Chapter 10 Rune #4
“Now, it’s time to chat about rules,” she said sweetly.
“I know, I know, boring. But very important. One: no first years leave campus without direct authorization. No sneaking, no teleporting of any kind. I mean it. It’s part of immersing you in the academy and away from outside influence.
Two: respect the common space. No fighting among yourselves in the house.
No pranks. You have to live together. You are a squad.
Figure your shit out. Three: the curfew is nine PM.
Not a suggestion. Though, you will probably spend most of your time in this house for year one, so I doubt that will be a problem.
Four: you will report to the infirmary in Apex Nexus if you are injured, sick, cursed, or anything along those lines.
Hiding any pain from staff or classmates is considered betrayal.
” Her smile sharpened. “And if you break any of the rules, I’ll know. ”
Zuko leaned in until his lips brushed my ear. “There was nothing about not indulging in each other on that list.”
I hummed in agreement.
Vel’s eyes sparkled as if she’d heard us, but she didn’t comment on our conversation. “Well,” she said, smoothing her blouse, “I’ll let you little legends get settled. Other floors await my instruction. Try not to kill each other. Or fall in love. Unless it’s fun.”
She swept out, hips swaying as she left.
“I don’t know how to feel about her,” Raze muttered, his eyes narrowed at the door she’d just left out of.
I happened to agree with him.
“Vel’s always like that, but she’s harmless. I’m going to check out my room!” Aura exclaimed, turning and bouncing over to the door with her name over it. She hurried faster past Dimitri, almost like she was afraid of him, but that didn’t make any sense.
“I don’t care, but falling in love is so on the table,” Slater told me. “Don’t listen to her.”
“We can make it fun,” Zuko murmured his agreement. “Don’t you think?”
I bit down on my lip. “I do like fun.”
Zuko and Slater chuckled, and it sent warmth down to the base of my spine.
“I’m curious to see what our rooms look like.” I turned toward the door with my name above it, letting a steady breath out.
“We should all do that,” Koa said loudly, leading Slater and Zuko toward their doors.
He was taking Tibby’s role for him seriously.
The door shimmered as it recognized my pin. It unlocked with a soft click and eased open.
Inside, the room was small but cozy. A twin bed with white sheets and a white throw was to the right side. A desk with built-in shelving on the left with a reading lamp on top of it. There was also a wardrobe tucked against the far wall.
“This place is better than any musical bunk I’ve ever seen,” Dimitri muttered from his perch against his doorframe.
“Musical bunk?” I questioned, but Dimitri didn’t reply.
I wasn’t sure why I thought he’d talk to me anyway.
Holding back a sigh, I stalked into my room and tossed my bag onto the bed with a satisfying thump.
The mattress immediately creaked in protest. I didn’t bother unpacking yet.
I had bigger priorities to attend to. I dug through the side pouch until my fingers closed around a small velvet pouch.
Inside, nestled around tiny dried blossoms and curled leaves, was my savior: a tea sachet filled with some of my favorite poisonous herbs.
I also grabbed my favorite mug: a big dark green mug that turned neon when it held poison.
It never got old watching the enchantment change color.
I padded into the shared kitchen while everyone got settled in their rooms. I was pleased to find a kettle already on a heat rune on the counter next to the heating crystals. Setting my mug down, I let out a quiet sigh.
Around me, the house was lively with everyone exploring our floor.
Putting water into the kettle, I placed it back onto the rune and waited for the inevitable whistle.
Once it pierced the air, I poured the boiling water into my mug.
Steam rose and curled around my face. The tea sachet bloomed in the cup as I put it in, poisonous herbs unfurling like petals of a deadly flower.
How beautiful.
The air filled with the familiar scent of hemlock, nightshade, and just a touch of oleander. It was sharp, bitter, and comforting.
Carefully, I padded over to the low table in the center of our common area and sat cross-legged on one of the overstuffed velvet pillows. I cradled my mug between both hands and inhaled deeply. The warmth seeped into my fingers, softening the constant thrum of magic beneath my skin.
Eleanor walked in with a bright smile. She was pretty, even in pajama shorts and a fuzzy robe; her hair still hung in a braid. She zeroed in on my mug with excited eyes.
“Ooooh, tea!” she sang. “Is that peppermint?” Before I could speak, her dainty fingers were already on the handle, pulling my blaring neon mug away from me.
“No, wait!” I lunged forward, grabbing the mug just before it met her lips.
She froze, wide-eyed. “I—I’m so sorry! Are you afraid of germs? We’re supernaturals, so not many are, but—”
“It’s poisoned,” I said calmly. “It’ll kill you.”
