“It was hard,” Slater whined, pouting his bottom lip out. “I don’t know anything about runes, but thereisa Rune I want to learn everything about.”
I rolled my eyes before meeting Koa’s ember-flecked brown eyes. “It was easy.”
He gave me a soft smile. “I thought so as well.”
“Wait.” Slater gasped. A flicker of his chaos manifestation snake wrapping around his neck appeared and faded in the same breath. “That’s what I meant. Yeah, you’re right.So easy!”
I fought back the urge to giggle as the basilisk with sunset-colored hair walked up beside us with another basilisk next to him. They were whispering to each other, shooting looks my way. His friend had white spiked short hair and pink eyes, but his expression told me he was wary of me. Unlike the sunset-haired one, who looked at me like he wanted to sink his fangs into me.
Not that I would mind.I was curious about his venom.
We stepped out of the massive stone archway of Apex Nexus, and my boots thudded against the polished stone stairs as the air outside pulsed with raw, humming energy.
Moving through the grass, I inhaled the thick scent of magic in the air. It was so heavy it made my tongue tingle.
“It tickles,” Slater commented, but I didn’t miss the shiver that worked its way through him.
“It does,” I agreed with a smile tugging at my lips.
The massive red arcane circle seared beneath us across the courtyard. It stretched in all directions with sigils interwoven into it, whispering to the magic inside my bones. The runes themselves glowed faintly in the late morning sun, casting shifting pink-red shadows across our path. Even the grass that pushed up near the boundary of the circle sparkled unnaturally.
We left the walled-in courtyard of the academy and headed across the bridge and through the gates again before making our way over the open stretch of grass across from the wayfaer teleporter where I arrived. The crystal hummed quietly in the distance as a warm breeze stirred my hair.
The distant roar of Phoenix Falls echoed farther away, the molten glow flickering prettily.
Slater leaned closer as we walked, his breath fanning over my cheek. “You know, I heard that certain types of venom enhance reaction time. Want to test the theory on me for this practical exam?”
I shot him an amused glance. “Only if you want to seize up and fail. You’re awfully trusting of a basilisk, Havoc baby. Were you listening when I said my venom was fatal?”
He grinned with a small shrug. “You say fatal, I say kinky.”
I rolled my eyes but didn’t slow. “Death wish?”
“I’d die for you.” Slater swooned as his boots kicked up loose sparks of magic from the ground while he walked. I felt his chaos magic jumping around as if reacting to the potent energy in the academy as much as mine tried to.
“She’s right, you know,” the sunset-haired basilisk chimed in. “Basilisks aren’t known for being sweethearts. We’re more toxic than that.”
“Call me a glutton for toxins then.” Slater winked. “Right, venom baby?”
I couldn’t hold back the snort. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
“I was hopingyoucould help me do that.”
“Definitely has a death wish,” the other basilisk murmured, making the sunset-haired one crack up.
The other basilisk’s lips curved into a larger grin. “Sheisa pretty little poison, though.”
Mypretty poisontattoo scrawled on my collarbone flared with recognition, and I bit back a smile.
“He gets it.” Slater jerked his thumb in his direction before holding his hand out. “I’m Slater. You’re into Rune, too? Great. Maybe we’ll be brother-mates!”
“Brother…mates?” The basilisk flicked his orange gaze between Slater’s eyes and his hand, checking if he was really offering his hand to a basilisk. Other supernaturals were always hesitant since all basilisks leaked venom from their hands and fangs only. I was an exception to that rule.
“Hereallywants to die,” the other basilisk muttered.
“Zuko.” The basilisk shook Slater’s hand before winking at me. “She’s pretty cute, but is she as vicious as I am?”
“More so.” I smiled, showing my dripping fangs off.
