Zodiac Academy 6: Fated Throne
Fated Throne: Chapter 37

“Tuck your hineys!” Washer called as we did squats in the mud, the rain beating down on us on the Pitball pitch.

We never shielded from the weather while we were training so we got used to all conditions during a match. No magic could be wasted for that when we had to reserve it all for fighting the opposition. Washer had had some mercy on the cheerleading squad at least after making them rehearse in the pouring rain until their costumes were drenched, and he’d finally let them head off to the changing rooms to shower.

“Do we really need to do any more of this shit?” Darius barked at Washer who was casting the rain away from himself as he sat on a fold out chair in some lycra shorts and a yellow turtleneck sweater.

He’d taken over Pitball training since Professor Prestos had been overwhelmed by all the extra classes she was teaching. He didn’t even freaking like Pitball and his grasp on the rules was next to none.

Nova apparently didn’t give a damn if our team went to the dogs. She probably hadn’t even noticed, what with her head being so far up the King’s ass. I got the feeling she’d assigned Washer to this role to punish him for breaking up with her too. But the only ones really getting punished were us.

“No, you’re quite right, Mr Acrux,” Washer called. “Pair up. Boys with girls. That’s it, you can pair with Mr Capella, Miss Vega,” Washer directed Seth over to me while wetting his lips thirstily, giving me the chills. He paired up the rest of the team, taking his time over deciding who went with who like it mattered. “Mmm that’s it, now all the girls get on your backs and stretch one leg as far over your heads as you can. Boys, press your weight down on their thighs to really widen the stretch.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Caleb barked.

“Pipe down, Mr Altair. Flexibility is an important part of any sport,” Washer said. “Now hurry along and get those legs in the air girls.”

I dropped down into the mud with a huff, stretching my leg up as far as I could over my head and Seth bent over me to push it further, keeping his weight off of me so this didn’t get super weird. Although, I was pretty sure this was already in that territory.

Geraldine lay in the mud beside me with both of her legs stretched over her head with no freaking bother. “Come on then you wet willy, help me stretch out my quads,” she demanded, lifting her head up to shout at Max between her thighs. He smirked and dropped his weight onto her, gripping her ankles and driving them into the mud above her head as his crotch ground against hers. Jesus.

I looked up at Seth with a snort and he sniggered at his friend.

“Push the girls harder, boys!” Washer called. “Use your weight to get a nice deep stretch. You’re not using your weight, Mr Capella.” A torrent of water hit Seth in the back and he was knocked over me, his heavy body falling onto mine. I hissed as he forced my leg to go far further than it wanted to and I was drenched in the icy flow of water too.

“Ow ow ow,” I pushed him back and his hand slipped in the mud as he tried to get up.

“I’m gonna kill him,” Seth growled, turning his head to bare his teeth at Washer as he managed to raise himself off of me.

“Less of the attitude, Capella, or you’ll lose your extra credit for this term,” Washer warned.

“Fucking asshole,” he snarled, turning back to face me. “Sorry, babe, you’re gonna have to take one for the team.”

I growled, shoving his chest. “Just let me swap legs, this one’s officially broken.”

He laughed, kneeling back and letting me swap out before pressing his weight down on me again, but not much. He cast a subtle silencing bubble around us, his eyes darting over to Caleb who was further down the line.

“So…have you spoken to Cal again?” he whispered as my ankle went over my head and I winced.

“Yeah, but whenever I try to steer the conversation toward you, he changes the subject. I dunno how to break him,” I said with a frown.

“I swear he feels something,” he murmured.

We’d been over every detail since the graveyard incident, of how Caleb had saved his life then leaned in, gazed at Seth’s mouth and almost seemed like he was gonna kiss him.

Seth had acted it out moment by moment so I had a pretty good visual, though the Wolf had a tendency to dramatize things which meant I couldn’t be entirely sure how accurate his account was. But there must have been some truth to it.

“Maybe you just need to ask him,” I suggested, knowing I was sounding like a broken record by now, but really, what other option did he have?

“Or maybe we need to make him jealous. Watch his reaction,” he demanded, dropping the silencing bubble before I could agree then grabbing my wrists and pinning them above my head with one hand.

“Hey,” I hissed.

“Max, take a picture of us.” Seth wrangled his Atlas out of his pocket, tossing it to his friend who was now rocking his hips back and forth while Geraldine held onto his head and shouted wild encouragements to him. He looked like he was having the time of his life.

