“I believe you’ve tested her enough,” Drecken stated, magic popping and sparking from his entire body. “Don’t you, Lake?”
Headmaster Bloodwyne nodded, tension clear in his expression. “I do.”
Rune finally sagged forward, her body trembling violently, burned and bruised and beautiful in every ruined inch of her.
The way she sagged forward almost completely exposed her breast, but before it did, Drecken snapped his fingers. Rune was not only fully clothed in the clothes she had on, but she was dry, not scorched, and healed.
She perked upright and blinked a few times to get her bearings. “Thank you, Professor Grimsworn.”
“Well done.” Drecken nodded politely before he fell back into a mirror-like portal and ended up back to the side of the auditorium.
How powerful was that warlock, again?
Professor Emberveil smiled at Rune. “You are the strongest applicant I’ve ever had to test. Great job.”
“Thanks, Professor.” Rune’s lips curved upward.
Headmaster Bloodwyne walked over to his daughter, worry lines creasing his face as he shot a look at Professor Emberveil. “Endurance level:extreme. Will:unbroken. Intel:protected. Trial passed.”
That’s my girl.
“Thanks, Dad,” Rune murmured as he helped her to her feet and carried her away like a fussing mother hen.
rune
. . .
Zuko wastrouble.
He was also the only fucking thing that kept me sane through the rounds of torture. His eye contact and the way he looked at me was enough to ruin me. Iwantedto withstand the torture for myself, but a small part of me also wanted to prove to him that I could.
Phantom aches battered my body even after Drecken’s miraculous healing spell.
But my heart ached after watching Zuko, Slater, Koa, and Dimitri go through the torture trial. All four of them had passed, but it was hard to watch. Though, Zuko’s eye contact throughouthistrial did something to me I didn’t have words for.
“There are one-hundred-five of you that have passed the entrance exam,” Dad announced, “However, the five lowest-performing applicants will be dropped to keep our one-hundred student quota. I will begin calling the names of the highest-performing studentsfirst. Yes, you have been ranked. You will be placed in your classes now. Every group of ten will be a class. You will stand together until your class is complete, then you will be dismissed to the left of the auditorium.”
Nerves battered my gut.
“Aw, venom baby, you’ll pass. I’m sure of it,” Slater whispered in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “You have the skills toleadthe agents. No doubt in my mind that you’re qualified to be one.”
“Thanks, Slater,” I murmured, feeling my cheeks heat as I glanced at him. “You’ll pass, too. You’re very capable.”
“I know.” He grinned, his red eyes twinkling with pure excitement. “I have to pass so I can spend time with my mate, after all.”
I let out a small huff with a smile pulling at my lips as I turned my attention back to my dad.
He was delusional, but he was cute.
“For the first time in academy history, we have a tie for our highest score.” Dad chuckled as he looked at the tablet in his hand. “Dimitri Nocturnus and my daughter, Rune Bloodwyne.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. I hadnotexpected that.
“Go.” Slater’s warm hand settled on my lower back as he pushed me gently forward. “Wait for me, venom baby.”
I found my footing and strode up the stairs, making sure my spine remained straight and my chin was lifted.
Dimitri was already standing tall at the center of the stage in front of my dad, arms folded behind his back in formality. Somehow, even after the hell that was our exam, not even a hair was out of place in his curls.
