“Fates,” Mom whispered. “You’ve never sounded like this before. You were practically mute during your last relationship. I had to find out from my own intel that you both had the relationship and broke up!”
“That’s because she was boring,” I snapped, hating the thought of being with literally anyone but Rune Bloodwyne. “Rune is not boring. She could liquify someone’s insides with a single touch. It’s mesmerizing.”
Mom cooed. “And terrifying.”
“I love that for you,” Dad said approvingly. “Dangerous and beautiful. Just like your mom.”
Mom laughed. “Aw, stop. You’re embarrassing him.”
I was already embarrassed; she had that right, but I was also grinning. My mom might’ve been nosy, but she only wanted the best for me. I appreciated that.
“I’ll bring her home if I ever get the chance,” I mumbled. “You’ll love her.”
“I already do,” Mom said. “Just be good to her.”
“I know.” My voice softened. “I won’t ever hurt her, but I will hurt for her.”
“Zuko?”
“Yeah?”
“If you end up tattooing her name,” Mom added, “please don’t do it across your forehead like your uncle did with that banshee girl.”
“I promise,” I said, chuckling because that was a wild story. “Love you, guys.”
“We love you too, baby,” Mom said.
“Love you,” Dad added.
The call ended, and I put my phone on the nightstand, rolling over in the bed with a sigh.
Rune and I might’ve been flirty, but we weren’t even dating.
I told my parents about her.
I was so fucked.
rune
. . .
My bladder throbbed with pulsing,tapping aches in my lower abdomen, waking me up. I groaned, blinking sleep from my eyes, and slowly swung my legs off the bed. The last thing I remembered was studying with the group in the living area. Dimitri had us studying for hours, and at some point, I’d face-planted into my notes and blacked out.
Which meant, someone must’ve carried me to bed. The burnt sugar scent in my room told me it was Zuko.
I yawned, rubbing at my face. Undressing out of the suit, I threw on a night gown and padded over to my bedroom door with my bare feet.
Holy Fates, I need to pee.
The hallway was quiet, dimly lit by the crystal sconces. I headed toward the bathroom but paused mid-step.
Koa’s voice.
Faint and one-sided.
I crept closer to his door, and sure enough, I heard him talking.
“…No, Ragnar, I told you. You can’t just eat my socks, buddy. They’re not food.”