Seth’s Atlas fell into the mud and Max looked over at us in a daze. “What?”

“Get a photo,” Seth snapped.

“I don’t want a photo,” I yanked at my wrists, opening my palms and readying to blast him off of me with air if he didn’t obey.

Max laughed, snatching up the Atlas and snapped a photo just as Seth leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.

“Ah!” I released a storm of air, forcing him off of me and sending him flying away into the mud with a hard thwack.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, sitting up with a snarl before pushing to my feet. “What the hell, Seth?”

He got up, clutching his stomach as he laughed and I charged him down, using my earth magic to pelt huge balls of mud at him. The first one slapped him right in the face, killing his laugh dead, but he threw up an air shield before I could land the second one.

The earth quaked beneath my feet as I prepared to bury him, but Caleb suddenly shot between us and Washer started blowing his whistle.

“What’s going on?” Caleb demanded of me, like it was my damn fault Seth didn’t have any boundaries. But I had to admit, maybe Caleb did look kind of jealous.

“He kissed me,” I growled, pointing an accusing finger over Caleb’s shoulder at the mutt.

Caleb whipped around to look at him and I couldn’t see his expression as Seth shrugged innocently.

“She was begging for it,” Seth said with a smirk. “She kept saying ‘oh you’re getting me so wet, drag me back to your Wolf den and put it in my ass’.”

An earthquake split away from me as I snarled and the ground tore in two. I’m gonna kill him.

Seth rose himself up on a cloud of air as Caleb jumped out of the way of the hole opening up in the ground.

“That’s enough!” Washer called. “I know this new Order law is causing a lot of sexual frustration, Miss Vega, but we must all try to restrain ourselves. I can always help syphon off some of that rampant energy if you need an outlet.”

I shuddered, rounding on Washer as Seth and Caleb did too.

“Why are you such a damn pervert?” I snapped at him before I could stop myself and Washer’s mouth dropped open.

“I do beg your pardon, Miss Vega?” Washer held a hand to his heart, looking utterly offended.

“No, she’s right,” Seth snarled. “If you talk to her like that again, I’ll deal with your ass myself.”

“I don’t need your help,” I tossed at Seth, but I guessed his solidarity was sort of sweet.

“Oh-ho!” Washer gasped. “You’ll deal with my ass will you, Mr Capella?” he asked, making it sound like a completely different kind of threat and I grimaced.

“I’m gonna get you fired if you don’t back down, you old creep,” Darius barked, walking over with Max at his back, water streaming from their hair and making their uniforms cling to their muscular bodies. I’d noticed he’d point blank refused to take part in the stretching shit and I knew that was because of Tory. He didn’t let any of the fangirls even get close to him these days and there was something stupid cute about that.

Caleb laughed obnoxiously and Washer looked between us all in shock then took a step back, chuckling nervously.

“I meant no harm. You’ve got the wrong end of the stick,” he simpered, cowering under the gaze of all of us.

“Good,” Darius growled. “Then in the words of Lance Orion, the best damn Pitball coach this team has ever had by the way, class is fucking dismissed.”

We all turned away from Washer, heading to the locker rooms and Geraldine guffawed as she came prancing along beside me.

“That’ll show that brackish ballbag where to stuff his stationary,” she said with another loud laugh and I grinned.

“I don’t think he’ll ever stop being creepy though,” I said as we headed inside and I urged my Phoenix fire into my veins to warm me through.

We split away from the boys, walking into the girls’ changing room and we were soon showered and dressed in warm clothes and I adjusted the necklace holding the Imperial Star over my shirt carefully. I put on the Gemini bracelet my brother had gifted me too, liking the way it made me feel closer to him.

I’d wanted to go flying with him and Tory tonight, but the weather was only getting worse. When I checked my Atlas, I found a text from my brother saying there were storms all across the kingdom, but the sun would be out tomorrow so we should go then instead.

I pulled a navy hoody on over my sports bra, leaving the zip open as I dried out my hair. The last of the other girls filed out of the room and I looked over to Geraldine who was putting on makeup in the mirror.

“Going somewhere tonight?” I asked curiously.

“Justin and I are meeting up for a late supper,” she said, powdering her nose.

“Oh, like a date?” I asked curiously and she shook her head.

“Oh no my sweet Darcy, I do not date. I spread my lady seed as far and wide as I can until my days of unshackled courtship come to a close. My marriage to Justin, the little worm, will be the end of it, but sometimes…”

“What?” I asked as she sighed heavily, her shoulders heaving and dropping.

