“I think so.” I wasn’t sure what a flirty blink even was.
“I’ll take it.” His smile was back.
Dad, Pops, and Tibby casually made their way between us.
“You know, there is a decline in on-sight matings. It started about twenty years ago. Even for dragons and drakes,” Mom explained, bringing it up with a smirk. “And those bonds used to be on sight every time.”
“Pandora and Bram’s matebond didn’t snap for, like, three whole months,” Slater agreed, peeking around my dads and brother to stare at me again. “I’d bet my left nipple that you’re my mate.”
“Why the left nipple?” Tibby whispered to Pops, who shrugged.
“Delusion?”
My heart skipped a beat, and I placed my hand over it. The Fates were the only ones who could declare a matebond.
I glared at him, planting my hands on my hips. “You’re hot but kind of dumb, huh? What a shame.”
“Your death glare is literal art. You think I’m hot?” he asked, smiling like I hadn’t just called him dumb. “Can we sit together for exams?”
“Be careful. You don’t want to get too close to me.” I flashed my fangs at him, letting my venom seep out so he could see what I was capable of.
He shot around my dads and brother in a flash before his daisies and jasmine scent filled my space. Leaning in, he grinned. “If you bite me, I’m legally yours, right? Do it, venom baby.”
I smirked and leaned in until my lips brushed his ear, whispering, “My venom’s deadly, Havoc baby.”
His body stiffened before he tilted his head back with a groan. “I don’t love you calling me by my last name. I’d rather you use my first, but if you say ‘baby’ after, you can call me whatever you want.”
Dad and Pops let out feral-sounding noises before Slater hopped back next to Bram and smiled at me.
Bram elbowed him. “Are you trying to get yourself killed before you can attend the academy?”
“She’s my mate,” he whispered to his brother. “I just know it.”
“Right, well, good luck, Roo.” Tibby pulled me into a hug. “I know I said make friends, but perhaps not the delusional chaos demon?”
I giggled. “We’ll see. He has no sense of self-preservation. That’s kind of fun, right?”
Tibby groaned and pulled back with a reluctant wave. “Can’t wait to see you after you pass exams. Be careful.”
“I will,” I promised as he turned toward the wayfaer teleporter.
Tibby wasn’t able to come in for the exams since he wasn’t staff, so he had to wait at home. Mom was the agent coordinatorof the Supernatural Council, Pops was the House of Fortitude’s professor, and Dad was the headmaster, so they had to attend. Well, Mom didn’t have to, but she was permitted, obviously.
“Good luck, Slater,” Pandora murmured, tightening her grip on Bram’s hand.
“Good luck, brother,” Bram repeated with a smile, his dark red eyes glowing slightly. “You’ve got this.”
“Thanks for seeing me off,” he told them.
“You know Melinda would, but—” Bram started before Slater cut him off.
“Charles took her on a vacation to Gleaming Gulf,” Slater finished with a smirk. “Oh, I know. I planned it for them.”
“Of course you did.” Pandora’s red lips curved into a smile before her red eyes met mine. “Good luck to you, too, Rune. I’m sure you’ll have no problem with the exam.”
“Thanks for your encouragement, Pandora.” I grinned, leaving my fangs free of venom because what kind of basilisk would I be if I threatened my friend?
“Let’s go,” Dad ordered us before he started walking through the gate and over the thrumming bridge.
