Chapter 1 #2
“So,” he continued, “my genuine advice is that you talk to your mates about all of it. Lean on them. You’re not meant to hold all of this alone, even if you can.”
I swallowed, nodding. “Noted.”
He shut the file with a flick of his fingers.
The holographic screen vanished.
“Rune,” he said, tone shifting back toward brisk professionalism, “you are on track for graduation. You are overqualified for most of the missions they’ll throw at you this year. I think you’re going to have a productive year four.”
“Thank you.” My lips curved into a smile as I stood, the chair scraping slightly.
He didn’t offer a handshake, but neither did I.
Atlas seemed okay enough, but what he did to my sisters-by-mating was unforgivable.
As I reached for the door, he called, “Send in Dimitri Nocturnus, please.”
My housemates waited in a loose cluster within the advising office.
Cora leaned against the opposite wall, picking at her nails. “How bad is he?”
“Not bad, surprisingly.” I tipped my head toward the door. “Dimitri, you’re up.”
He brushed a kiss against my temple, then slipped into the office.
The rest of us wandered toward the seating nook and waited.
“It’s weird,” Seth said quietly, flopping into a chair. “We started with ten. Now it’s…what, five?”
“Yeah. We halved,” Ominous muttered.
“Regardless of what we lost, we have to keep going. It’s going to be a good year,” I said. “We’re all on squads now. We get real missions, House Cooperation simulations, and no House-only classes. We’re so close to becoming agents.”
“That’s true.” Cora smiled softly. “I liked the House-only classes, though. Less chance of random idiocy from the other Houses like my squad had last year in House Cooperation.”
“I’ve noticed that they’re phasing out the ones who aren’t cut out for teamwork,” Seth brought up. “That’s why they want us mixing more before graduation. Training us to play nice.”
“Yep,” Ominous agreed. “We lost our fucking healer last year all because one of our enforcers made him go out in a fight. So, Bloodwyne made us use healing potions to make up for it.”
“Ah, I didn’t realize you were in Pops's class,” I said with a small laugh. “Makes sense, though.”
One by one, the advisor door opened and closed again, our housemates disappearing inside and reappearing with varying degrees of annoyance and relief.
We were dismissed back to our House after we’d all talked to Atlas. Cora seemed to deal with him better than I thought she would.
The walk from Apex Nexus back to the House of Twilight felt both heavy and light at the same time.
It was a new year.
Our final year.
When we got back, I went with Dimitri to greet the second and third years since he was House Head.
By the time Dimitri and I got back to our floor and said goodnight to everyone else, exhaustion had settled in my bones.
Dimitri shut my room door behind us and leaned his forehead against it, letting out a steady breath.
“Tired?” I asked, stripping out of my clothes.
“Being House Head is exhausting,” he complained. “And I’ve only been House Head for two hours.”
I laughed, the sound loosening something tight in my chest.
He turned, letting out an appreciative growl as his red eyes took in the fact that I was naked. “You’re too beautiful for your own good.”
“Same to you,” I purred, climbing into bed and waiting for him.
He stripped down to his boxers, then slid in beside me, pulling me against his chest. “If we didn’t have House Cooperation in the morning, I’d love to take the time to fully enjoy my mate, but…”
“You’re House Head, and you’re responsible,” I finished for him.
“Am I that predictable?” he chuckled.
“Yes,” I teased, kissing his pec.
Then, my phone buzzed on the nightstand.
I groaned as Dimitri reached for it and handed it to me.
The group chat—Rune’s Mate Squad—lit up my screen.
Slater Havoc
Did you guys have that bullshit advisor meeting?
Zuko Vyre
Unfortunately.
Slater Havoc
How did my venom baby do?
I smirked and typed back.
Rune Bloodwyne
It was necessary bullshit. But it’s over now.
Koa’s reply popped up almost immediately.
Koa Ashbourne
I had another one scheduled.
Zuko Vyre
Same. I told him to fuck off, and he canceled it, though.
I snorted.
Slater Havoc
I want to come sleep with my venom baby.
Zuko Vyre
Same. This bed is cold without my pretty little poison to keep me warm.
Koa Ashbourne
Agreed. I miss you so much, little vixen.
Drecken Grimsworn
I’d be over there if I didn’t have a new human to dissect.
Jesper Wyvernheart
I’d also come over, but unfortunately I’m on a reconnaissance mission before you start the next mission with us.
Slater Havoc
The new House Head is a pain in the ass.
Dimitri leaned over to see the screen. “I am the House Head,” he bragged.
I grinned and typed.
Rune Bloodwyne
Well, my House Head is currently hogging my bed, soooo.
Zuko Vyre
I’m also House Head. Raze refused to take it, so it went to me.
Koa Ashbourne
Same. Got guilt-voted.
Slater Havoc
I did, too. I’m a pain in my own ass. Because now I can’t sneak out and into my sweet venom baby’s bed at night.
Zuko Vyre
Fuck, I didn’t even think about that. This is bullshit. I shouldn’t have accepted.
Dimitri’s eyes gleamed red with amusement.
Slater Havoc
Same. Good night, my sweet venom baby. I’ll be pretending you’re in my arms. I love you.
Jesper Wyvernheart
Good night, honey drop. I love you.
My heart buzzed from the love I felt through all six of my matebonds.
Drecken Grimsworn
Good night, Viperling. Try not to dream about potions without me.
Zuko Vyre
Good night, pretty little poison. Dream of me invading your bed.
I snorted and shook my head.
Koa Ashbourne
Good night, little vixen. Sweet dreams. Love you.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and typed back.
Rune Bloodwyne
I love all of you. Good night.
