Chapter 36 Rune
rune
. . .
The main auditorium in Apex Nexus had been redecorated into a dream ballroom for the formal event hosted for all eight houses the night before our finals.
Crystal chandeliers floated like captive stars, their light shining over the silk banners that were the green and black colors of the academy.
Enchanted flowers unfurled along the walls, steaming faint mist that smelled subtly of rain after a storm.
Wards pulsed in sync with the music floating through the air.
I wore a gown that Slater had bought me.
The dark emerald silk slid over my skin like liquid, and it was incredibly comfortable to move in.
Tiny, enchanted beads were sewn into the bodice, making the whole thing shimmer as though I wore stars.
The neckline dipped tastefully, and the shape hugged every curve like it had been made for me.
Slater knew my measurements a little too well.
Drecken had done my hair with a snap of his fingers. My hair had been swept up into soft curls pinned at the crown of my head, with pieces escaping just enough to look romantic. Silver pins held a few strands in place, and tiny serpentine shapes coiled through the curls.
My lips were wine-dark, and my eyeliner was winged out precisely. I touched the slit on my thigh, testing the give of the silk again. I could still easily reach my dagger if I had to.
I felt pretty, but I also felt prepared.
Jarvins met our class at the threshold in a jacket that had seen better days.
He didn’t smile, but he did have a twig hanging between his lips again.
“Remember your Dose and Deceive final,” he muttered lowly, voice pitched for our circle only.
“Each of you has a target. All are volunteers. Remember, there are to be no fatalities. Enjoy the event.” With a wave of his hand, he melted into the gala.
Dimitri caught my elbow, guiding me away from our class.
He wore a black tux, and when I first saw him, I almost drooled.
It suited him too well. The tuxedo he wore was cut sharply, tailored to his lean frame.
The jacket hugged his shoulders, and the crisp white shirt beneath made the scar on his throat stand out.
When I marked him, I planned on marking him over it.
His dark hair was brushed back carelessly, a few coiled strands falling loose over his forehead, and the dim light caught on the white patch.
His red eyes dragged over me slowly, darkening. “You look too good in that gown, lethal darling.”
“I was just thinking the same about your tux,” I purred. “Who is your target, by the way?”
“Professor Bloodwyne,” he muttered sadly. “I have zero idea how I’m going to dose him.”
“Pops?” My brows raised. “My target is my dad, so we can just do it together. It’ll be a lot less suspicious if I introduce you as my potential mate.”
He blushed but nodded. “That’s a brilliant plan.”
“I do come up with brilliant plans.” I winked.
Formally dressed students flowed around us as the aspiring agents from all eight houses poured into one place. It was a lot more cordial than I’d been expecting.
Zuko kicked off a marble pillar with the kind of smirk that made heat unfurl low in my abdomen.
His tux was black satin, tailored to perfection.
His sunset-colored hair was tied back at the nape of his neck.
His pretty orange eyes were covered by the bandage across his sight, but I knew he could still see me.
He strolled right up to Dimitri and I. “Hi, pretty little poison. Slater was right to buy you that dress.”
“Why do I have a feeling that you’re staring at my boobs?” I huffed, fighting back a smile.
“Because they look fucking perfect in that dress,” he answered unashamedly.
“Fuck me, venom baby.” Slater appeared on my other side with wide red eyes. “I’m serious. I bought you that beautiful gown, and I want to be the one to ruin it.”
“I wouldn’t say no to that.” I bit my lip and checked him out.
His black shirt was unbuttoned at the throat, showing off his skull tattoo, and his charcoal jacket casually hung off one shoulder like he’d dragged it across the floor on his way in. Snakey was coiled like a wrap around his arm.
“Get in line,” Jesper murmured as he walked up, kissed my temple, and slid a glass of fae wine into my hand. His smile turned soft when our eyes met. The matebond hummed with devotion. “I heard about your final, and this is your dad’s favorite, according to your mom.”
My mouth fell open in surprise. “You’re helping me cheat?”
He shook his head. “Intel isn’t cheating, honey drop. Use your resources.”
His dark brown suit hugged his muscles in all the right places, but his expression shifted slightly as Koa came up to our group.
“Hey, little vixen.” He leaned down and hugged me tightly. “Slater told me about the dress, but I hadn’t quite expected just how perfectly made for you it was. He chose well. Your eyes are glowing in it.”
He wore a deep-navy suit that made my heart skip a beat. Messy brown pieces of his hair framed his face, and his gaze flicked to Jesper awkwardly before settling back on me as he pulled away.