She glanced at me with emotion glazing her eyes and I rested a hand on her shoulder as my heart tugged.

“Well, lately,” she lowered her voice. “My Lady Petunia craves to have her garden watered by one single devilish dandelion.”

“Max?” I whispered, excitement running through me. I knew Geraldine’s political stance was holding her back from giving herself to Max, but I wished it didn’t have to. They were polar opposites but somehow they found a balance between them that just worked.

She nodded, sucking her lower lip then suddenly fell to her knees and wailed. “Oh, my Queen, I have wronged you by that admission! He is an Heir – a ghastly Heir! And I would never align myself with such a lout! Never!”

“It’s okay, Geraldine.” I drew her to her feet as she released a croaking sob. “Max is a good guy. Screw politics. If you like him, then go for it. Tory and Darius are meant for each other, so why not you and Max?”

“Oh my lady, if only it were so simple. And my lady Tory and her Darry man are an exception chosen by the stars themselves. He will eventually inevitably bend the knee when she puts a pin in his astoundingly large head.” She sniffed and I really hated that politics had to mean so much to her and that she wholeheartedly believed some pre-arranged engagement had to be stuck to. I didn’t care who she dated. Alright, I wouldn’t be thrilled if she joined the Clara party and started dating Lionel and calling him Daddy, but pretty much anyone else in Solaria was fair game. Except Orion. Nope, go away unwanted thought.

The door pushed open and Seth came walking in like he owned the world in just a pair of sweatpants with a bag slung over his shoulder. “Wanna walk back to Aer Tower with me, Darcy?” he asked. “The guys have gone.”

I looked to Geraldine and she nodded, waving me away as she turned to the mirror to reapply her makeup. “I’ll see you in the morrow. I shall have a feast of buttery bagels ready in the Hollow at dawn.”

“You don’t have to,” I said like always, but she waved me off again, because she always would. She was too damn good of a friend.

I headed out of the door with Seth, walking through the quiet halls together, relishing breaking Lionel’s little Orderist law. Ever since Orion had helped me with my illusion spells, I was getting seriously good at them. I could make myself look like a fluffy grey Werewolf padding along at Seth’s side whenever I liked, so hanging out with him and the other Heirs around campus had become a little easier.

“I wanna go for a run before we head back, I thought you might like the ride?” Seth asked and I scowled.

“I’m still pissed at you,” I reminded him.

“Oh right,” he said, cocking his head to one side and giving me a puppyish look. “Forgive me, babe. I just wanted to make Cal jealous. And did you see him run over? I think it might have worked.”

“I don’t think you should play games like that,” I said, clapping him in the ear. “It’s not cool.”

He whined low in his throat. “But jealousy is so fucking efficient at making people show their real feelings,” he reasoned.

“True, but it’s also game playing. Caleb doesn’t deserve that,” I pushed and he considered my words before nodding.

“Dammit, you’re right. Why are you always right?”

I laughed, tossing my hair jokingly. “It’s because I’m one of the true queens.”

He growled and I grinned, but he didn’t bite the bait. We all avoided the fact that we’d have to fight for the throne one day. It was simpler that way. Besides, with Lionel in power, that future seemed so far off and impossible it was easy to forget we might all clash again eventually.

We reached the exit and Seth pulled off his sweatpants, putting them in his gym bag which I took from him, hooking it over my shoulder. He opened the door, leaping out of it and shifted into his huge Wolf form.

I jogged forward to climb on his back, quickly casting an illusion over myself so no one would see anything but swathes of white fur in my place. Then I cast an air shield around us to keep us dry and he took off across the wet grass, his nose in the air as he breathed in the scents of the evening.

I clung to his fur, keeping low on his body as he ran faster and faster, tearing past the Earth Observatory and circling around to The Wailing Wood. The darkness was thicker between the trees and there were other Orders out too, creeping amongst the shadows.

Seth raced on through the wood, weaving between the large boughs and making my heart leap with exhilaration. We soon arrived at Aer Tower and he slowed his pace, padding up to the door while I raised a hand to cast air at the Elemental symbol above it. Seth nosed the door open and started running up the stairs, knocking people aside as he took several steps at a time.

