Slater lit up as he stared down at Rune with excited red eyes. “Should I also get your name on me? Iamyour future mate.”
Rune’s lips curved into a smile as she shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”
“Oh my Fates, you didn’t correct me!” Slater waved a hand at himself to cool himself down. “Zuko, help me decide where our mate’s name is going on me!”
“Can we just fucking go to class now?” Dimitri snapped, yanking his door open and slamming it hard enough to make the enchanted frame shudder.
As we headed out of the house, Slater leaned toward Rune and whispered, “You smell so much like Zuko.”
Her blush deepened, but she grinned.
Slater’s eyes snapped to mine. “And you smell exactly like her.”
“Thanks for noticing,” I gloated.
“It’s his venom,” Dimitri muttered sharply. “Of course she smells like him.”
“Well, I do bite.” I flashed my fangs at him teasingly.
Dimitri just rolled his eyes.
We made it to the gate, crossing the bridge toward Apex Nexus, when a commotion caught our attention.
Tobias—Rune’s brother—was in a heated argument with Darian, his green eyes blazing and his black hair, streaked with green lowlights, flared red as his phoenix magic slipped free.
“Get the fuck away from me, and stay away from my sister!” Tobias shouted, flames licking his arms.
Rune was gone in an instant, rushing to her brother’s side. “Tibby, he’s not worth it.”
Both men turned toward her, nostrils flaring.
Darian’s hand shot toward her.
Tobias knocked it away and shoved him back, heat flaring hard enough that it would have scorched Darian’s chest if not for the academy-issued suit. “Don’t fucking touch her!”
“Who the fuck have you been with?” Darian snarled at her, lunging again, only for Tobias to block him.
I stepped in, wrapping an arm protectively around Rune’s waist and letting my venom pool on my fingers before flicking it at Darian’s cheek.
The pain was so immediate that whatever glamour he had in place glitched and flickered until it fully revealed a burn scar covering half his face. It was phoenix fire damage.
His glamour unfortunately came right back.
“She’s mine! She’smine!” Darian raged.
I gave a slow, mocking smile. “Oh? I don’t see her name on you like it is on me. Must not have been that serious.”
I may not have had her name on me yet, but this asshole didn’t know that.
Darian’s lip curled. “Then, I’ll get her name tattooed.”
Rune made a face. “Ew. Don’t.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t see her name on you either.”
My grin turned razor-sharp. “Want to see my dick, then?”
Tobias had to physically hold him back, but the effort only pushed Darian toward shifting into his drake form. Silver scales rippled over his arms, his talons extending.
