Rune and I shared one brief look as the others filed out. My magic still buzzed, reaching for hers violently.
If she was my mate, why wasn’t the bond snapping into place?
slater
. . .
I leaneddown and plopped my chin on Rune’s shoulder from behind as we walked toward the year-one classroom. “Careful, venom baby. Finals are graded on a curve, and I’m already falling for you.”
“Uh, Slater,” Zuko stole my thunder as he interrupted, “not all finals are graded on a curve.”
“Butthisone is, isn’t it?” I frowned, straightening and falling into step with her.
“I think so,” Koa answered helpfully.
I stuck my tongue out at Zuko, and he rolled his eyes.
She giggled. “Don’t trip, Havoc baby.” She batted her lashes at me in a way sheknewmade me crazy. “I’d hate to leave you behind.”
“Impossible,” I scoffed. “I’m very aerodynamic.”
“I mean, heismostly hot air,” Dimitri muttered from in front of us.
I sucked in a sharp gasp. “Dimitri! How could you?”
“Focus for once, Slater,” he hissed in his vampiric way.
“I am focused. On my fated mate.” I wiggled my eyebrows at Rune.
She rolled her eyes but smiled.
“You’re still not positive she is your mate,” Dimitri reminded me, veryun-helpfully.
“I don’t need the matebond to know the Fates destined us together.” I rolled my eyes.
Iknewit.
I felt it in my bones.
Within the chaos magic that burst into stars every time she was near.
I hadn’t missed the moment she’d shared with Jesper during yesterday’s final. I knew he’d be my other brother-mate in time…perhaps even before me with the way their magic reacted to one another’s.
Tragic.
We slid into our seats as Professor Hunting stood at the head of the classroom.
I crossed my arms behind my head with a grin as Snakey formed around my neck.
He hissed, tasting the air. I knew he was sniffing up Rune’s midnight orchid scent because who wouldn’t?
Professor Hunting snapped her fingers. The board behind her shimmered to say,History of Kalista: Final Assessment: Timeline Collapse Simulation.
I tipped my head back but held in my groan.
Another simulation?
She snapped her fingers again, and the board unfurled a map that wasn’t ofourKalista. Kalista had been renamedBlezen.No fae portals were shown either.“You will enter a simulation where key historical moments have unfolded incorrectly. The hierarchy was never abolished. The dragon cult succeeded. During a state ball, you must identify turning points, infiltrate the regime, and manipulate outcomes to restore the proper timeline.”
