Chapter 14 Rune
rune
. . .
“Silent Death’s assignment today is a live shadow hunt.
The mission is simple. You must work as a squad to locate, eliminate, and clean up a target.
Your target is a witch, name undisclosed, and she walks loaded with protection wards.
Make it a clean kill without giving your team away.
If you get caught, the consequences could be deadly. ”
Beside me, Dimitri’s red eyes gleamed under the bright light, and his pinky linked with mine. It shot sparks up my hand from the contact.
Brynn leaned casually against the wall, looking at her nails.
I couldn’t wait to deal with her.
Cora hummed softly, her siren song weaving faint ripples through the air, even though she didn’t mean to.
Zara stretched, but she maintained focus on our professor.
Seth hovered half-solid in a phantom blur, while Ominous’s shadows rippled all around him, restless.
“Ready?” Jarvins asked.
“Ready,” we chorused.
The simulation took the form of a cityscape at twilight. Cobblestone paths were slick with rain as magic fog curled through alleyways.
I felt the familiar hum of venom under my gums.
“Target’s moving east,” Seth whispered through the comms, though he stood next to us, looking at his watch. “I’m tracking a heat signature. Looks like her protection ward magic is rising. She knows something is up. Rune and Brynn should flank south,” Seth suggested.
“I’ll follow behind Rune and Brynn in case anything happens,” Dimitri joined in. “Cora, use your siren song to confuse the target. Zara, work on crowd control. Ominous, sweep the shadows for threats.”
I moved.
The rain kissed my face, but I swept back my hair with both hands. Brynn followed me silently as we darted through an alleyway, following the faint shimmer of protection runes that pulsed on the walls.
Dimitri was somewhere behind us, and the matebond filled with a protectiveness that made my chest ache.
“There.” Brynn pointed to a woman cloaked in black walking through the market square, hands glowing blue with magic.
“She’s shielded,” I murmured. “We need to get closer.”
Brynn shrugged, using her vampire speed to get ahead of me. “Then let’s get close.”
We slipped into the crowd.
The witch turned, suspicion flickering in her gaze, but Cora’s subtle siren hum rolled through the air.
The market blurred, and no one noticed us. Even the witch had turned and continued on.
Seth’s whisper came through the comms, “She’s leaving the market through an alley. Rune and Brynn, you’re clear.”
“Copy,” Brynn said, glancing at me as if she were annoyed. “To be a team player, paralyze her first.”
I brushed past the witch, pretending I was trying to pass her to get somewhere. My fingertip barely grazed her wrist, just enough to release a drop of my venom.
She froze mid-step, eyes widening in shock before her wards tried to counteract it, but it was too late.
“Now,” Dimitri’s voice commanded.
Brynn moved fast, blade flashing once across the witch’s throat. There was no sound and no blood. The wound sealed instantly as the simulation coded the kill.
Target down, flashed on our watches.
Zara’s voice echoed, “No witnesses. All clear.”
“No other threats,” Ominous stated.
I bent down and touched her corpse, excreting one of my favorite venoms. It dissolved her into nothing but a liquid fluid in the alley.
“Gross,” Brynn gagged.
“Oh, badass,” Ominous hummed.
“I forget how scary you are sometimes,” Cora mumbled, twirling her hair.
“This is why I call you lethal darling,” Dimitri whispered in my ear, standing directly behind me.
It made the hair on my neck stand up, and a shiver worked down my spine as I smiled. “I have a ton of venom, and I never get to use that one.”
“Mission success in three minutes and forty-two seconds. Your class just broke the record,” Jarvins's voice crackled overhead.
The simulation fell apart as the shiny walls of the simulator came into view.
Brynn turned to me with a seething look. “You know, with your reputation as a homewrecker, I’m surprised you’re a decent agent.”
My blood went cold. “What did you just say?”
Her smirk widened. “Oh, don’t act like you don’t know. The News Sector did a whole segment on you breaking up a mating. You’re practically famous.”
“Oh, shit,” Ominous whistled. “Get her, Rune.”
The room went still.
Dimitri stiffened.
My fist connected with her mouth. The crack echoed through the chamber.
Brynn stumbled, fangs bared. “You bitch!”
Before she could strike back, Jarvins's voice cut through the air, “Enough! You are teammates.”
“I’m tired of her bullshit, Jarvins!” I exploded, venom leaking from my knuckles.
Everyone except Dimitri took a step back.
“She took photos of Dimitri and me together and leaked them to the News Sector. Dimitri is my fated mate! I can do whatever the fuck I want with him!”
Jarvins's face calmed, and he glanced at Brynn, who held her healing broken nose as blood dripped from it. “I was aware of the article but was unaware that Brynn was the one who leaked the photos.”
“Great, even the professor has seen my ass,” Dimitri muttered.
I glared at him. “You’re mine.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against his chest. His nutmeg and cinnamon scent engulfed me. “I’m yours.”
“Brynn?” Jarvins waited.
“So what?” Brynn asked, hissing as she held her nose. “They were fucking in a library, where anyone could see. Why should I get into trouble?”
“You violated the Supernatural Council’s confidentiality act and endangered another agent and the reputation of the school and council. You’re finished here.” Jarvins broke the twig he’d been chewing on between his teeth.
