Counter-traces folded in on themselves, trying to find out where the breach had come from or if it had even happened.
Snakey pushed through a perfect hole through the center of the defense wall, making a door to the vault instead of cracking the code.
The vault opened, and the data came out clean.
I forced the illegal surveillance we needed onto a flash drive. It was packaged proof of the surveillance that held names, audio, and video. I stamped a snake in the metadata, because Snakey was the best helper, and withdrew, leaving no proof I was there at all.
Duskwyn stared at me like she was witnessing a crime and couldn’t be more impressed. “You pass, Mr. Havoc. I do hope I get to witness your capabilities in the future.”
I grinned. “I’m eager to learn more tricks.”
“I’m sure.” She took the drive out of my hands.
House of Innovation was right up my alley.
As Duskwyn walked away, I looked over at my mate because I could feel Rune’s attention like a string tugged low in my spine.
She was watching me with a smile on her lips.
I scooted closer. “You see that, venom baby?” I murmured. “Does it make you want me more?”
She bit her lip, hitting the enter button before ejecting the drive. “I don’t think I could ever want you any more than I already do, Havoc baby.”
“I know I joke a lot. It’s a coping mechanism.” I let out a steady breath. “But I wasn’t kidding the first time I said you were my mate, and I’m definitely not kidding now. You know?”
“I know.” She also didn’t move. Her golden eyes bore into me. “I think you’re right.”
I tapped my knuckle lightly against my desk. Chaos magic hopped toward her and back, warm and quick as it sank back into me. My magic had never wanted anyone more than it wanted her. “I just need you to know I’m serious about you.”
She blushed, her cheeks tinging pink. “I’m serious about you too, Slater. You’re my boyfriend, aren’t you?”
“Cute,” I said, awed and desperate to sink my cock into her again to finish what we started that morning. “And yes, but I’malsoyour mate.”
Duskwyn paused in front of us, holding her palm out for Rune’s drive.
She placed it in her hand, and Duskwyn nodded. “Pass.”
“Great job, venom baby.” I smiled at her so hard my cheeks hurt.
“Thanks, Havoc baby, wait, no—my soon-to-be-mate,” she flirted with me.
My heart burst.
Holy Fates, I loved her so much.
rune
. . .
Field Ops’final was named something that was probably supposed to be intimidating but just made me excited.
Off-grid and hunted.
Hunting stood by the control panel in Apex Simulator 2.0, flanked by projection maps of the Earth Kingdom in the fae realm. There were jagged rock meadows veined with fae magic, glittering fault-rivers, and flora growing wildly everywhere.
“This isnota game,” she said, voice flat. “It’s your final exam. There are terrain shifts in the Earth Kingdom more so than in any of the other fae kingdoms. Earth fae adapt easily. You must learn to do so. Fail to adapt, and you fail the exam. I’ve been watching you for six months now, so I will assign you the roles I feel you will be best at.”
She snapped her fingers, and roles spun above our heads in hovering words:
