My eyes watered.
Rune’s face blurred.
“Oh, come on,” I heard her say, exasperation and fear bleeding into her tone. “Not again. This one’s my fault.”
Everything turned upside down in a dizzying display. A wave of heat surged down my spine. I sputtered on the grape, the world fading as I took my last breath.
Everything turned to ash.
Darkness stole me for a few seconds before blazing heat scorched my phoenix form, and I landed in my regular form in front of her.
My lungs dragged in air like they’d never had it.
Rune sat on my bed, face-level with my dick, hands braced on the mattress.
“Thank the Fates you died out of uniform this time,” she blurted, her golden gaze hooked on my hardening dick that was currently in her face.
Fuck me.
Heat shot up my neck. “Oh my Fates,” I croaked, jumping back and scrabbling for the blanket at the foot of the bed, hauling it around my mortified body. “I hate being a phoenix. I hate fruit. I hate?—”
“At least the Fates blessed you with a show-er.”
I made a noise that I would forever deny and face-planted into my pillow. “It’s a grow-er.”
“That’s evenbetter.” She made a loud groan as her phone buzzed. “Hey, Mom.”
Sabine’s voice was crisp and clipped. “You and your squad need to be careful. Your dad’s had multiple students come into the infirmary sick. It looks like poison.”
Rune lit up with excitement. “Poison?”
“Human-made,” Sabine muttered. “Not the kind you play with. It could hurt you.”
“Mom,” Rune protested. “This is my power. I’ll be fine.”
Sabine sighed audibly in defeat. “This is exactly what your dads were talking about. I shouldn’t have told you.”
I peeked up from my pillow.
“Mom, come on.” Rune rolled her eyes. “We’ll be careful.” She glanced over her shoulder, took in my blanket burrito, and wiggled her fingers in a tiny wave. “Gotta go. Love you.”
I knew she was talking to her mom, but she looked at me when she said it.
My heart flipped wildly in my chest.
“Be aware. Be smart,” Sabine finished before hanging up.
Rune slid her phone into the pocket of her sweats and walked toward the door with a bright smile.
At the threshold, she looked back and mouthed, ‘Nice dick.’
Then, she shut the door behind her as she left.
I pulled the blanket over my head and tried to suffocate myself from shame.
For once, I didn’t die.
I uncovered myself with a huffed breath.
