Chapter 4 Rune
rune
. . .
I held my poisoned tea firmly in my hands as I ignored the feeling of being watched.
“I think it’s super badass that you drink poison,” Ominous stated, running a tatted hand through his hair.
“It really is,” Cora agreed as we made our way toward the House of Twilight classroom. “Tobias told me all about your cool poison addiction!”
“I’m not surprised.” I took another drink, feeling the poison spread through me. I’d opted for a fatal one today since I couldn’t stand watching Brynn talk Dimitri’s ear off about piano.
“Okay, I have to ask. What’s the story there?” Ominous pointed a shadow tendril toward Dimitri.
“Nothing,” I muttered.
“Tobias told me that the vampire and her are into each other but clearly academic rivals,” Cora gossiped.
I gasped. “We are not—wait, rivals? Academically? Sure. I guess so.”
“What did you think I said?” Cora raised a brow, a smirk playing on her lips.
“Nothing.” My cheeks bloomed with heat.
“Sure,” Ominous chuckled. “Sure.”
We made our way into Stealth Craft, and the room looked exactly the same as last year.
The classroom was still arranged meticulously with two rows of desks, five in each. A large screen hummed quietly behind Jarvins's wide, disorganized desk of trinkets.
Behind the desk stood Professor Jarvins, whose sharp, black eyes scrutinized us as we walked in. His salt-and-pepper hair was spiked as usual.
I claimed the same seat as last year in the front, and Dimitri sat in the same one as well, next to me. Brynn took the other seat beside him.
I tried not to care.
Ominous took the other seat next to me, and Cora sat next to him. The rest took the back row.
Jarvins chewed on a twig. “Stealth is crucial for a spy. Something you don’t think about is camouflaging your aura. Today, you’ll be practicing masking your aura in pairs. Cora and Ominous, Rune and Dimitri—”
“I want to be with Dimitri!” Brynn blurted, hitching her breath.
“I don’t care.” Jarvins broke the twig between his teeth and spat it out. “Brynn and Zara…” he continued with pairs.
Dimitri and I sat next to each other in the back corner, away from the rest of the class. Particularly away from Brynn.
“I can’t believe Brynn tried to get partnered with you.” I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms in a huff. “Does she think she has any say in missions?”
“Why?” Dimitri’s lips curved. “Are you jealous?”
“No, I’m not,” I lied.
“Your aura says otherwise,” he pointed out, his red eyes sparkling with amusement.
I pulled my aura in and masked it, giving him my most innocent smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, overachiever.”
“Well, you have no reason to be jealous,” he murmured, masking his aura. “I don’t want to be her partner any more than I want her to be talking to me.”
“Good,” I muttered. I already hated Brynn, and I suspected it had everything to do with the fact that she was into Dimitri.
“I’m sorry,” he told me, and I saw no color in his aura as he kept it masked. “I shouldn’t have bitten you last year.”
My heart slammed against my ribs as I forced a shrug. “It’s okay. I understand. You’re just not that into me, and your bloodlust took over. I’m not mad. I’m embarrassed.”
A flash of hurt bled through his aura before pulling back.
“Unless…you are into me?” My voice cracked.
“I have feelings for you,” he admitted, his fangs descending before receding. “But I can’t pursue you because if you don’t end up being my mate, it will hurt us both.”
“Why do you say that?” I croaked. “What if you are my mate?”
He flinched, and shock, pain, and worry spread through his aura before he controlled it again.
“What if you’re not? I dated a siren when I was a teenager.
I think it started because I was rebelling against my parents, honestly.
Her name was Makayla. We dated until our early twenties.
I told her I didn’t want to mark each other because I wanted to believe in the Fates’ design.
I wanted to wait for my fated, but she didn’t.
I trusted her, and she tore open my throat with her teeth when we were intimate.
She tried to force a bond on me against my will.
The world went dark, and her laughter echoed around me. I’d barely survived.”
My heart splintered. I figured that was the case, but to hear him say it broke me. “Please tell me you killed her?”
