79. Rune
Rune
“It is because you are too fucking heavy.” Volik argues with Vameer. “It has nothing to do with my craftsmanship.”
Vameer leans against the wall of Volik’s woodshop. “If that were true, little brother, the bed frame would be intact.”
I cover my laugh by shoving another bite of blueberry muffin into my mouth.
Volik mutters something as he looks through a stack of logs in the corner.
When we finally got out of bed this morning, we discovered the solid wood bed frame was squashed flat beneath the mattress.
I wonder if maybe Vameer’s gravito did it on purpose, because it was so perfectly flattened. Not just broken in the middle where we were lying. Not to mention the fact we both slept through it. But I keep the thought to myself and take a sip of coffee.
This morning, before we woke, Nix went to a bakery and got a box of pastries, and a coffee for me, for breakfast.
Vameer turned into a thunderstorm when he realized he never fed me yesterday, forgetting that humans need to eat. But I reminded him that Nix made me food last night and that until she offered, I hadn’t even felt hungry.
Nix backed me up, explaining that in the days between getting her fangs and then getting her horns, her hunger was weird. She’d forget all about it or be starving. And now that she’s fully turned into a vampire, she’s only eaten regular food when she has a taste craving. Nothing to do with hunger.
It was fascinating to hear about it firsthand.
Fascinating and completely wild.
The entire global news feed has been taken up with Volik and Nix for the past several weeks. And I was sitting at the kitchen table with them.
I don’t even have to know Vameer’s warrior history to know it’s going to be breaking global news all over again when people find out about him.
He slept through The Reveal and The Trials. He’s a complete unknown.
I scowl over my next bite as I remember the team of men that came for him yesterday morning.
Feels like so long ago.
Vameer told his brother and Nix the story last night. Shared all the details. And the consensus is that somehow, someone at the government found out about him. And his connection to me. And did some sort of stakeout on my apartment, waiting for him to appear.
One of the men told Vameer they just wanted to talk, so it doesn’t seem like the outright goal was death.
If they were sent by an enemy, they’d just try to kill him as quickly as possible. Wanting to talk makes us think the government was behind it.
No one else knows who Vameer is. No one knows he exists. And if this group could capture him, study him, do tests on him, it would give them an advantage over everyone.
A temptation apparently too sweet to ignore.
But instead of capturing him, the entire team died. And in the process, they pissed Vameer off.
I can’t imagine having his rage directed at me. Because it never would be. But I know, as an eyewitness, being on Vameer’s bad side is detrimental to your health.
So, to take away the bad guys’ perceived advantage, Vameer is going to go public.
Today.
Nix and Volik both recommended May Branock, the reporter they contacted to break their mating story.
Which led us to the topic of a man named Dread, who is an actual magic druid.
Who will be able to get us to California, where May is attending a journalism conference as a keynote speaker.
Which led to the three of them explaining druids and portals to me.
I’m a little stressed about walking through a portal. But considering Nix did it while in the same state of change I’m currently in, I believe it’ll work.
Nix left after our druid talk to teach a class at Stalden University. And the brothers are just wasting time while I eat, telling me not to rush.
Vameer makes a joke about the strength of Volik’s wood.
Volik throws a chunk of a log at Vameer.
Vameer catches it, and holds it between his hands, and one second later, it bursts into flame, immediately turning to ash.
Volik rolls his eyes.
I smile as I pop the last piece of muffin into my mouth.
Swallowing down the rest of my coffee, I look at the name on the paper coffee cup. It’s just the letter A, followed by a thin, straight, up-and-down line, then the letter B.
Considering the first time I showed my new face in public was yesterday morning, and I was instantly attacked by that shitty man, I’m not in any hurry to go into town. But for these muffins, I just might.
Finished with my breakfast, I slide off the giant chair Volik made for someone named Jenny.
Vameer turns to me. He’s back in his robe and chain, but he has a pair of snug black boxer briefs beneath.
His eyes roam over my body. And I can feel his appreciation in the way my chest heats.
Knowing that we’re meeting a reporter today, I put on the nicest outfit I could piece together from the items I shoved in my bag.
Flowy navy pants that cling to my ass. A fitted white tank. A full dozen bracelets. And my sandals.
I don’t love the idea of millions of eyes on me. Judging me. But I do love the idea of having Vameer at my side and letting everyone see that he belongs to me.
I straighten my shoulders. “I’m ready.”
Volik tucks a log under his arm. “One last thing.”