Chapter 2 Rune
rune
. . .
Fae magic and static electricity sizzled over me as my vision returned, revealing Apex Elite Academy.
The academy was a fairytale fantasy, surrounded by a ward that throbbed red.
Crystalline spires shimmered with red and blue drake scales as well as green dragon scales on top of them, boosting the protection wards over the academy.
It was behind a large gate, and the massive bridge leading from the gates to the academy glowed faintly.
I had no doubt the bridge was rigged with a trap for those with ill intent.
An ethereal shimmer clung to my black boots as I stepped off the wayfaer teleporter and onto the lush grass.
“Oh my Fates.” I gaped ahead of me.
My basilisk scales pebbled my skin, and I had to take a deep breath to calm my nerves and get used to the overwhelming amount of magic on campus. The air was sharp with old magic and a few other distinct scents of poisons, blood, and sweat.
To our left, clusters of colorful dormitories radiated with smaller protection wards. Each house was distinct in both tone and architecture. Further beyond the houses was a training ground that gleamed with harsh golden energy.
I couldn’t wait to spar.
“The exams are held within the academy itself; we call it Apex Nexus,” Dad informed me, smirking as he watched my reaction.
“So cool.” It had been the first time I’d ever been permitted on academy grounds, even though both of my dads worked there. It was an academy truly for the elite, and I was finally worthy of seeing it.
“Basilisk Forest is behind us,” Tibby whispered, dropping his voice into an emphasized scary tone. “But be careful. It’s rumored to have the spirits of basilisks within it.”
“Shut up, Tibby.” I rolled my eyes as the forest hummed. I heard the slithering through the underbrush from here, but I ignored it. “You know how I feel about ghosts.”
“Phantoms have been known to see ghosts,” Tibby reminded me of that fact, and it sent a chill down my spine.
I straightened myself and squared my shoulders as I scoffed. “Yeah, right.”
“You can’t argue with facts, Rune dear.” Mom let out a small laugh. “Phantoms are able to see the departed for a short time after a passing, before the Fates call the souls home.”
“The fact that phantoms can see departed souls freaks me out,” I admitted. “Pandora can eat and sense souls, and she’s fucking powerful.”
“True,” Mom hummed. “Phantoms can do more than just see souls after they pass. They can help others gain closure and more. They can interact in between.”
“Because they’re incorporeal?” I asked.
Pops shook his head. “It’s a lot more than that, and they can’t completely go incorporeal. They can only fade from the living and peer into the other realm.”
“Why don’t we have phantom friends?” I quipped, raising a brow.
Mom rolled her eyes. “We do. Ted Wraithmore, the phantom representative.”
“Oh, right.” I blinked, trying to remember him, but came up empty. I didn’t really socialize with the representatives of the council.
My parents had coddled me growing up. Honestly, it was all thanks to Tibby that I was able to attend entrance exams. He helped me emotionally blackmail Dad, after all.
Footfalls echoed against the cobblestone walkway, catching my attention.
My gaze locked onto eyes that reminded me of a polished bloodstone.
Fates, they were deep, compelling, and dangerous.
Not bright red, but deep red with measured intent.
He wasn’t just looking back at me. He was peeling back my scales with that Fates-damned stare, folding through the layers of my soul as if they were pages in a book I never handed over.
The man had to be 6’2”. The kind of height that invited obsession, the kind that made me want to walk right up to him just to tilt my head back and meet his gaze at a closer distance.
Two white fangs extended ever-so-slightly as he tilted his head, like a predator humoring his prey—too bad he didn’t know I was the predator here.
The fine black coils of his hair were pulled back but a few framed his face, falling to his shoulders in soft cascades.
There was a white patch on the front, just above his temple that snagged my attention and refused to let go.
It was as if the Fates had the moon itself kiss him and sink into the fibers of his dark hair.
My fingers itched to touch it.
His dark skin stretched over his slender frame, and ink blessed the exposed skin beautifully.
“Trust” marked his left wrist and “Art” marked his right.
A scar just below his jawline on his throat said more than anything else could’ve.
It was a jagged tear. There was no mistaking that scar.
It was distinct and violent. No doubt it was left by a siren who tried to mark him…
I admitted that I was curious to hear that story.
Another part of me was irrationally angry about it, too.
The wind picked up, sending the enticing scent of cinnamon and nutmeg toward me. This vampire was the kind of beautiful that came with warnings. I already knew I wanted to get to know him as soon as possible.
