Raze’s lips curled into a sadistic smirk. “So, it’s a dice game?”
“Yep.”
“Hmmm. They shoulddiethen, shouldn’t they? Hey, man, I want to adopt that but with the final blow, ya know? Permission?”
“Granted.” I shrugged lazily. “My dad does tattoos. You come home with me after this year, and he’ll ink you.”
Raze walked over and bumped fists with me. “Bet.”
My phone rang, and it was my parents.
Raze grinned. “Night, man.”
“Night,” I said as he left my room. Once the door shut, I answered the phone. “Hey.”
My mom answered first. “Zuko! Baby! We haven’t heard from you indays! Is the academy feeding you? Are you picking fights?”
My dad chimed in. “Are you winning those fights?”
“Of course.” I chuckled.
“Have you made any friends?” Mom pressed.
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling my heart pound harder just thinking about Rune. “Yeah. A few. There’s also a woman I’ve met that’s probably going to cause me to go insane.”
Mom gasped. “Zuko, are you blushing? Are you blushing, baby?”
My cheeks heated. “No.”
“Zuko,” Dad said, “you’ve never mentioned a girl before. Tell us about her.”
I hesitated, then smiled like an idiot. “Her name’s Rune.”
“Rune?” Mom squealed. “You’ve never told me about a girl before!”
“I’ve dated!” I defended myself. I was twenty-five, of course, I had a past. But...nothing like this.
“Yeah, but you’ve neverlikedanyone before,” she said as if she’d read my mind.
I rubbed my jaw. “She’s…different. Brilliant. Dangerous. Makes me feel like I’ve been dosed with poison since the moment I met her.”
Mom gasped again like she was about to burst with excitement. “You said she makes you feel like you’ve been poisoned? My baby’s in love.In love, Skarnax!”she squealed to my dad.
“Mom,” I groaned, feeling heat bloom over my cheeks. “It’s not like that. I just—I don’t know. She makes my magic feel different. She smells like midnight orchid, and when she talks, I can’t help but want to listen forever. Or kiss her. It’s fucking weird.”
Dad chuckled, low and deep. “Kid, that’s love. Or obsession. Depends on how long it’s been.”
“Two days give or take,” I muttered, then immediately realized how that sounded.
“Two—” Mom nearly choked. “Two days? And you’re only now telling me about her?”
“I haven’t even kissed her yet,” I grumbled, dragging a hand down my face. “She’s complicated. She’s the headmaster’s daughter. And Sabine Bloodwyne’s daughter. And Professor Bloodwyne’s daughter. And capable of venomously melting people from the inside out.”
Dad whistled. “Sabine’s daughter? Zuko, you better be serious about her.”
“Of course he’s serious!” Mom squealed again. “Do you think it’s a matebond? Oh my Fates, Zuko, what if she’s your fated mate?”
My entire body locked up, and my heart overflowed with hope. “…I didn’t say I thought she was,” I muttered, but the idea rooted deep in my gut the same way it did every time Slater claimed it. “But if she was…I would love that.”
