“What? Why?” I blinked up at him. “I’mtotallyfine.”
He bent low, whispering just for me, “Don’t you remember that I tattooed your name on my dick and we haven’t been able to properly celebrate?”
Heat flooded me. “You know…Idofeel kind of weary.”
“Absolutely not.” Jarvins pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering, “Move along to your next class. Everyone passed except for Hawk and Aura. Now,behave.”
Pops was waitingat the edge of the mat in his classroom with his arms folded and gaze sharp. The second he saw me, his expression broke into relief and then narrowed the moment I opened my big mouth.
“I finally tried Mom’s venom,” I announced, too pleased with myself. The effects had already dwindled away, but now, I was pretty sure I could use Mom’s venom myself. I had to test it out. “Drecken finished replicating it in the form of a potion. Itworks!”
Color drained from his face. He closed the distance in two long strides, hands hovering like he wanted to check me for wounds. “Sabineforbadethat.” His voice was hoarse. “Rune—by the Fates—apotion? You tried out potions for the first time with afatal one?”
I laughed it off, though my chest tightened at the tremor in his tone. “I’m fine, Pops. It didn’t kill me.”
“Thank the Fates.” He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. His shoulders sagged, but his eyes cut to mine, sharp as ever. “Don’t do it again. Not without me or Lake or your mother present. That venom is too…” He stopped and shook his head. “Just—don’t.”
I bit back a retort. He wasn’t angry. He was scared. That almost made me feel guilty.
Almost.
I was fine.
“Okay, let’s focus on class. Dimitri, where’s my pen?” Pops gave Dimitri a knowing look.
Dimitri’s mouth fell open as he handed the pen back to him. “How’d you know?”
“Jarvins only does that assignment to fuck with us.” Pops rolled his eyes and laid the pen back on his desk. “Today we’ll be doing a counter-magic sparring match.” The mat pulsed faintly underfoot as it was enchanted to absorb backlash. “Pairings have been chosen,” Pops explained. “You will suppress, disorient, or put an immediate stop to your opponent’s attack or magic. Points will be awarded for control, subtlety, and creativity. Dimitri and Slater, you’re up.”
Dimitri squared his shoulders as he stepped onto the mat, and Slater yawned before winking at me.
“You ready?” Slater asked, summoning Snakey as his demon form rippled over him. His red eyes glowed as he smiled with sharp canines.
Dimitri chuckled before blurring forward, vampire speed taking over. He slammed into Slater’s chest, driving him back several feet.
The mat shuddered but absorbed the blow.
Slater only grinned wider, his tail flicking. “No fair, you didn’t say ready.”
“We’re sparring,” Dimitri hissed, flashing his fangs. “I don’t have to.”
Snakey lunged from Slater’s shoulders, fangs snapping for Dimitri’s face.
Dimitri twisted, narrowly avoiding the strike.
“No, but it’s polite.” Slater caught him with a sweeping kick that cracked against his shin.
Dimitri cursed, staggering a half-step, but his eyes glowed red.
Slater’s chaos magic flared, spiking between them in red and black arcs.
Slater laughed. “You’re fast, but I hit harder.” He lunged, claws streaking toward Dimitri.
Dimitri ducked, rolled, and came up behind him, locking an arm around Slater’s throat. “Doesn’t mean you’ll win.”
Snakey coiled around Dimitri’s arm, instantly constricting, and Slater rammed an elbow back into Dimitri’s ribs.
The crack of impact echoed.
