Chapter 24 Rune
rune
. . .
Koa walked with me down the stone corridor of the academy as the afternoon light dimmed into an evening glow. The rest of my mates were busy with their own duties, and Koa and I had a rare chance to be alone.
The whole academy smelled like ancient magic, but his firewood scent filled my nose.
His brown ember-flecked eyes were locked on mine. “So,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck, “I was thinking…maybe we could—”
We turned a corner and nearly collided with Vel, the year-one house head. I hadn’t seen her in months.
She blinked at us once, twice, and then, a slow smile spread across her face. “Well,” she purred, “if it isn’t two of my little legends.”
Koa nodded politely at her. “Hi.”
“Good evening, Vel,” I greeted her.
“Uh-huh,” Vel said, shifting her gaze between us as if she’d caught us doing something we shouldn’t be doing. “I heard you had found your fated mates, Rune. Good for you.” She glided away, humming without waiting for a response.
Koa groaned into his hands. “Why does she make me feel like I’ve done something wrong?”
I shrugged. “She always acts like she knows something we don’t.”
He nodded as we left the building but froze on the bridge and looked at me. Nervousness rolled through the bond in a dizzying wave from him to me.
“…Dinner,” he blurted. “Would you…would you come to dinner? With my family? Tonight? Like right now?”
A smile curved my lips as I giggled softly and laced my fingers through his. “Yes, reboot. I’d love to.”
His relief hit the bond so strongly it made the air feel lighter. “Thank Fates.”
“Why are you nervous? We’re mated,” I reminded him.
“Yes, but I just feel like you and I haven’t had the chance to really spend time together like you have with the others. When I was undercover, I barely had time to spend with you. I couldn’t even tell you why.” His voice wavered. “I’m sorry for that.”
I tugged him toward the wayfaer portal with a low exhale. “Koa, I understand why you didn’t tell me. I shouldn’t have assumed that you betrayed us when you walked in after I was taken. I know you better than that.”
He shook his head, jaw tightening. “You had a normal reaction. I should’ve told you, but I am relieved that you understand why I didn’t.”
I squeezed his hand and tugged him onto the wayfaer teleporter.
Magic skimmed over me as we were teleported to the Supernatural Council’s HQ in the Apex Capital. The council had installed one in the lobby, so all it took was our in-sync intent, and we appeared there in a few seconds.
Koa’s flames skittered over his body as he shuddered, walking off the teleporter with me. “That will never not bother me.”
I fought back an amused smile as we left HQ and headed into the capital with Koa leading the way.
The Apex Capital was beautiful at night with shimmering fae orb lights that drifted over the streets and rooftops.
Koa’s family home sat at the edge of the Blood Hollow Mountain Range. The protective wards blazed around the home, and it was warm before we even stepped onto the porch.
“The wards are done really well,” I told him, basking in the heat that they brought.
He opened the front door with a smile. “Dad reinforced them when he got home.”
“His magical reserves must be vast,” I said as I stepped inside.
Just as the front door closed behind us, a woman with soft brown hair and red glowing eyes came around the corner and gasped. “Koa, you’re just in time!” She rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him. “You didn’t tell me she agreed to come.”
“Mom, air!” he wheezed.
She let go quickly. “Sorry. At least I didn’t strangle you to death this time.” She turned and clasped both my hands as if she’d been waiting years to meet me. “You look just like your mother, Rune,” she whispered, eyes glassy. “You can call me Solene.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Solene,” I told her, squeezing her hands back.
Koa’s father stepped forward next. He had blond hair, with the same ember-flecked eyes his son had.
“Welcome,” he said, bowing his head. “Thank you for giving my son back his soul. When I was framed and locked away, he didn’t live for himself anymore.
He lived for the family. Now that he’s met you, my mate and daughter have told me how much happier he has been. I thank you for that, Rune Bloodwyne.”
My throat tightened. I didn’t know how to respond to that kind of sincerity right off the bat.
“Dad,” Koa whispered, his eyes filling with unshed tears.
“You know I am right,” he said before holding his hand out to me. “You can call me Theron.”
“Theron, your son is incredible.” I let go of Solene’s hand and shook Theron’s. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
A woman with long blonde hair braided to the side and the same brown ember-flecked eyes as Koa peeked from the doorway down the hall.
“Oh my Fates,” she breathed. “You’re her. The basilisk that my brother has been obsessed with. Koa’s mate.” She bolted over. “Hi! I’m Sora. Please sit next to me at dinner. I’ve always wanted a sister.”
Koa groaned. “Sora…”
“I have a brother, so I completely understand the sentiment of wanting a sister.” I smiled at her, and she beamed back at me.
