I had to look away for a second just to keep my brain functioning.“No.You get your dad’s approval, and then I’ll consider it.”
She groaned. “You know he won’t say yes.”
“I know.” I shrugged. “I would just rather my mate not be hollowed out so my spider can live inside her chest cavity. Call me crazy, pretty little poison, but it’s not happening.”
“You two remind me of your parents when they were young, Zuko.” Lance’s lips curled into a smile. “So…do you want him?”
I hesitated, but Rune nodded decisively. “Yes. He’ll take him.”
“I was talking tohim,” Lance replied dryly, but he reached for the enchanted terrarium.
I leaned down toward Rune. “I’m serious. I don’t want you to be bitten by him. On purpose or otherwise. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, toxin,” she replied sweetly. “I understand.”
The grin she gave me right after that made my fangs itch.
I was definitely going to have to watch her around him.
The vendor transferred the spider into an enchanted travel enclosure that was a cube of reinforced glass with ventilation runes and a small bone that was moss-covered. The spider scuttled inside without fuss, curling around the bone like it already owned the place.
“Armed earth spiders bond with their main handler fast,” Lance explained. “Treat him well, and you’ll have a brutal little friend for a long time. Do you know what you want to name him?”
“Cthulhu,” Rune cooed at the spider, and the spider moved its front legs in agreement.
“Cthulhu it is,” I chuckled.
We paid and stepped back into the flow of the market, Rune holding the little habitat close to her chest, staring at the spider like it was the prettiest thing she’d ever seen.
“Now it’s time to train him,” I murmured, watching Cthulhu test the glass with one root-like leg.
Rune’s eyes lit up. “Can I help?”
I sighed, because there was no universe where I could say no to my mate, but I didn’t love the idea of her having free access to his venom either. “Of course you can, pretty little poison…aslong as you promise not to let him bite you on purpose.” I gave her a pointed look. “And I’m making sure I get the anti-venomfirst.”
She huffed dramatically but nodded. “Deal. I guess this is a safe way for me to try it.”
“Rune,” I warned.
“I’m kidding,” she sang, giggling as she laced our fingers together and tugged me down the stone path that led out of the market and back toward the Supernatural Council’s HQ.
We walked along the stone pathway, the sunset painting the tops of the buildings gold. HQ rose ahead, and the extensive building had a moat around it. Dragon scales powered wards on the tops of the spires. Just past the bridge, the wayfaer teleporter sat on its elevated platform.
I loved feeling the bond hum with contentment.
A heavy chopping that didn’t belong in Apex Capital’s sky resounded through the air, and I looked up to see a helicopter. It was human tech, ugly and loud against the graceful lines of our city. It hovered above the street.
The wards around the district sparked where its metal shell forced through them, using some type of tech to rip a hole through it. Ropes dropped from the sides, and eight humans slid down in tactical gear, boots hitting the cobblestone hard. They spread out fast, formation tight, weapons drawn, eyes scanning until each one locked onto Rune.
Her eyes widened, and I felt a sudden spike of fear and fury through our matebond.
My instincts flared, the need to protect her blotting out everything else.
It warmed my heart that I could feel that she wanted to protect me just as badly…but I had to protect her first.
Shewas their target.
A hiss ripped from my chest as I stepped in front of her and let my basilisk form surge outward. My bones stretched, scales rippling over skin as my body elongated and thickened. I was a massive serpent, my body filling the street, fangs bared and leaking venom.
