Chapter 21
rune
. . .
A victorious smirk curved my lips as I leaned back against one of the polished support beams of the auditorium, watching the final illusions for the formal settle into place.
The fourth years were still buzzing around the room, caught somewhere between pride, exhaustion, and mild panic since our final was in two days, but all I felt was pure satisfaction.
All fourth-years had actually chosen my theme. Dimitri, Koa, Slater, and Zuko had somehow convinced all the other year-four houses during the vote, which meant I had just lived out my childhood interior decorating fantasy.
The auditorium no longer looked like an auditorium; it looked like the lair of a beautifully deranged enchantress that specialized in poison.
Fae orb lights hovered overhead like floating fireflies, each one glowing in neon greens and poisonous yellows, casting the entire space in shimmering, dangerous light.
Witches and warlocks from the House of Arcane crafted dripping streams of toxic ooze that fell from the rafters in slow hypnotic trickles, dissolving before they touched the floor or others.
The stage had been reshaped into a serpentine platform, with curling emerald mist drifting along its edge.
House of Arcane also created a punch fountain that glowed like radioactive water, but it was actually neon green fae alcohol laced with a safe-enough glamour, sparkling like phosphorescent venom.
It pulsed faintly as if it had a heartbeat.
And the music…
A low, haunting melody threaded through the room like the whisper of a creature scraping beneath floorboards. It was beautiful, eerie, and wrong in all the best ways.
Fates, I loved it.
Dimitri wrapped an arm around my waist from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder as he admired the eight houses’ collective handiwork—though, I had to admit that House of Arcane did most of the work.
Koa and Slater were arguing over whether the venom-drip illusions should fall faster, and Zuko was nodding stoically to himself like he’d expected nothing less than perfection since it was my idea.
“This is so fucking cool,” Slater boasted. “Venom baby, your mind is just as exquisite as the rest of you.”
Zuko nudged him with a chuckle. “Pretty little poison sets the bar too high. Next year they’ll have to do something stupid like rainbow butterflies or something.”
“That’s adorable, actually,” Koa said thoughtfully.
“No,” Zuko deadpanned.
“Actually, I think it’s cute,” I added with a wink. “But this is better.”
A soft ripple of magic cracked through the air as a glowing circle of sigils opened beneath our feet, widening until Jesper and Drecken came through.
Jesper lifted his brows at the décor. “Rune’s idea?”
“Duh,” Slater chuckled.
“Beautiful, viperling.” Drecken smiled. “Your mother’s done and ready for us. Time to go.”
I put my hands together and called across the room, “Thank you all! Seriously, this looks incredible. I appreciate you voting for my theme!”
I got a collection of whoops, bows, and mock salutes.
Eleanor rushed over to hug me tightly. “You’re going to crush the final, you know,” she whispered.
“I plan to.” I grinned, flashing my fangs at her. “You will, too. Have a good night with Lorian.”
“I always do.” She smiled.
Drecken snapped his fingers, and we dropped through his teleportation portal.
We landed on warm stone in the foyer of my family estate. The overwhelming scent of roasted vegetables and meats hit me along with the voices.
My parents had invited every single one of my mates’ families, too.
Laughter bubbled from the dining room, and the seven of us walked in.
Aunt Maelis was humming softly while bouncing baby Mason in her arms, and the baby’s eyes took everything in.
My heart spread with warmth.
This was what home was supposed to feel like. Loud, loving, and comforting.
Jesper led the way toward Nymera and Maelis, who were cooing over Mason.
“I’m so glad you all came.” I leaned down and pressed a kiss to Mason’s forehead; he squeaked cutely.
Nymera’s smile lit her face. “Rune, sweetheart, we wouldn’t miss it.”
Maelis looked up, her blue eyes bright despite everything she had suffered. “Mason has already melted a spoon.”
I snorted softly.
Before I could respond, a burst of heat whisked past as Koa’s mother, Solene, practically sprinted toward us. Her red eyes glittered as she cupped my cheeks dramatically. “It’s been far too long, Rune!”
“Mom,” Koa choked behind her. “I haven’t seen you in just as long.”
Theron followed with a calm smile. “We are happy to finally meet the rest of our son’s bond.”
Mom strolled by them with her wineglass in hand. “We’ve smoothed everything over,” she told me.
“I’m glad our children ended up being mates,” Theron told Mom, who smiled.
“Yes, Koa is a good man.” A flicker of guilt passed over her expression, and I knew it was because she hadn’t found the evidence to clear Theron herself.
“He is,” Sora agreed, greeting me with a quick hug.
Slater’s family found me next, and Melinda hugged me so tightly I momentarily lost the ability to breathe. “Rune! How are you doing?”
“I’m great! How are you?” I replied, pulling back and looking at Charles, who stood beside her. “Thank you both for coming.”
“We’re doing good.” Melinda smiled warmly.
“Thanks for having us.” Charles waved politely.
Bram approached slower with Pandora tucked close at his side.
I threw my arms around Pandora enthusiastically before pulling back. “You came! It’s been so long! How are you?”
“I’m doing good,” she rasped softly, a smile on her red lips. “Your home is so beautiful.”
“Thanks!” I grinned. “My dads have been cooking all day for this, so hopefully, you’ll enjoy it.”
“I’m sure we will,” she assured me.
Slater slipped between us and wrapped an arm around my waist. “I told you guys she’d be my mate.”
“And you were right,” Pandora murmured. “Your souls are tightly bound together.”
“As tightly as ours.” Bram kissed her forehead as they went to find their seats, and Slater guided his mom and Charles with them.
Zelle wrapped her arms around me with enough basilisk strength to break ribs. “You must come over for dinner soon at our home again.”
“I will,” I promised, taking in a greedy gulp of air when she pulled back.
“We will, of course, have someone to torture for you again,” Skarnax bribed me.
“Dad,” Zuko muttered.
“We’ll plan on it,” I told him with a laugh.
Drecken and Dimitri sat on either side of me while the rest of my mates sat with their families.
We had finally all sat around the enormous table that my fathers had bought that was enchanted to grow five extra feet to accommodate everyone.
Tobias and his mates arrived late and sat at the end next to my parents.
Dishes filled the table with spiced rice, mushrooms, roasted vegetable spreads, seared meats, and enchanted wines that shimmered different colors based on emotions from whoever was closest.
Mom lifted her glass and cleared her throat. “To family.”
Glasses clinked around the table like tiny crystalline bells.
Conversation circled around the formal event and the final until the topic shifted toward the humans.
Zuko’s orange eyes met mine over the table, flaring with possessiveness and the desire to be next to me. “At least my pretty little poison and I found the human facility.”
Heads snapped up as everyone went tense.
Mom nodded. “The Human Council confirmed that it isn’t one of theirs. Jesper will lead eight squads to extract the supernaturals they have and destroy the facility and the leaders of the entire Human Resistance Network. The Whettlocks’ operation will end.”
The conversation shifted after that, moving toward more positive topics as we ate our fill of the feast my dads had cooked.
After eating far too much, I drifted toward Tobias, who leaned against the archway with a glass of fae wine.
“Good luck on your final, Roo,” he told me. “Apex Penitentiary’s drop from dry land into water alone is brutal. We lost five fourth-year students from just that last year.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Your pep talks are terrible, Tibby.”
He snorted. “Just be smart and stealthy.”
“You know I will.” I grinned, leaning next to my brother against the wall.
All six matebonds thrummed with warm happiness. Everything felt warm, safe, and perfect.
The humans had no idea what was coming, and I planned on making Allison suffer myself.