There was a beat of silence.
Eleanor’s face crumpled. “Why would you do this?” she wailed, letting go of my mug quickly. “There’s so much to live for! You got accepted into this academy!”
“It’s my tea,” I said, resting the warm cup in my hands again. “It’s not for you. It’s literally medicinal. For me. Not for you. It could kill you.”
“I thought it was mint,” she sniffled. “It smelled minty.”
“If you think so. In a ‘melt your insides’ sort of way.”
She started wailing.
Aura came around the corner then, yawning with a bag of cheese puffs in one hand. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene of Eleanor weeping and me cradling my tea, the air still fragrant with lethal herbs.
I brought my mug to my lips and sipped.
“Oh, my Fates,” Eleanor shrieked, her brown eyes widening in horror as if she didn’t hear what I said about it not being deadly to me. “She is actually drinking it! We need a healer! Koa! You’re going to die! She’s dying!”
“I’m not dying,” I said flatly, raising my mug for emphasis. “I do this every night.”
“Every night!” Eleanor gasped, looking between me and the tea like I was a walking crime against nature.
“Every night,” I said again, sipping.
“...That’s badass,” Aura whispered, crunching loudly on her snack.
Koa, Slater, Zuko, and Hawk came running out of the rooms and paused when they noticed us.
Eleanor pointed at me in tears. “She’s drinking poison!”
Slater dove for me immediately, all crazy limbs and wild red hair. “No, no, no, no!” He snatched the mug out of my hand like it was a grenade about to blow. It sloshed some of my tea but thankfully didn’t spill. “We haven’t even kissed yet! You can’t die before I’ve ruined your standards forever!”
Zuko snorted, being the only one not concerned. “I’ll be the one ruining her standards.”
“Slater, give me my tea back!” I lunged for him, but he held the cup high above his head, moving out of reach with a horrified expression that made me want to both strangle and kiss him, which was so inconvenient for me.
“Hold on, okay?” Koa was suddenly at my side, dropping to his knees like I’d taken an actual fatal blow. His hands hovered over me, and a soft blue glow lit up his palms. Warmth poured into my skin, his magic brushing against my core like ecstasy on my frayed nerves.
“I’m fine,” I insisted, but my breath hitched as his blue flames licked softly over my abdomen, sinking low and blooming heat through every inch of me. “Koa, I’m not dying, stop with the sexy healing magic, Fates dammit.”
His cheeks flushed as he drew back just slightly, hands still glowing, clearly torn between concern and the sudden awkward realization of what exactly his magic was doing to me.
Slater held the mug to his chest protectively. “Don’t worry, venom baby. I’ll get rid of it for you. That’s what fated mates do.”
“Don’t you dare—” I reached up and swiped at it, missing by half an inch.
“Wait, is this the suicide tea?” Raze asked, stepping into the room.
“It’s not suicide tea!” I shouted, irritation taking over.
The room fell quiet.
Lorian froze in his doorway, his broad shoulders filling the entire frame as his brown eyes zeroed in on Eleanor, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“What…” His voice dropped to a horrified whisper. “What is going on?”
“She’s trying to kill herself!” Eleanor wailed, pointing at the mug in Slater’s grasp like evidence of my crime. “And I didn’t even know! Rune, we just got here! You don’t have to—”
Lorian’s entire face went red, and he slammed his fist against the doorframe so hard the wood creaked. “Stop, this is not the answer. There is always another way! Whatever darkness you’re facing, you can come to any of us. Suicide is never, ever the solution!”
I stared at him, stunned, then looked at my mug. “...It’s my nightly tea. It’s not poison for me, but it is poison for you. I’m fine! This is just my maintenance!”
Lorian didn’t budge. His big hands were braced against the doorway, his chest rising and falling like he’d just saved me from throwing myself off a cliff. “Rune,” he said, voice low and heartbreaking, “you’re stronger than this.”
“He’s right,” Eleanor cried, her eyes already red and puffy. “You’re the daughter of awesome supernaturals, and I bet your name will be even bigger than theirs if you give yourself a chance!”
Dimitri’s door banged open, and he stood in the doorway with irritation on his face. “What the Fates is happening out here?”
“She’s trying to kill herself!” Eleanor sobbed, her shoulders shaking.
Dimitri raised a brow in my direction.
“I’m not.” I groaned dramatically.
“She’s not suicidal, you idiots!” Aura howled with laughter from the counter, nearly choking on her cheese puffs as she walked to the opposite side of the common area from where Dimitri just came in. “She’s just…venomous.”