The warmth of Koa’s family felt similar to mine. There was a lot of love between them.
Sora led me into their kitchen, and the light oak table was already filled with spiced vegetable soup and seared meat.
Everything smelled savory, and my mouth watered.
“This looks amazing,” I said as I sat between Koa and Sora.
“Thank you.” Solene busied herself with making a plate and offering it to me. “Theron cooked the meat, and I made the soup. Sora bought the fae wine.”
“Fae wine?” My lips curved.
“Yes, well, we know you like poison, and fae wine is pretty much poison.” Sora giggled. “And it’s cherry-flavored.”
“Yum!” I watched as she filled everyone’s glasses.
Solene made everyone’s plates.
The red wine splashed in my glass, and the scent of cherries wafted strongly from it.
“Everything smells so good,” I murmured, waiting for everyone to eat.
“Wait until you try it.” Koa bumped my shoulder with his.
Solene and Sora sat down at their plates and picked up their forks.
I followed, taking a bite of the meat first. The savory seasonings melted in my mouth as I took my first bite. “Oh, Fates, that’s delicious.”
“Try the wine.” Sora winked, picking her glass up and taking a sip. “It’s my favorite.”
I carefully picked up the glass and sipped. The cherry flavor exploded on my tongue as I took a few gulps.
Several glasses later, a warm buzz spread through my limbs as the fae alcohol hit my system. It was pleasant and fun. It was the closest I could get to being drunk. Though, I wished I could excrete fae alcohol.
“Oh, Rune,” Sora said gleefully. “Did you know Koa is the most ungraceful phoenix and used to die every single week as a kid?”
Koa covered his face. “Sora, stop.”
“No, no,” I laughed, leaning forward. “This I want to hear.”
Theron nodded. “Clumsiest hatchling I’d ever seen. He tripped into the fireplace once back before he could shift, and when he was learning to walk.”
“I still remember what it was like to be burned alive,” Koa said, horrified.
“I didn’t know phoenixes could burn,” I gasped.
“We didn’t either.” Solene winced. “Unfortunately, poor Koa was the first phoenix in recorded history to be reborn while still a toddler. But fire can still harm a phoenix until they’re able to shift.”
“Oh my Fates.” My brows raised. “You were clumsy even as a kid, then.”
Sora held up a finger. “When he was five, he jumped off the balcony to fly but forgot to shift.”
Koa’s hands dropped. “That was only one time!”
“And the edge of the mountain above our house,” she added.
“That was an accident—”
“And that time you sneezed while shifting and blew up my dollhouse. A wooden piece ended up bouncing off the floor and into your throat.”
Koa’s voice broke. “You said you wouldn’t tell anyone about that!”
“I lied,” Sora chirped.
“She told me as soon as it happened.” Solene sighed fondly. “Meanwhile, Sora didn’t die even once.”
I turned, wide-eyed. “Not once?”
“Never in my fifty-plus years.” Sora shrugged. “Some of us have spatial awareness.”
Koa’s jaw dropped. “I have spatial awareness!”
I snorted.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Solene cooed, patting his hand, “Rune was going to find out eventually.”
“That you’re fireproof but not fall-proof,” Sora added.
Theron leaned back, smirking. “He survived. That’s what matters.”
“If you can call being reborn every time life wins, then sure,” Sora teased.
“This is the best dinner I’ve ever had,” I announced, sipping more of the wine.
“I’m shocked the wine hasn’t made you drunk off your ass,” Sora giggled.
“I have an immunity to poisons, but fae wine is the only thing that gets me even close to being drunk or affected,” I explained.
“Isn’t she amazing?” Koa murmured, staring at me.
Warmth pooled low in my belly as I smiled at Koa. “You’re adorable.”
His cheeks turned bright pink. “So are you, little vixen.”
We kept eating, laughing, teasing, and passing the fae wine around. When the plates were empty and the fae wine had made my veins more warm and tingly than I could handle, I nudged Koa with my foot.
“Hey,” I whispered, leaning closer. “Can I see your room?”
Koa choked on his last bite of meat, and his face turned blue as he tried to dislodge it.
I reached out and patted his back once, hard.
The piece of meat flew from his throat onto his plate.
He wheezed, looking up at me in surprise. “Thank you.”
“Gross,” Sora said.
“Aw, she saved his life,” Solene murmured.
“Truly a miracle,” Theron said in shock.
Theron lifted his glass in salute. “Weren’t you about to show her to your room?”
Koa stood so fast that his chair fell over. “Yes. I was. Good. This way.”
I giggled as he reached out his hand. I took it, and he guided me out. His palm was warm against mine as we walked through the estate.
He walked me to a room upstairs, leading me in before locking the door behind him.