Chapter 12 Rune
rune
. . .
The first day at Apex Elite Academy called for the best kind of poison.
I squeezed the dropper over my tea, stirring the drop of shimmering black liquid into it. It was just enough neurotoxin to calm my nerves and shut off the annoying part of my brain that overthought everything that could go wrong today.
Nothing would go wrong. I’d make damn sure of that. I had already checked my schedule three times. I was prepared.
This first quarter of the year, we had four classes. Charm and Deception: Level 1 and Strike and Subdue: Level 1 were on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. History of Kalista: The Foundation for Supernatural Agents and Analytic Tactics 101 was on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“Good morning, venom baby!” Slater bounded in with a bright smile.
His red hair was still sticking up in ten directions from bed, but his bodysuit clung perfectly to every muscle.
I could see his skull tattoo on his neck through the thin opening of the suit’s neck. Hot. “What’re you putting in your tea?”
“Neurotoxin,” I purred, washing my spoon in the sink so I didn’t accidentally poison anyone else before taking my first sip.
He sighed dreamily. “You say ‘neurotoxin’ the way most people say ‘I love you.’”
I smirked over my mug at him. “Aw, aren’t you cute?”
He clutched his chest dramatically. “Stop complimenting me. I’ll fall in love.”
“You’re full of it,” I giggled.
“Who am I kidding?” He sighed cutely before smiling so hard his dimples poked out. “I’m going to fall in love no matter what, so please keep complimenting me.”
I bit down on my bottom lip. “Want to know something fun?”
“Always.”
I leaned closer, enough that he’d feel the heat coming off my skin. “Some of my venom can act as an aphrodisiac. Just a little touch…” I let my index finger trail up to his mouth and brushed his lips. “That’s all it takes to heighten urges.”
He didn’t move; he just stared at me like I’d done something completely miraculous. I’d successfully rendered him speechless.
Zuko strolled in with an infuriatingly sexy smirk on his lips. That black suit hugged every inch of his frame. His orange eyes dropped straight to where my finger lingered on Slater’s lip. “You flirting or poisoning him? Not that it matters.”
“Can’t it be both?” I teased, pulling away from Slater and taking a sip of my tea. I didn’t actually use my venom on him, but Fates, I wanted to.
“Sure it can.” Zuko’s grin widened. “Speaking of both, did you know that the venom from my fangs causes immense pain but my cum has aphrodisiac properties?”
I choked on air. “You—what?”
He stepped closer, and I had to admit I liked the way my pulse jumped at his proximity. “You heard me, pretty little poison. Surely, you knew that was the case for the majority of male basilisks, right?”
“I didn’t know that,” I admitted.
“You want to try some?”
My knees actually wobbled. “Fates, Zuko…”
Yes.
He was hard already, and the suit didn’t hide a thing. I could see a line of piercings on the underside of his cock.
My mouth flooded with venom before I could stop it. “Shit,” I whispered, going to wipe it with the back of my free hand, but I was too late.
Zuko was already there, swiping his thumb along my chin, collecting my venom easily. “What kind are you leaking now?”
“Aphrodisiac properties,” I admitted sheepishly. My body acted on its own accord when I got turned on.
Zuko’s tongue swiped out and licked my neon green venom from his thumb. “Mmmm.”
My breath caught.
His eyes fluttered shut. “That’s my new favorite flavor.”
Slater made a strangled sound. “That’s hot. Rune, poison me next! For real this time, but do it romantically.”
“Not sure you’d survive,” I teased, cheeks flaming. “My venom has killed other basilisks before, you know. My fatal venom, I mean. I could totally give you a small dose of this when we don’t have class to worry about.”
Zuko leaned in again. “Why doesn’t your bad venom affect me?”
I blinked at him, truth catching on my tongue. “I...don’t know.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “Don’t worry, though, this one did.”
I could barely breathe. I could barely think with both of them watching me like that.
Dimitri appeared in the kitchen, and his aura was dark. His hair was still wet from a morning shower, and he had the academy-issued suit on, too.
Just as hot as the other two.
“That’s impossible,” he said, eyes fixed on me.
I blinked, my blood still warm from Zuko’s last comment. “What is?”
“Your venom,” he clarified, gaze flicking to the almost empty teacup in my hand. “No basilisk can kill another basilisk with venom.”
I shrugged, setting the cup on the counter. “Tell that to the one I killed last year with one drop. Oh, and Mom has before, too. Granted, we are the only two reported to have done so.”
Slater whistled low. “Damn.”
“Vicious little poison.” Zuko’s smirk sharpened.
Dimitri’s expression flickered for a second. He didn’t ask more. “Interesting.”
