Chapter 15 Slater
slater
. . .
“These phones are so much easier to talk on than a tablet,” I said to Bram, scratching under Snakey’s chin. His smooth, chaos-spiked scales were cool beneath my fingers, and he gave a pleased hiss as he coiled tighter around my neck.
Bram chuckled through the receiver. “I know. We have them too. New tech. Council-designed, actually. It’s streamlined for magical conductivity and encrypted messaging.”
“Dude, who even are you? Streamlined for magical conductivity and encrypted messaging,” I repeated mockingly. “You’re such a councilman.”
“I mean, I am a councilman. Chaos demon representative at your service,” he said cheekily. “Seriously, though, I’m just repeating the shit I was told.”
I pouted dramatically, even though he couldn’t see it. “Bram. I’m your brother. How could you keep something this cool from me?”
There was muffled background noise of Skel, his brother-mate, shouting about a cat trying to attack their other brother-mate’s axolotl again.
It sounded like the axolotl was going to win.
Bram sighed. “Skel, just go get Reed. He’ll handle it. Give me the kitten.”
“His name is Eclipse, and he’s Nebs’ rival right now,” Skel grumbled grumpily. “Clearly he and Gumdrop are working together to take him out.”
My heart swelled.
Ever since he met his mate, Bram had come alive. He’d stopped drowning himself in alcohol and guilt. I liked to think it was me and our brotherly bond that got through to him, but I knew it was Pandora that had.
I was so fucking proud of my baby brother.
“Ooooh, Bram! Rune’s on her way back to the house now,” I said, glee threading through my voice as I finally managed to tap into the surveillance feed.
The academy’s wards and magical firewalls were complex. It took me an entire day and a half to get in. That was a long time for me.
Rune appeared on my tablet screen from one of the spires of the academy, stunning as ever.
She walked across the bridge with purposeful strides, her shoulders squared, chin lifted.
Her eyes glinted like cut gold that I wanted to lose myself in.
Plus, the academy-issued suit was fucking hot.
Her breasts bounced ever-so-slightly with every step.
It was a slight movement because the suit had serious support, but it was enough to make my heart burst in my chest.
She was magnificent.
Bram made a concerned noise. “How do you know that?”
“I might’ve hacked the academy’s surveillance network to keep an eye on my mate,” I admitted, sheepish only in tone.
I had no regrets.
There was a pause.
“That’s…unhinged, Slater. What the fuck?”
“Brother, she’s my mate. I feel it in my chaos-infested bones. Even Snakey likes her!” I cooed, giving Snakey another rub. He flicked his tongue in agreement. “Besides, one of your brother-mates literally stalks your fated mate from the shadows.”
“True, Dex does do that.” Bram sighed. “My chaos manifestation hates everyone, you know. He was hesitant about Pandora at first, but he never hated her…” he trailed off. “Even before the bond snapped.”
“See?” I said triumphantly. “I told you! Snakey is the same! I’m his one true love, but now, Rune is, too.”
“I believe you. But maybe don’t go around claiming mate until the bond snaps?”
“I’ll tell you the second it happens,” I promised, watching Rune walk closer and disappear into the first-year house. “Grandfather was right. I’ve found her. Tell Pandora and Nebs I said hi. She’s here, bye!”
I ended the call and turned my tablet over, leaping off my bed. I tore my door open just in time to see Rune walk in.
“Hey, venom baby. You good?” I asked, trying to keep my voice light despite the way my chaos magic sung under my skin every time I was around her.
Snakey flicked his tongue in her direction, and I swore I saw his little red eyes soften.
“Was that icedrake really your ex?” Hawk asked, perched awkwardly on a pillow at the table in the living room.
“Unfortunately,” Rune muttered. She looked exhausted, eyes shadowed and tension carved into her shoulders.
I hated it.
Eleanor was the first to move, rising so fast her pillow fell back across the floor.
She left and returned from the kitchen with a steaming mug of tea and strolled up to Rune.
“Come sit with us,” she said softly, guiding her with a hand on her arm.
“You don’t have to talk about it…but you don’t have to carry it alone either. ”
Without a word, Rune let herself be led to the table and sat on a pillow on the floor. Her spine was stiff, but her hands trembled as she sat.
Aura stepped out from the steamy bathroom, holding a glass vial between two fingers as she came over. “Found this on the sink,” she said, tone sharp. “Smells like it’s poison. You want it?”
Rune blinked, golden eyes shimmering faintly before she took the vial with a shaky breath. Her voice cracked as she murmured, “Thanks. Seriously.”
“Wait, is it smart to just drink poison when we have no idea where it came from?” Koa asked, but before we could agree, Rune dumped the entire contents into her tea without hesitation.
The room collectively winced as the poison hissed faintly on contact.
“I—wait, what kind of poison was that?” Koa asked, concern etched into every line of his face.
Rune sipped. “Paralytic, maybe. Tastes spicy.”
Aura’s eyes were glued to Rune. “How is it?”
Rune sighed, eyes drifting closed for a moment. “Smooth.”
