“Mess?” He let out a dry laugh, but it sounded painful. “I know. I shouldn’t have fucking bitten her. I apologized!”
“Why regret it now?” I snarled in his face. “Why give her an intimate moment like that and flake? I fucked her, eased her desire, but you know what, you clueless fucking vampire?”
He went slack in my hold, but his red eyes met mine.“What?”
“She didn’t need me that night,” I admitted, though the truth broke me a little. “She neededyou.”
He flinched as if I’d hit him—and,Fates, I wanted to. “Me? I thought she’d hate me for biting her.”
“You asked permission,” I reminded him. “You knew she wanted you, but you left herwanting.”
“She wanted me?” His voice cracked. “I lost control, Slater. I have a problem with bloodlust. Her blood makes me worse than usual. I thought she’d be disgusted with me for giving in.”
“Disgusted?” I laughed hollowly, pushing off him. “She wants you, Dimitri, and you want her, too.”
“I can’twantanyone.” He squeezed his eyes shut and slammed his head against the side of the academy. Blood slipped down the stone behind his head. “I’m not meant for anyone. Not someone as good as Rune. I’m fucking ruined.”
“I have a suspicion you’re her mate,” I told him simply. “And I’m her mate, too. So if you have a shred of decency in you?—”
“Mate?” he cut me off, staring at me like I was delusional. “Just because you want her as a mate doesn’t mean the Fates will oblige. I learned that the hard way.”
“The siren scar on your throat?” I guessed.
His gaze narrowed, and he stood stiff as a rod. “Don’t talk about shit you know nothing about.”
I held my hands up in defense. “I’m not pretending to understand what you went through, but Rune’s my girl. If you want her, then fucking commit. If you have second thoughts, leave her the fuck alone until you get over your shit. Understand me?”
“Yeah,” he bit out.
“I like you, Dimitri.” I slapped him on his back as we started walking back. “But I love her, and she will come first every fucking time. Got me?”
“Got you,” he whispered.
Anger boiled in my blood, and my tail flicked wildly behind me as Snakey glared at Dimitri from around my neck.
The Fates needed to intervene soon. Zuko and I knew she was our mate, but some of the others needed solid proof.
Come on, matebonds.
koa
. . .
Quarter four waslike a wildfire that started quickly and burned everything within hours rather than three months. We had only two classes, and we’d just finished the final for Mind and Will: The Anatomy of a Breakdown with Professor Emberveil.
We all passed, and Rune had done amazing.
I already knew I liked Rune, but it was definitely something more than a crush. My magic started reacting to her every time she was around me, and every time I heard her laugh or moan through the walls, I ended up with my hand down my pants.
It was embarrassing, and I’d never admit it to anyone but her.
I couldn’t believe that Slater was right, but I was almost positive that she was my mate.
“You’re so hot when you torture others,” Zuko purred in her ear.
She turned toward him and smiled. “Ditto, toxin.”
“We still have one more final,” Dimitri muttered. “And we have to pass the year-one exam after that.”