“Rise and shine, little legends!” Vel’s sweet voice cut him off as she waltzed into the room in a shimmer of pink silk and perfume that enhanced her spiced vanilla scent. “Get those beautiful butts moving!”
Aura and Eleanor trudged out of their rooms, suits on.
Aura caught sight of my cup. “Are you drinking poison again?”
I grabbed it off the counter and held it up. “It’s a low-dose neurotoxin. Calms my nerves.”
“Not before class, Rune!” Eleanor made a horrified squeak and reached for it.
Slater intercepted. “She’s just filling her reserves. Leave her be.”
Eleanor backed off immediately but kept her horrified expression. “Neurotoxins sound serious, but if it fills her reserves, then I guess it’s good.”
Hawk walked in and hesitated before saying, “Good morning. Neurotoxins sound like a bad idea.”
Koa leaned against the fridge, arms crossed, gold chain glinting through the slit in his collar. “Rune, I know your system is basically half toxins already, but that stuff might dull your brain for Charm and Deception.”
“Good point,” Dimitri muttered. “You sure that’s smart?”
“I’ve been taking shit like this since I was eight,” I replied defensively. “My brain is fine. Chill, guys.”
Slater gave a deep, theatrical bow. “If my venom baby says she’s fine, she’s fine.”
Zuko, still far too close, added, “You want real focus? Give me twenty minutes, and I’ll dose you with something better. My venom works wonders.”
I tilted my head, desire flaring hot in my blood. “You’re on.”
Dimitri growled, “Are you all insane? We have class in ten minutes.”
“If they can make it work with five minutes, they can manage it,” Vel suggested.
Zuko tilted his head back with a groan. “Definitely need over five to enjoy ourselves.”
From behind him, Hawk mumbled, “You shouldn’t be sexualizing her. It’s not right.”
My smile dropped. “I’m not being sexualized,” I snapped, turning to face him. “I’m just not ashamed of my desires, and neither are they. There’s a difference.”
“I—ah—I didn’t mean—” Hawk stuttered.
I tossed the remaining drops of my tea back in one swallow and then slammed the cup on the counter. “I know what you meant.”
Slater clapped once, sliding up beside me again. “Damn right. She can be whoever the fuck she wants to be.”
“And fuck whoever she wants,” Zuko snarled at my other side.
Vel whistled to get our attention. “What a team! Full of barely restrained desire and potential sexual misconduct. You’re going to be so much fun.
” She grinned and pulled out a large velvet pouch.
“Speaking of fun, I have new tech for you! These are academy-issued phones. Enchanted. Trackable. Unbreakable. Don’t lose them, or I will be the one in trouble. ”
She handed them out, one by one. Sleek black phones with shimmering AEA crests on the screens were slapped into our palms.
Vel checked the time, and her smile faded into mock horror. “And now… go. You’re going to be late for Charm and Deception, little legends.”
With a gleeful wave, she physically started pushing us out the door.
We scrambled, grabbing our bags, tech, and piling out onto campus with curses.
The early morning light cast golden streaks across the cobbled path as our group moved toward the towering gates of Apex Nexus, where we had our first class. The academy’s spires loomed in the distance, piercing the cloud-draped sky like they were daggers.
We made our way over the long arched bridge stretched across mist made up of magical essence.
Before we made our way inside, a familiar shout cut through the morning fog.
“Roo!” Tobias appeared, jogging down the bridge with a massive grin, but something in his green eyes set me on edge. He reached me quickly and instantly scooped me up into a tight hug.
“Put me down, Tibby!” I groaned as he spun me once before setting me down.
“Sorry, but I love having my little sister at the academy with me,” he said proudly.
I beamed up at him. “I’m happy to be here finally.”
“Glad we convinced Dad.” He ruffled my hair, and I didn’t even mind.
“Alright, we need to go,” Dimitri said. “We don’t need to be late for our first class.”
Tobias grabbed my wrist before I could turn to follow the group inside. “Wait, Rune. Be careful, alright?” His voice dropped low.
Alarm bells rang through me, and my instincts went on high-alert at his warning. “What? Why?”
“I saw Darian.”
“No,” I whispered, my heart plummeting into my gut. “There’s no way.”
“I don’t know where he’s been,” Tobias said, jaw tightening. “But he’s back.”
Immediately, everyone around me tensed. They even knew this news wasn’t good.
“Your ex?” Slater asked, eyes narrowing.
Zuko’s expression darkened. “Why the fuck does his name cause that reaction in you, pretty little poison?”
“Protect her,” Tobias said simply, not answering their questions.
“I will,” Koa murmured immediately.
“I’ll protect her with my life,” Slater added with a tight smile. “No matter what.”
Zuko said nothing, but his jaw flexed in a dangerous way that also turned me on.