Chapter 13 Dimitri
dimitri
. . .
“I cannot believe you got your own parents detained by the Supernatural Council and mated a basilisk! You actually slept with her!” My father’s voice screamed into the receiver, and my ears ached from the pitch. “How could you do this to us?”
“You knew I was mated to her!” I growled, fangs dropping as I paced in my room. “Of course I’ve been intimate with my mate!” I paused. “Wait…how do you know that?”
“Pay attention, Dimitri!” he shouted. “Your bare ass as you fucked the basilisk in the library is plastered on the News Sector, and we are getting shit for it because you already have an arranged mating. You can kiss your career as a pianist goodbye because the public hates cheaters.”
My heart dropped into my stomach. Someone photographed us. There were no cameras where Rune and I…fuck.
“I am mated to Rune. You arranged the mating with Mary, and the Fates outweigh your decision. I don’t even want to be around you anymore. I cut ties, Nikolai!”
“We brought you into this world, Dimitri. We can take you out!” he growled.
“How about you just go fuck yourself?” I spat, hanging up on him.
I immediately scrolled to the News Sector, where Rune and I were the top headline.
Famous Pianist Dimitri Nocturnus Cheating on his Arranged Mate Mary Bloodkin with Rune Bloodwyne, daughter of Supernatural Council Representative.
Below the headline was a photo of Rune and me in the library, where we were having sex against a bookshelf.
My father had been correct, unfortunately.
My ass was on the News Sector, my reputation was down the drain, not that I cared, but what I did care about was that Rune and her mother’s reputation was being called into question as well.
Fabulous.
A knock came from my door before it was pushed open, and Rune stepped through. “Hey, did you see our feature on the News Sector?”
I groaned, swiping out of it. “I am so sorry.”
“For what?” She smirked. “Fucking me against a bookshelf? I don’t mind. Besides, your ass looks delectable.”
My mouth fell open. “You’re not mad?”
She giggled. “Why would I be mad, overachiever? You’re my fated. We did nothing wrong.”
My phone buzzed, and I noticed Mary calling.
“Go on. Answer her.” Rune strode over and wrapped her arms around my waist. The bond buzzed with amusement. She really didn’t care about the headline.
I answered it and put it on speaker. “I assume you’ve seen the News Sector?”
“My parents did.” Mary’s voice shook. “It’s bad.
My parents have arranged for me to mate with another man.
They found out about my fated. He’s injured.
He’s being held in another cell next to me in my family’s basement.
I don’t know when they’ll be back, but they forgot to take my phone, and you were the only one I thought to call. Please help.”
Rune’s eyes widened, and she pulled her phone out, hitting her mom’s contact. “I’ll have Mom handle it. Excuse me.”
A pained cry ripped from Mary as a scuffle sounded over the line before it went dead.
“Fuck,” I muttered, tossing my phone onto my bed. I barely heard Rune speak to her mother before she hung up.
Rune moved in front of me and cupped my face, forcing me to look at her. “Mom’s sending a squad to Cursinia to arrest the parents and save Mary and her mate.”
“Under what cause?” I asked. “I don’t want to get your mom into any more trouble than I already have.”
“She’s already seen your toned ass, Dimitri,” she mused. “She doesn’t care what the media says about her anyway. It’s illegal to keep fated mates apart the way they are. Unfortunately, arranged matings are family business otherwise. But if the Fates have formed a bond, it can’t be ignored.”
“I wish forced matings were outlawed,” I muttered bitterly.
“I’m honestly not sure why they aren’t,” she answered, looking down at her phone. “Hey, did you read the full article? There’s another photo.”
“What?” I felt the color drain from my face. “What photo?”
“Do you remember who took this photo?” She turned and showed me the photo of us kissing in her room.
Rage funneled through my veins as I remembered exactly who had taken it. “Brynn.”
“Yep. Let’s kill her.” Rune twirled around and started for the door.
“Wait.” I wrapped my arms around her waist and tugged her close. I sat us both down on the bed. “First, let’s clear this up with the public. Bad publicity for the Supernatural Council and this academy isn’t a good thing.”
She huffed but nodded, slipping off my lap and onto the bed beside me. “How do we clear it up?”
“Glad you asked.” I grinned, showing her my fangs. “Slater helped me hack the News Sector and set up a live broadcast in case I ever needed to speak publicly about Mary and the arranged mating bullshit.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Slater’s thorough.”
“More than you’d think,” I muttered, going to the live broadcast the same way he’d taught me to before.
“I actually think he’s incredibly smart.” She smiled.
“He is. He wanted to make sure we could clear up any misunderstandings should they arise.” I set up a tripod and set it in front of us. “Ready?”
“Absolutely.” She flashed her fangs at me.
I hit the button, and we were live.
“I’m Dimitri Nocturnus. You probably know me as a pianist, but I am currently training to become an agent for the Supernatural Council.
My parents arranged a mating for me recently with Mary Bloodkin.
Mary was already mated to her fated mate, and I had wanted to wait for my fated mate.
We have never met in person. That is why we didn’t publicly deny the arrangement, but I want to assure you that neither of us had plans to move forward with it.
Our parents are purist vampires, and we tried to avoid bloodshed,” I explained smoothly, letting the information sit.
“The photos on the News Sector were private photos leaked of myself and my fated mate, Rune Bloodwyne. I understand the outrage because you thought I was cheating. I was not. My fated mate, to whom I am fully bonded to, is Rune, and it will always be her. The Fates gave her to me, and I will never hold back now that she is mine. I love her.”
Rune gasped beside me, but I maintained composure.
“I would like to take this moment publicly to let you know I cut ties with both my clan and my parents. Piano wasn’t ever my choice, and though I still appreciated the art, it was forced upon me.
I thank all of my supporters, but I have a calling to protect Kalista.
I promise to hold one last recital for those who have supported me, but my mate will be with me at that time. ” I leaned forward and killed the live.
Rune lunged for me, pushing me back and straddling me on the bed. She hovered over me, her golden eyes piercing mine. Love flooded the matebond. “You love me?”
“I think I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you,” I admitted. “It’s why you scared me so badly.”
“I love you, too.” Her lips sealed over mine.
My heart soared.
With Rune’s love and her lips over mine, I could forget everything but her.