Chapter 13 Rune
rune
. . .
A hiss curled from deep in my throat, raw and feral, as I tapped into my basilisk strength. Power surged through my muscles as I shoved Darian off with enough force to make his feet screech against the stone.
“I thought you got the hint when I paralyzed you and Tibby left that pretty burn scar across your face. Where is the scar, by the way?” I cocked my head, smiling sweetly. “Did you find a way to glamour it because you were embarrassed?”
His jaw ticked, and I knew I hit a nerve.
Frost spidered across his shoulders, white vapor hissing from his skin as his ice magic pulsed to life. It dripped down his arms in shimmering tendrils, chilling the air until my breath fogged. His shaggy, dirty blond hair crystallized at the tips, each strand glinting with frostbite.
I used to find it attractive, but now, it just disgusted me.
“We had a fight,” he said, the chill infecting his voice, cutting each word like a shard of broken ice. “You’re being dramatic.”
Before I could spit out a response, the temperature dropped.
A sudden blast of glacial wind slammed into me, so cold it sliced over my exposed skin like knives.
I had never been so thankful for the academy-issued suit than I was now.
My skin stung, frost webbing along my jaw and shoulders as he cupped my face with cold fingers.
They burned where they touched. Not like it would with fire, but with a bone-deep cold that stole warmth straight from my marrow.
I clenched my jaw and withstood it.
“We had a good thing, Rune,” he murmured, his greenish-blue eyes narrowing. “You never said it was over.”
Slater took a hard step forward. Snakey manifested around his shoulders, fangs bared. “Pretty sure being paralyzed by her is a fucking given.”
Zuko cracked his knuckles. “If it wasn’t clear then, it’s fucking clear now.”
I lifted my hand without looking at either of them. I had to handle this my way or he’d keep coming at me. Darian was a possessive asshole, and he needed to know I wasn’t his to possess.
I smiled sweetly at Darian, wrapping my hands around his wrists and tugging them away from my face. “Oh, D,” I whispered. “I’m so fucking sorry.” I leaned in slowly with intent and pressed my lips to his cheek.
“Good thing you—” His body locked up, and his eyes widened as blood welled along his tear ducts. Dark red blood gushed from his nose, his ears, and from the corners of his mouth. It spilled from every orifice in thick streams, staining his pale skin red as panic overtook his face.
“If it wasn’t clear before,” I said coldly, “I’ll make it clear now. It’s over between us. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
Zuko moved fast, shoving Darian away from me, Slater and Koa flanking him instantly, blocking me from him.
Darian’s talons came out instinctively, silver-blue scales erupting over his forearms. But he stumbled, breath hitching, as his vision blurred and blood dripped from his mouth. “You used your venom on me,” he gasped, fury cutting through his voice. “Again!”
“Obviously,” I deadpanned. “You didn’t think I would actually kiss you without a motive, did you?”
“Don’t fucking touch her again if you want to keep your hands,” Zuko snarled.
“She’s not yours to touch,” Slater growled.
“Touch her without consent again, and I’ll burn your hands off,” Koa added, flames dancing from his knuckles.
“You—you’re with them now?” he sneered. “You’re cheating on me?”
A laugh bubbled out of me so hard I had to lean forward and clutch my stomach. “Don’t make me laugh, D. We aren’t together anymore. You don’t get to claim betrayal when you’ve already been discarded by me.”
“Discarded?” His hands twitched with barely restrained rage. “Nobody else will ever make you come like I did.”
Zuko’s fangs lengthened, and with a guttural growl, he lunged. His teeth sank into Darian’s cheek, one of the only uncovered parts of him from the suit, tearing into flesh.
Darian screamed. It was a hoarse, primal sound. It was the sound of pride shattering under agony, and I loved it.
The venom hit fast. Darian convulsed, his back arching, veins darkening visibly under his skin.
It was impressive. I really wanted that venom in my arsenal.
“You should really stop arguing longer than you can last in bed,” I said, brushing invisible dust off my shoulder.
Zuko pulled back with blood slicking his mouth and spat it back on Darian. “Trust me.” His eyes glowed as he made eye contact with me. “I’ll make you writhe and moan louder, longer, and harder than this icicle ever dreamed of doing.”
Heat bloomed in my abdomen. “I have no doubt about that, toxin.”
Slater reached for me, brushing his warm hand down my arm and leaving goosebumps in his wake. He was gentle despite the rage burning in his eyes. “You okay?”
I nodded once. But the truth was that I could still feel Darian’s icy hands burning my cheeks. Ghosts of him lingered on my skin, and I hated it.
Slater’s eye twitched before he lunged, and his fist cracked across Darian’s jaw.
Zuko straightened, exhaling through his nose. “Damn, Slater, good hit.”
Slater stood and fist-bumped him. “Thanks, brother-mate.”
The classroom door slammed open with a loud bang. “Enough!” Pops’s voice lashed down the hallway like a whip, and all of us froze. Even Zuko stepped back instinctively, which surprised me.
Pops strode into view, his brown eyes scanning the scene with sharp, agent-trained precision. His gaze locked on Darian, who was crumpled on the floor, bleeding from his eyes, mouth, and nose, and then slid to me. “What in the Fates is going on?”
I turned slowly, my throat dry. My body still hummed faintly from the venom I’d burned through. “Darian was harassing me.”
Pops stepped toward me fast, his hands going to my shoulders. “Rune.” He looked me over in one sweeping glance, hands squeezing once, searching. “Are you hurt?”
I shook my head slowly. “I’m okay.”
He cupped my cheek briefly, calloused thumb brushing across my skin like he needed to reassure himself I was still solid, and it was much more comforting than Darian’s hands on me. His jaw flexed.
When Pops spoke again, it was through gritted teeth. “You should’ve called for me. I was right there, Rune.”
“I didn’t plan on it happening,” I whispered.
He turned his head sharply toward the others. “Squad One, return to your house. Now.”
There was no room for argument.
Slater flinched slightly at his tone. “Rune, are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’ll meet you at the house.” I nodded at him, giving him and the rest of them a quick smile of reassurance. “I’m going to talk to Dad first,” I said, already stepping back.
Pops gave a single nod, but his eyes stayed on me, dark with worry. “Straight there. No detours. I’m calling your mom, and I’ll meet you after.”
“I know.” I turned, but something prickled at the back of my neck.
When I glanced back, I noticed Dimitri staring at me.
His face was tight, but his eyes flickered with something close to worry and anger.
His fists were clenched at his sides. One hand flexed, curling and uncurling like it wanted to lash out.
His fangs had dropped halfway, but he bit down, sharp enough to cut into his lip.
His gaze flicked to Darian once, then back to me.
He was worried.
I had to force myself to look away, even as my heartbeat tangled in my chest. I had to talk to Dad.