The room was silent, but the air thrummed with tension.
Why the fuck was there poison in the bathroom?
“You can talk to us, Rune,” Eleanor said gently, sitting beside her now, a hand on her back. “We’re not just classmates. We’re your squad. We are family for the next year. Whatever’s going on, we’re in it with you. If you tell us, we can help.”
I was impressed by how Eleanor was able to break through her walls.
Rune inhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing. “You’re right. I just…ugh, I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have had to see all that today.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. You did nothing wrong,” Dimitri stated.
“Who exactly is your ex?” Aura asked, pursing her lips curiously.
Rune exhaled a steady breath. “His name is Darian. He’s an icedrake. We dated for a year. He used to be Tobias’ best friend…until he saw what happened. Darian was possessive and controlling.”
Every one of us listened with intensity. Even Snakey coiled tighter on my shoulders.
“A month ago, he showed up at my house screaming at me because I hadn’t answered his calls.
I’d removed the tracker he’d secretly put on my phone.
” Her hand twitched around the mug. “He tried to force me to stay. He was going to show me why I should stay. He pinned me to my closed front door and shoved his tongue down my throat.”
A growl ripped from Zuko’s throat.
Koa’s fingertips sparked with phoenix fire.
I stood rigid, chaos magic bleeding visibly around me like a second aura.
Even Dimitri sat forward, fists clenched.
“I dosed him with my venom when he did. I paralyzed him, and I fully believe it’s the only reason he stopped.
” Her laugh was hollow. “I wouldn’t tell you this, but I do believe Darian’s dangerous.
Tibby showed up just as I dosed him, but he’d seen everything.
Burned half his face off with phoenix fire.
We left him on the doorstep, and then he just vanished. ”
Zuko’s fist smashed into the table. “He’s dead. Whether now or later, he’s dead.”
I growled, feeling my horns extend from my skull as my demon form took over. “He laid hands on you without consent, venom baby. That’s a death sentence.”
“I’ll turn him to ash,” Koa said, jaw locked.
“I’ll shatter every bone in his body,” Zuko added for good measure.
“Guys,” Rune said, lips trembling into a smirk, “you’re kind of adorable when you’re vowing murder for me.”
“Not murder,” I growled. “Justice.”
“I happen to agree that her shitty ex should be murdered,” Dimitri said, his usual calm threadbare. “But we need to think it through because if we get caught, we’re all expelled, and then no one gets to beat his ass.”
“I don’t need to be avenged,” Rune muttered, but there was a shimmer in her eyes that said otherwise.
“You shouldn’t have to fight alone,” I told her gently. “Not anymore.”
Lorian raised his hand like he was in class. “You retaliate and get caught? You’re expelled. No missions. No war. No vengeance. Is it worth it?”
Hawk sighed, visibly torn. “He’s not wrong. As much as I want to help you rip him apart…”
“I agree,” Rune said softly. “Please, don’t kill him.
If it comes to it, I’ll kill him and take the punishment.
I already talked to my parents. Without solid evidence of his character being shit, there’s not much we can do.
He’s on the board’s radar and the supernaturals’ in Kalista.
If we kill him, the public will find out, and we will be screwed. ”
“Okay, easy.” Eleanor leaned closer. “Rune needs protection. Not escalation. We’re here to protect her.”
Koa reached across the coffee table and took her hand, eyes sincere. “I’ve got you. I won’t let him near you again. I swear it.”
“We all have your back,” Aura said, voice soft but unshakable.
“But if he shows his ass,” Zuko added, still vibrating with fury. “I will take pleasure in killing him.”
Raze nodded once. “I do enjoy a justified killing.”
“You can’t kill him. Maiming should be fine, though,” she whispered cutely.
“Done.” Zuko winked, but his fingers were clearly crossed behind his back.
I didn’t say anything else. I just went over and sat beside her, our shoulders touching. Snakey slithered into her lap.
Rune gave us all a watery smile and drained the rest of her poison tea with a sweet calmness.
Then, she promptly fell back off the velvet pillow.
“I’m okay,” came her voice from the floor as she waved her notebook in the air. “Study group time.”
“Uh, do poisons usually affect you like that?” Hawk asked her, shock on his face.
“Not really,” she slurred. “Most of the time, I have no side-effects, but when it’s my first time consuming one, I do get a slight effect of what it does. Never enough to do any real damage, though.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Aura asked, worry in her eyes. “Maybe I shouldn’t have given it to you.”
“You think?” Dimitri snapped.
She flinched.
Rune’s hand came up and waved in the air. “No, no. This is fine. I just feel a bit wobbly.”
I felt dazed with adoration as I leaned over and lifted her up with ease. I sat her back on the cushion as Snakey wrapped around her shoulders. “You’re incredible.”
She beamed, and I knew the poison had cheered her up. She blinked a few times, and the daze faded. “Let’s study.”
“Finally,” Dimitri sighed.
Just like that, our evening turned into battle plans and note-taking. It was clear to me that no one was going to be bothering Rune. At least, not without facing the full fury of her very unhinged and devoted squadmates.