
Its body was dark, earthy brown, and its veins glowed a mossy green.
Thick, root-like legs ended in hooked claws that made little clicking sounds along the glass.
“What’s that one?” I asked, drawn to it immediately.
The vendor’s lips curved. “Rare find. Armed earth spider. It’s from the Earth Kingdom in the Fae Realm. Very special boy.”
Rune practically vibrated. “Fae spider?”
“Yes.” Lance tapped the glass gently, and the spider turned its oddly expressive face toward us.
“Bite causes convulsions, rapid root growth from the victim’s orifices, and hollows them out from the inside so the spider can nest. The victim grows into something like a living tree trunk as they die. ”
Rune’s eyes lit with feral excitement. “I’ve never tried anything fae-related before.”
I looked at her sharply. “Yeah, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
She blinked at me in shock and betrayal. “What?”
“I know I’m not the normal one of your mates to say this,” I admitted, narrowing my eyes at the spider and then at her, “but I don’t think you should fuck with fae venoms. I really want this one, but I’m not buying it if you’re going to let it bite you.”
Rune huffed and crossed her arms, lips puffing into a pout. “Toxin, come on. Please?” She blinked up at me, golden eyes huge and lethal.
I had to look away for a second just to keep my brain functioning. “No. You get your dad’s approval, and then I’ll consider it.”
She groaned. “You know he won’t say yes.”
“I know.” I shrugged. “I would just rather my mate not be hollowed out so my spider can live inside her chest cavity. Call me crazy, pretty little poison, but it’s not happening.”
“You two remind me of your parents when they were young, Zuko.” Lance’s lips curled into a smile. “So…do you want him?”
I hesitated, but Rune nodded decisively. “Yes. He’ll take him.”
“I was talking to him,” Lance replied dryly, but he reached for the enchanted terrarium.
I leaned down toward Rune. “I’m serious. I don’t want you to be bitten by him. On purpose or otherwise. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, toxin,” she replied sweetly. “I understand.”
The grin she gave me right after that made my fangs itch.
I was definitely going to have to watch her around him.
The vendor transferred the spider into an enchanted travel enclosure that was a cube of reinforced glass with ventilation runes and a small bone that was moss-covered. The spider scuttled inside without fuss, curling around the bone like it already owned the place.
“Armed earth spiders bond with their main handler fast,” Lance explained. “Treat him well, and you’ll have a brutal little friend for a long time. Do you know what you want to name him?”
“Cthulhu,” Rune cooed at the spider, and the spider moved its front legs in agreement.
“Cthulhu it is,” I chuckled.
We paid and stepped back into the flow of the market, Rune holding the little habitat close to her chest, staring at the spider like it was the prettiest thing she’d ever seen.
“Now it’s time to train him,” I murmured, watching Cthulhu test the glass with one root-like leg.
Rune’s eyes lit up. “Can I help?”
I sighed, because there was no universe where I could say no to my mate, but I didn’t love the idea of her having free access to his venom either.
“Of course you can, pretty little poison…as long as you promise not to let him bite you on purpose.” I gave her a pointed look.
“And I’m making sure I get the anti-venom first.”
She huffed dramatically but nodded. “Deal. I guess this is a safe way for me to try it.”
“Rune,” I warned.
“I’m kidding,” she sang, giggling as she laced our fingers together and tugged me down the stone path that led out of the market and back toward the Supernatural Council’s HQ.
We walked along the stone pathway, the sunset painting the tops of the buildings gold. HQ rose ahead, and the extensive building had a moat around it. Dragon scales powered wards on the tops of the spires. Just past the bridge, the wayfaer teleporter sat on its elevated platform.
I loved feeling the bond hum with contentment.
A heavy chopping that didn’t belong in Apex Capital’s sky resounded through the air, and I looked up to see a helicopter. It was human tech, ugly and loud against the graceful lines of our city. It hovered above the street.
The wards around the district sparked where its metal shell forced through them, using some type of tech to rip a hole through it.
Ropes dropped from the sides, and eight humans slid down in tactical gear, boots hitting the cobblestone hard.
They spread out fast, formation tight, weapons drawn, eyes scanning until each one locked onto Rune.
Her eyes widened, and I felt a sudden spike of fear and fury through our matebond.
My instincts flared, the need to protect her blotting out everything else.
It warmed my heart that I could feel that she wanted to protect me just as badly…but I had to protect her first.
She was their target.
A hiss ripped from my chest as I stepped in front of her and let my basilisk form surge outward. My bones stretched, scales rippling over skin as my body elongated and thickened. I was a massive serpent, my body filling the street, fangs bared and leaking venom.
Three of the humans panicked, but they still raised their weapons, trying to get shots in.
I moved faster, tail snapping out like a striking whip. I crushed two of them against a wall with a sickening thud and knocked a third into a row of stone planters, hearing the crack of their bones.
Their guns went flying in the other direction.
Another eight humans dropped from the helicopter.