“Thanks.” I felt my cheeks heat. “I drank a few cups of poisoned tea before the event.”
Slater tossed his head back with a laugh. “Of course you did, venom baby. It should be no surprise, though, that I can really choose our mate’s dresses well.”
“I do love how comfortable it is,” I told him with a smirk. “You did very well, Havoc baby. Thank you.”
He held his chest and grinned. “I can’t wait to feel your gratitude through our soon-to-be-bond!”
Drecken shimmered into existence between us the next second. “You look breathtaking, viperling. I love your hair like this,” he murmured, magic popping off him in little fireworks. “I hoped to steal you away sometime tonight.”
He wore a suit that was midnight black with obsidian buttons and subtle amethyst runes embroidered along the lapels.
He hadn’t bothered with a tie, just a high collar and a chain of faint silver linking from one lapel to the other.
His green hair hung over one side of his head beautifully, and the smile on his lips made my heart ache to kiss them.
“I would love that,” I murmured honestly.
“Hey, hold on. I already claimed her!” Slater pouted. “Right, venom baby?”
All of their eyes turned to me.
“Actually, I’d like to spend time with all of you tonight,” I announced with a smile.
“I think we can manage that.” Jesper glanced at the others, who nodded.
Across the room, I noticed Eleanor and Lorian moving through the doors, fingers linked with a newly mated glow sparking around their auras.
Gasping, I pointed at them. “Oh Fates, they’ve mated!”
Eleanor caught my eye and grinned widely, waving at me.
I waved back.
“I found that fascinating,” Drecken hummed, looking at me. “Mate bond rates are down, yet this year alone we have documented three center bonds activating at the academy alone. You, your brother, and Eleanor.”
My breath caught as I stared up at his blue eyes. “Are the rates declining that badly?”
“Yes. Finding you has been my biggest achievement in life, Rune. The declining statistics of bonds snapping made me certain I wouldn’t have a mate, but I’m so thankful that the Fates gave me you.
” He tucked a couple of fingers under my chin and inclined my head to look only at him. “You were well worth the wait.”
My heart lodged in my throat as he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. Sparks shot through me as his magic hummed over my skin.
He pulled back all too soon. “I must do a few things to fulfill my role as a professor, but I will see you soon, viperling.”
Winking, he dropped into a portal under his feet, disappearing for a moment only to end up across the room with a few of his House of Arcane students.
When I went to look away, I caught Aura in the far back corner laughing. She tilted her head toward Darian as he leaned too close.
A cold thread unwound under my ribs.
“Bad taste,” Slater muttered, following my gaze. “Aren’t friends supposed to stay away from other friends’ exes?”
“Usually,” I muttered. “But I’m more concerned about her safety with him.”
Snakey slithered from Slater to me and hugged my neck before moving back to him. “I don’t trust her, Rune. I feel like something’s off with her.”
“Eyes on the mission,” Dimitri interrupted softly, though his red irises burned when they cut to Darian. “Your parents are coming this way.”
“Good luck.” I seeped joy venom from my hands onto the wine glass. It was a safe venom.
All it would do would cause excessive laughing and happiness for a mere five minutes.
“I suppose this is the first time we have seen all your mates in one spot,” Mom mused, smiling at the group of us.
“Minus Drecken.” I offered Dad the wine, and he took it begrudgingly.
“We saw him kiss you,” he grumbled, holding the glass exactly where I’d placed my venom. “Which is…actually rather sweet.”
“Sweet?” Pops furrowed his brows.
“Lake, are you—” Mom started, but Dad cut her off.
“Rune!” He looked at me with proud golden eyes. “Look at you! My baby girl! My—” He started laughing. It rolled out of him uncontrollably. “You are the best thing I ever did, other than your mother, of course.”
“Gross,” I said, biting back a grin. “Mom did most of the work on making me, by the way.”
“And she did amazing,” he declared, then kissed my forehead. He turned and grabbed Mom by the waist and pulled her in for a deep kiss.
Pops pouted, tugging her away and kissing her, too. “Don’t leave me out.”
Dimitri dropped something into Pops's glass as he kissed her.
Mom pulled back and cut her eyes toward me. It was not a subtle look. The corner of her mouth betrayed her. “Rune,” she said, voice deceptively calm as my father clapped in time to the music and shouted compliments at a few staff members. “Not again.”
“Finals,” I mumbled innocently. “Shh.”
Pops cackled. “Good job. He’s much more relaxed this way.”
“How long?” Mom raised a brow.