He swallowed hard. “I managed to kill her after rejecting her mark, but I don’t know how I did it. The Supernatural Council granted me leniency since she tried to force a mate mark on me. Maybe it was the Fates’ protection. It was why I am so scared to want you, Rune.”
“I’m sorry, Dimitri. You never deserved that, but I understand more now.” Pain for him bled through my aura, but I couldn’t be bothered to mask it. “I respect your decision.”
“I’m sorry it hurts you,” he whispered. “Hurting you has never been my intention. But do not mistake my fear of our shared hurt in the future for disinterest. I not only respect you, but I admire you. You are fierce in ways I’ve dreamed of my mate being.
If the Fates would bless me with you as a mate, I’d be honored.
But if not, it would break what’s left of me. ”
“I’m sorry,” I murmured, meeting his gaze. “I hope the Fates intervene, but until then, can you stop avoiding me?”
He swallowed hard and nodded. “If that is what you are comfortable with.”
“It is.”
I understood why Dimitri felt that way now. I just hadn’t expected the ache in my chest at our deciding not to pursue anything unless a matebond snapped.
We finished the rest of the class with Professor Jarvins, and when he finally dismissed us, I felt like my brain was going to combust with all the new information.
As soon as I stepped out of the classroom, I was swept up in a bear hug.
Daisies and jasmine filled my senses. “If you were a poisonous flower, I’d pick you first, venom baby.”
I wrapped my arms around Slater tightly. “I missed you, Havoc baby.”
“Havoc, huh?” Ominous asked. “Are you related to the new chaos demon rep?”
Slater pulled back and grinned. “That’s my brother.”
“I know,” Ominous chuckled. “Mom said he and the rest of the demons were integrating well. She’s finally on vacation, after all.”
Recognition dawned on Slater, and he slapped Ominous on the back. “Holy Fates, Everglow, I barely recognized you! What the Fates are you doing here?”
“Becoming an agent, of course.” Ominous winced. “Can you just call me Ominous? Drop the demon customs since we’re not in the Capital.”
“Sure.” Slater inhaled my scent deeply. “Fuck, venom baby. You smell so good. I miss sleeping next to you so much.”
“Are you mates?” Ominous lifted a brow. “I’ve literally never seen you all over a woman before.”
“We are mates,” Slater insisted. “But the matebond hasn’t snapped yet.”
“Ah.” Ominous's bright purple eyes widened. “I see.”
“How do you two know each other?” I looked between them.
“Classmates,” they replied in sync. “In the Demon Capital. We’re both nobles.”
“Who cares?” Kraig huffed, walking away. “I’m going to the house.”
“Nobody said you had to stay,” Dimitri muttered with an eye roll.
Jesper’s brown eyes met mine across the hall, and I smiled as he came over. “Hey, how’s everything going with your second year?”
I shrugged, unable to stop myself from raking my gaze over his muscular form in that skin-tight suit. “Good. I love the classes. What’re you doing here?”
“I’m a watcher. Basically, agent security detail for the academy.” He frowned, worry creasing his forehead. “After what happened to you at the placement exams, it was obvious to your parents that they needed to up security.”
“That means I’ll be seeing more of you, then?” I felt my lips curve into a smile.
“Yeah.” Pink rose to his cheeks.
“I’m glad that you’ll be my brother-mate.” Slater winked at him.
Aura came up with a small wave to me. “Hi, Rune! Slater, Professor Duskwyn told me to tell you to go back to the room before leaving because she wanted to tell you something.”
Slater groaned before pulling me into his arms and kissing me softly. His red eyes met Ominous's. “Watch out for my girl, yeah?”
“Sure.” Ominous nodded.
“See you around, Rune,” Jesper told me before ducking his head, walking down the corridor.
Brynn’s pink eyes were glaring holes at me. “You ready to go now?”
“You didn’t have to wait for me,” I snapped at her. Only Ominous, Dimitri, and her waited anyway.
“I wanted to,” Dimitri murmured, and Brynn scowled at me.
I had a wonderful feeling that I was going to have to poison her.