Chapter 21 Rune
rune
. . .
“You remembered!” I squealed, sprinkling the poisonous berries over my salad.
Their scent was sharp and sweet, a memory of home.
They were the first poisonous berries I’d ever eaten, back when Tibby and I used to explore the mountains behind the Supernatural Council’s headquarters when we were young.
I took a bite, moaning as the juice burst across my tongue. “Best brother ever!”
“Of course,” Tibby said with a dramatic roll of his eyes, shoveling spaghetti onto his plate like he hadn’t eaten in weeks. “It’s been too long since we all sat down together at home.”
Mom reached across the table, her pale fingers ruffling his black hair until the green lowlights glinted like moss underneath.
“I’m sorry, Tobias. The Human Council hasn’t been cooperating, and it’s caused a lot of instability with the peace treaty.
It’s been hard to get five minutes of calm this past year. ”
“It’s okay, Mom,” Tibby said, but his mouth quirked as he caved under her touch. He was always a momma’s boy. “You’re a busy woman.”
“She sure is,” Dad added, leaning in to kiss Mom’s cheek.
As she turned her head, Pops caught her chin and kissed her lips too, their laughter tangling together.
The scene of my parents’ love made something warm rise in my chest.
This was what I’d missed the most being at the academy. Our conversations, teasing, and the smell of our family meals that we all made together.
I plucked another berry from my salad and smiled. “Tibby’s right. The world’s heavy right now, but it’s nice to forget it all and just…be together.”
Mom’s eyes softened. “We’ll always make time to be together, Rune. Even when everything’s falling apart.”
“Stop only eating the berries,” Dad said. “You need to eat some salad, too.”
“So,” I murmured, looking at each of them after plucking just another berry. “Jesper told me you found out about Drecken.”
The bonds I shared with my mates thrummed quietly under my skin.
Pops dropped his fork, Mom choked on her fae wine, and Dad groaned.
Tibby just smirked. “I found out from Cora, you know.”
“You did?” My brows raised. “That was fast!”
“We’re always talking.” He turned red as he fiddled with his fork. “Same with Nym and Sylver.”
“Interesting names those three,” Dad commented gruffly, though his eyes glinted with amusement. “As for Drecken, I can’t say I understand it, but the Fates always know what they’re doing. They blessed your Pops and me with your mom.”
Pops nodded, a slow, solemn movement. “Don’t really have to worry about him keeping you safe since he’s more powerful than all of us combined.”
“And older,” Tibby teased.
“He’s not that old,” I protested with a giggle. “Okay, maybe. But he’s very powerful, and we have a lot in common.”
“Yes, I know,” Mom sighed. “I’m actually relieved that you’re mates. That means he’s serious about you. That’s what matters to me.”
Her words unknotted something in me I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying. I nodded and turned to Tibby. “Speaking of the triplets, I really like Cora. Are you dating yet?”
Tibby choked on his wine and sputtered. “Not yet! Um, but we’re exclusive.”
“Isn’t that dating?” I raised a brow, popping the last poisoned berry into my mouth before moving to the spaghetti.
“I should ask, huh?” Tibby muttered, cheeks going crimson.
“You should,” I agreed, settling back down with my plate. “She’s really cool. And her sisters seem good too.”
“Yeah, they are.” His smile broke into a full-on grin as he shoved a mouthful of noodles in.
Mom laughed softly at him. “You’re just like your father at that age. Too shy to ask for what you want but also smitten with your mate.”
Dad raised an eyebrow at her. “I wasn’t shy.”
“You were.” Mom’s voice went teasing. “Remember how you almost fainted when you first asked me on a date without Gavin?”
Tibby snorted.
Pops chuckled, smoke curling faintly from his lips. “He did, and I knocked him right on his ass for leaving me out.”
“Traitors,” Dad muttered, but his smile betrayed him. “Instead, we all three went on a first date.”
“It was wonderful,” Mom said with a dreamy sigh.
“Listen,” Dad said after kissing Mom, his tone shifting as his gaze settled on me.
“Drecken and Jarvins told me about the simulator issue. I also received an untraceable email about it glitching with a clip of the feed. It’s being investigated, but there are obvious issues.
No assignments will be permitted within it until it’s fixed. ”
Pops let out a breath of fire, a rare slip of control from him as his hands clenched on the table. “We watched the feed, Rune. You almost—” His voice broke, and he reached for my hand, enveloping it in his big, warm palm. “You almost died in that simulator.”
“I like the vampire,” Mom murmured softly, looking down into her glass. “He saved you, and you saved him, and then he saved you again. It was good that he was there.”
“Yes, but…” Dad swallowed hard. “You seem to be a target. Please watch your back.”
I nodded, worry swelling in my chest. “I will. I promise.”
“I’m watching it, too,” Tibby said, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Pops's hand squeezed mine again, but now it was gentler. “We’ve raised you to be smart and strong. But you’re not alone, Rune. You’ve never been alone.”
“I know,” I whispered. And I did. My family was always there for me, and I’d always be there for them, too.
Mom reached out and smoothed a hand over my hair, the way she had when I was a child. “Eat more. You’ll need your strength.”
Tibby smirked at me again. “And dessert. I made it myself. Chocolate mousse. Your slice is poisoned.”
I laughed. “You’re perfect.”
“Damn right,” he said, trying and failing to look cool.
For a little while longer, we sat there—the five of us talking about everything we’d missed. Tibby gushed about the triplets, our parents apologized for their work schedules, and I told them about my mates, both bonded and not.
The heaviness of the world stayed outside, at least for the span of one family meal.