“But…”
“Go!” Jarvis raised his voice. “To the headmaster’s.”
Brynn glared at me before stomping out of the simulator and away.
Jarvins already had his phone to his ear, explaining what happened to my dad.
“I’ll handle it,” Dad said. “She won’t be coming back to your class. She’s clearly a liability.”
“Understood.” Jarvins hung up, slipping his phone into his jacket pocket.
“What’ll happen to her?” Zara asked softly.
“She’s a liability. She tried to hurt Rune in the past on a simulated mission, and she was on probation for it. She’ll be eliminated. Permanently,” Jarvins explained. “Class dismissed.”
“Damn,” Ominous muttered. “Deserved, though.”
“Absolutely,” Cora agreed.
“Yeah,” I added, already texting my dad.
Rune Bloodwyne
Can I help kill her? I have an easy clean up venom.
Lake Bloodwyne
Get up here, but don’t tell anyone.
I grinned. “I need to do something.”
“I’m coming,” Dimitri said lowly.
“I figured,” I mused, feeling the murderous intent through our bond.
We left the simulator and went into the academy to my dad’s office. By the time Dimitri and I reached the office, Brynn was already seated across from Dad.
His scales shimmered faintly with restrained rage as he stared at her.
“You jeopardized a fellow agent-in-training. You weaponized the media with a scandal,” Dad said quietly.
“Not to mention you are on probation for trying to harm another agent as it is. Per the Supernatural Council protocol, you’re to be executed.
Would you like to call your family to say goodbye? ”
Brynn’s voice trembled. “Can I call my mother?”
Dad nodded, gesturing for her to pull her phone out.
She made the call, her entire frame shaking with fear. Dad looked annoyed.
“Mom? I’m so sorry. I messed up. I just…I—” she sobbed.
“What’s wrong, Brynn? Calm down. Tell me what happened?” Her mother’s voice was panicked.
“I’m about to be executed. Just…I love you. I’m sorry.”
“Brynn, what? Executed? What do you mean?” Her mother’s voice shrieked.
“I love you,” she repeated, hanging up on her. She let the phone clatter to the ground before looking up at my dad. “I know I signed up for this possibility, but execution?”
“You’ve exhibited unstable behavior. You would be a threat to the council if we let you walk away after what you’ve done to your fellow agent-in-training,” Dad said smoothly. “You’re not the first to be eliminated because of an unstable personality, and you won’t be the last.”
I kicked the door shut, making mine and Dimitri’s presence known to her.
Dad glanced over as if he knew we’d been here the whole time, which he probably did.
Brynn whirled around in the chair, her fingers tightening against the arm as she stared at me with wide, tear-filled eyes.
“Hi,” I greeted her sweetly. “Did you really think you’d get away with all the shit you’ve done to me while trying to get with my fated mate?”
She bolted toward the door with her vampiric speed, but Dimitri was faster.
He caught her mid-blur and slammed her back against the wall. He held her up effortlessly. “It’s useless to struggle.”
I stepped forward, venom buzzing through my veins. “Bite or touch?”
She spat at me, but it landed near my feet. “Don’t you ever bite me!”
“Dad, can I?” I glanced back at him.
He was sitting at his desk, looking bored. He waved a hand toward me like he couldn’t care less. “Handling the paperwork now. Just get rid of evidence.”
I reached out and grabbed her arm, using my strength to shatter the bone before I sank my fangs into her wrist. My venom flooded her veins, and she let out a strained gurgle before Dimitri dropped her.
“Ew.” He shook the melted flesh off his fingers as he stepped back.
Brynn’s organs liquified. Blood poured from her eyes, nose, and ears. She couldn’t even scream as my venom turned her bone and flesh to sludge that sizzled in a puddle before evaporating into nothing.
“Wow,” Dimitri muttered thoughtfully.
“Calm yourself, Rune,” Dad murmured. “You claimed your revenge.”
I exhaled slowly, the adrenaline in my body finally easing. “She deserved worse.”
“I know, but restraint is part of mastery.” He leaned back in his chair. “Now, about Darian. Seven women have come forward to corroborate your claims. He’s missing, but the Council has ruled his guilt confirmed. He’s to be executed upon capture.”
“Dibs,” I said immediately, raising my hand.
Dimitri chuckled softly beside me. “I’ll hold him down for you.”
“How romantic,” I cooed. “Isn’t it romantic, Dad?”
Dad shook his head, almost amused. “I’ve held many enemies down for Sabine. Very romantic.”
A chime sounded, and a group text flashed on my phone screen.
Zuko Vyre
Date night still on?
Slater Havoc
Duh. Don’t be late, venom baby.
Koa Ashbourne
I’m bringing dessert, right? I feel like Rune should bring dessert since she is delectable. Haha.
Slater Havoc
…
Leave the pick up lines to me, Koa. You just bring the cake.
Koa Ashbourne
…
I got the cake.
Drecken Grimsworn
I’m bringing a new poison from the lab for Rune.
Jesper Wyvernheart
I’ve already cooked some noodles for dinner.
I grinned at Dimitri, venom still singing under my skin. “Looks like the night’s just getting started.”