“Roo, you good?” Tibby blocked my view of him.
I wiped my mouth, noticing that my fangs had dripped venom as I studied the vampire. “Hot vampire to your six.”
“Good eye,” Mom agreed.
Dad and Pops gasped in horror before fawning all over her.
“What about me?” Pops gasped.
“You mated us!” A look of horror crossed his face. “You can’t think anyone else is attractive!”
“I don’t. I’m just supporting our daughter,” Mom giggled, pulling our dads in for a chaste kiss each. “You’re the only two that matter.”
That placated them well.
“Ew.” Tibby turned, taking a glimpse at said hot vampire, but it just made him catch my gaze again.
It was then that I noticed he had no family with him.
His red eyes dipped to my throat before he gulped.
“I want to try his venom.” I shook Tibby’s arm, making him shake from the force. “Oh my Fates, Tibby, make him my friend.”
“Absolutely not!” Dad and Pops shouted together.
“I forbid it,” Dad followed up, running a hand through his black hair.
“You need to make your own friends, Roo.” Tibby raised his hands, gagging.
“But I’ve never tried a vampire’s venom.” I pouted.
“And you don’t need to,” Pops decided for me.
The vampire pulled his gaze from me and rushed through the opened gates and toward the academy a second later.
“Looks like you scared your little friend away,” Tibby laughed at me.
I scowled back at him before my gaze caught the lava spilling down obsidian cliffs in the distance.
Tibby followed my gaze again. “That’s Phoenix Falls.”
“Badass.” I bounced on my heels before a familiar glimpse of long black hair caught my attention.
Mom was already walking toward the group next to the gate.
“Is Slater ready for the exam?” Mom asked Bram, the Chaos Representative, with a small smile on her lips.
She’d managed to get Dad to investigate Bram’s brother to see if he was worthy enough to become an agent, and he found he was a very capable candidate. Apparently. I’d been too busy helping HQ’s lab test more potions to care about any of that.
“He is,” Bram told her, and I took my chance to greet the powerful woman beside him.
“Pandora!” I squealed, throwing my arms around the slender soul eater and hugging her tightly. “Oh my Fates, it’s been so long! How are you?”
“It’s only been a couple of months,” she giggled as we pulled away. “I’m great, though. It’s a lot more peaceful in the Demon Capital without a dark magic cult breathing down our necks and trying to kill me constantly.”
“Oh, I can imagine.” I flashed my fangs. “But if anyone tries to kill you again, let me know, and I’ll end them first.”
A large black wolf manifested next to her and moved its enormous head to search for danger.
“I’m fine, Chaos,” she assured the large wolf manifestation with a kiss to the head before it faded back into Bram.
Every muscle in my body stiffened as I noticed the demon that was standing next to Bram.
Fucking Fates, he was hot, too!
How hadn’t I noticed him until now?
Especially when he was looking at me as if I’d just offered him a lifetime supply of my favorite spicy noodles with a neurotoxin drizzled over them.
He was tall—taller than the handsome vampire had been.
He was 6’4”, easy. All lanky limbs and so much chaotic charm.
He had an angular face and red eyes that glittered.
He didn’t look as dangerous as the vampire had, but there was a power within him that I could almost taste on my tongue.
His magical reserves had to be deep. His short, fiery red hair stuck up in ways that felt too purposeful to be accidental, but it fit him well.
And Fates, the aroma of daisies and jasmine clung to him.
Sunshine in a bottle. Not at all what you’d expect from a demon with a literal skull tattoo crawling up the front of his neck, but I almost liked that better.
The skull on his neck was surrounded by a web of delicate leaves and ink.
His collarbone bore the word “Love”, script-thin, like a teasing desire whispered against his tanned skin.
He didn’t have any scars. Not visible ones, at least. But his aura screamed chaos.
It was a bloom of color. Almost every color possible.
Perhaps it was because he was a chaos demon like his brother, but something told me it was something more than that.
He was practically drooling, and a stunned open-mouthed smile was directed toward me. He stared at me like I’d just walked out of his favorite fantasy and became real.
“This is my brother, Slater Havoc.” Bram gestured toward him.
“I think I’ve met my mate,” Slater, the red-headed chaos demon, blurted.
My eyes widened.
Huh?
“What?” Bram gasped.
“Where?” Pandora stared at Slater’s chest. “Your soul isn’t reaching out to anyone’s. Are you sure?”
Slater slid up to me, smiling brightly. “Only the Fates could bring me someone so beautiful.”