“When you know, you know. Isn’t that right, venom baby?” Slater raised a cocky brow my way.
My heart skipped a beat as I nodded and took another drink. “Why fight the feelings?”
“Because it could cause issues,” Dimitri said, red eyes narrowing on us. “We’re a squad. What if you don’t end up working out?”
“Not happening,” Slater and Zuko chimed in sync. “We’re her mates.”
“With no matebond,” he reminded them with a concerned frown.
“Yet,” they said with matching grins.
I fought back a smile and took another drink of my tea. Snakey’s venom coursed through me.
“Have you ever had any lasting side effects from that stuff? I know you said it doesn’t hurt you, but I was just curious.” Koa eyed my tea.
“Oh, no. Never.” I swirled it in the mug, noticing how his gaze flicked between me, Slater, and Zuko.
Something in me wanted to throw myself into his arms, but I stopped myself from doing that. I didn’t even know if Koa felt the same way that Slater and Zuko did. But…there was a connection between Koa and I, too. I felt it in my soul.
A bright flash of colors invaded my vision before Drecken Grimsworn stood before us, vial in hand and blue eyes locked on me. “I’ve cracked the magical essence components of Sabine’s venom, and I can now replicate a potion that kills the same way her venom does!”
My gaze widened, shock and excitement thrumming through me at the news. “No fucking way! Can I have some? Mom has never let me try her venom before.”
He’d replicated Mom’s venom. That was the most insane news I’d ever heard. I had a much better chance at trying some of his potion with the same effects than Mom’s venom directly. She’d always been scared of me trying it. It was the only venom or poison she’d been against giving me. My dads were happy she was on their side for that one. I wasn’t.
“Professor Grimsworn?” Koa tilted his head in confusion.
“Of course, let’s go! I needyourvenom now.” Professor Grimsworn reached out and grabbed my wrist before noticing Zuko holding me from behind and Slater standing shoulder-to-shoulder with me. His grin slipped slightly as he tilted his head.
“Which venom of mine do you need? I can make four-hundred-eighty-three. Wait, no. Four-hundred-eighty six now that I’ve had Zuko and Snakey’s venom plus whatever Aura found in the bathroom,” I rambled, not realizing his hesitation as he stared between the three of us.
“Give me something fatal.” His smile brightened at that, as if he was more than pleased with the information I gave him. “We have plenty of time to test all of your venom.”
Dimitri stepped forward cautiously. “Professor Grimsworn, we’re going to class. Rune can’t exactly miss it.”
“Class?” He dropped his hand from my wrist. “Oh, Fates, I have a class to teach.” He face-palmed before holding out the vial he had with his other hand. “Venom, please?”
Zuko let out a soft chuckle. “Oh, great, another one.”
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Slater whispered to Zuko.
“What do you mean?” I asked them, glancing back.
“Just another potential brother-mate,” Slater told us.
Professor Grimsworn’s nose wrinkled. “Mates? Interesting. Rune? I’ll give you the potion I’ve created with your mother’s venom next time.”
“Promise?” I arched a brow at him.
“Fates bind me to it.” He held out the vial to me with a pleading expression that made my heart flip. “Your venom?”
Letting out a small sigh, I leaned forward with my fangs out and dripped ten drops into the vial with one fang while keeping my other covered by my tongue.
His blue eyes darkened as he watched me, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as I pulled back. “So much?”
“I’m more generous with my venom than Mom is.” I shrugged, my lips tugging into a teasing smile. “Be careful, though. This venom can make even a drake’s organs turn to liquid. Have fun, Professor Grimsworn.”
A magical burst exploded around him as he smiled wider and put a lid on the vial. “I intend to, viperling.”