Dimitri took the phone gently from my hand, set it on the nightstand, then leaned down to kiss me. His fingers slid into my hair, tipping my head back, deepening the kiss until my thoughts went fuzzy.
“I love you,” he murmured against my lips.
“I love you, too,” I whispered back.
We moved until I was tucked against his chest again, his arm comforting around my waist. His nutmeg and cinnamon scent lulled me to sleep with the sound of his heartbeat.
I drifted into sleep with the taste of him still on my lips, but I was jolted into another shitty memory.
One second I was asleep, being held by Dimitri; the next, I was sitting at a tiny café table with Darian. The familiar restaurant he and I used to frequent formed around me.
Candles flickered between us.
He smiled at me with a charming curve of his mouth that I stupidly used to trust.
A plate appeared in front of me. My regular pasta with cream sauce and herbs.
I knew, before I even picked up the fork, that the sauce shimmered wrong.
“That’s sweet,” I said, staring at the faint oily sheen. “You poisoned my food.”
“Of course I did,” Darian said, voice warm. His ice-blue eyes glittered with something much darker, something I wasn’t sure how I’d missed. “You like the sting on your tongue.”
I looked up at him, and the restaurant melted, like ink running off a page.
The next breath, I was on my back, pinned to a mattress that gave me heart palpitations. His ice crept up my wrists, ankles, and coiled around my throat.
“Hold still,” he crooned, leaning over me. “You’re prettier when you’re helpless.”
Rage and fear tangled through me until I couldn’t tell where one stopped and the other started.
Movement flickered in the corner of my eye.
A figure stood there, half-obscured by the shadows of the room.
“That’s new,” I hissed.
Its head tilted slowly toward me, as if shocked that I could see it.
The ice around my throat tightened as Darian moved his lips toward mine.
“Wake up, Rune!” Dimitri’s voice cut through the dream like a blade.
The matebond flared, hot and desperate, yanking me out of the nightmare.
I jerked upright in bed, a ragged gasp tearing out of my lungs. My heart thundered against my ribs.
The room was dark, shadows pooling in the corners, but Dimitri’s hands were on my shoulders, his eyes glowing faint red in the dark.
“Hey,” he said, voice low and rough. “I’ve got you. You’re with me.”
My phone buzzed nonstop on the nightstand, vibrating like it was possessed.
I dragged in air, fingers digging into his chest. “It was Darian. The restaurant. Then, the bed. And something in the corner. It was just standing there, watching. I swear it was a drude.”
His jaw clenched, and rage funneled through the matebond. “You’re safe,” he said again. “It wasn’t real.”
The phone kept buzzing.
He reached over and grabbed it with one hand, still holding onto me with the other.
The group chat had blown up.
Zuko Vyre
What the fuck was that spike through the bond?
Koa Ashbourne
Is she okay??
Slater Havoc
Rune?! Answer or I’m breaking into your House.
Drecken Grimsworn
Another nightmare?
Jesper Wyvernheart
Dimitri, report to us. Now.
Dimitri’s thumbs flew over the screen.
Rune Bloodwyne
She’s awake. Nightmare. I’ve got her. -Dimitri
I took the phone with shaky fingers.
Rune Bloodwyne
Sorry. It was just a dream. I think.
Drecken Grimsworn
Define “just.”
Rune Bloodwyne
Felt like a drude. Saw something in the corner watching.
Drecken Grimsworn
Stay put.
A bright blue glow flared at the foot of the bed, and Drecken appeared in a swirl of cold air.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, already moving toward me and reaching for my wrist.
“I’m slightly shaken but okay.”
His fingers were cool, magic prickling along my skin as he murmured under his breath. Symbols bloomed faintly over my forearm, then sank into my skin, leaving a warm tingle behind.
“Warding,” he explained. “Basic anti-nightmare layering. If a drude tries to slip in again, it’ll at least get a nasty shock. Unfortunately, it’s not foolproof.”
“Comforting,” I said dryly.
He closed his eyes, focusing, his magic sliding over me in a way that would’ve made me moan if I hadn’t been so shaken.
After a long moment, he exhaled. “I’m not sensing demonic residue. No lingering drude signature. If it was one, it either didn’t anchor, or it’s powerful.”
“Great,” I muttered. “So either I’m having a shitty reaction to killing Darian, or I’m interesting to something creepy and powerful.”
He smiled. “You’re always interesting to powerful things.” His expression softened. He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead. “If it happens again, tell me immediately. Nightmares are one thing. Drudes are another.”
“Yes, spell daddy,” I said innocently.
He snorted. “You’re adorable.”
“She always is,” Dimitri chimed in.
Drecken flicked his gaze to him. “Keep her safe.”
“Obviously,” Dimitri scoffed.
Blue fire licked up around Drecken again, and then he was gone, the room settling back into quiet.
I sagged against Dimitri, all the adrenaline draining out of me at once.
“Come here,” he murmured, pulling me down with him.
I fell willingly, curling into his side, and pressing my face into his chest.
“You sure it was just a dream?” he asked after a moment, fingers stroking slowly through my hair.
“No,” I admitted. “But if it wasn’t, there’s nothing we can do about it right this second. And I’m too tired to hunt a nightmare demon tonight.”
He huffed a soft laugh against my hair. “We’ll keep an eye on it.”
I smiled, eyes closing. “Thanks, overachiever.”
The bond smoothed out again as his emotions settled. Comfort. Possessiveness. A thread of lingering anger at what happened.
“I love you,” he murmured, lips brushing my hair.
“I love you,” I whispered, the words slurring as sleep grabbed at me again.
This time, when I let go, nothing waited for me in the dark.