There were posters on the wall warning of some sort of wild monster man that Kylie keep harping on about it, saying it had attacked her one night a few weeks ago. I guessed it was just a way to try and get attention, but it hadn’t worked. The only Fae who gave her any notice these days were the others K.U.N.T.s. And even they didn’t spend actual quality time with her. But whenever I felt remotely sorry for her sitting on her own pining for a friend, I vividly remembered her up on that stand in court, telling the whole kingdom that she had been the one to catch Orion and I. I would never forgive her for that. And if she spent the rest of her time at Zodiac alone because of it, then she was getting off lightly.

Seth slowed as he reached the corridor that led to my room, waiting for the students around us to file away before charging down it. I slipped off of his back, unlocking the door and turning to say goodnight but he pushed into my room.

“Damn Wolf,” I muttered as I followed him inside, shutting the door and locking it tight before casting a silencing bubble around us.

Seth shifted back into his Fae form and I tossed him his bag. He took out some boxers, pulling them on before throwing himself onto my bed and making himself comfy. He didn’t always stay here, but I had to admit I slept better when he did. With Tory having to pretend she was still controlled by the shadows, I couldn’t stay with her unless we slept at King’s Hollow. And without company, I barely got a couple hours sleep. So as weird as this was, I also wasn’t going to make him leave.

I kicked my shoes off, grabbing an elastic from my nightstand and pulling my hair up into a ponytail then dropping down beside him on the bed.

“Don’t you miss your pack when you stay here?” I asked as I hooked an Astrology textbook out from under my pillow and propped it up on my knees.

Professor Zenith wanted us all to study the Seventh House for a pop quiz she was throwing tomorrow. We’d been studying it all week, and as it was ruled by Libra and Venus (Orion’s star sign and the damn love planet) I was constantly reminded of him. The Seventh House’s other name was the House of Partnership too so that was just a bundle of coincidences I didn’t need right now.

“Not really,” he said, looking guilty as he rolled toward me and rested his head on my arm. “Do you wanna know something I’ve only told the Heirs?”

“Always.” I placed my book down, looking to him curiously.

He glanced up at me with a slanted grin. “They’re my real pack. The ones I count on over anyone else. The ones I’m there for before anyone among my Wolves. I know it’s fucked up, and I do love my pack. But they’re not family. The Heirs are. And so are you now. Your sister is too…though I don’t think she likes me that much.”

“Well you keep bringing her snacks and then stealing them back.”

“That’s a game we’re both taking part in,” he said defensively. “When I was on the moon the other Fae used to hide all the best snacks for me to sniff out and steal. They loved it.”

“That kinda sounds like you just stole their food.”

“Trust me. They loved it. Tory does too,” he insisted.

“Err, no. Tory is like a bear when it comes to food. She doesn’t share often and she definitely doesn’t like it being stolen from her,” I said and he just scoffed.

“She loves it,” he insisted even though I knew for a fact he was wrong. “But aside from that, she still doesn’t seem to wanna snuggle with me much, so there must be something else holding her back.”

“Well, you peed on her that time,” I pointed out. “People don’t just get over being peed on.”

“Yeah…” he said, a soft Wolfy whimper escaping him and I took pity on him as I went on.

“She doesn’t hate you anymore. She just needs to get to know you better,” I said and he chuckled in a low tone.

“Maybe I need to work on that,” he replied, shoving my Astrology book aside so he could curl up against me better, yawning like a tired pup.

I’d never had a pet dog, but I imagined it was kinda like this. Which was totally weird, but there was something about him lying on me or the way he did with the Heirs that just seemed natural. It was the way of his kind and he had such a soothing aura when he wasn’t being an asshole. Which these days tended to be pretty often. At least to those in his inner circle. I’d never really imagined there could be this much good in the guy I’d once hated with all my heart.

“So, are we ever gonna talk about what happened between you and Orion in that tomb?” he asked out of the blue and my heart jolted.

“What?” I blurted, heat rushing up to my cheeks. “Nothing happened.” Great, that sounded really convincing.

“Pfft, you came outta there looking guilty and confused as fuck. I know something happened,” he insisted. “I just assumed you might bring it up eventually, but apparently you still don’t trust me.”

I groaned, rubbing my eyes. “It doesn’t matter, it didn’t mean anything.”

He gasped, sitting upright and knocking my hand away from my face. “Holy fuck, I didn’t think anything actually happened, I was just testing you! Tell me everything.”

“You asshole.” I punched his arm and he laughed, grabbing my wrist and grinning like a maniac. I sighed dramatically, giving in as I tugged my arm out of his grip. “Fine. It was just one stupid kiss that’s all.” Tory was the only one I’d confided in about it and the only one I normally would. So this was a stretch for me.

His eyes lit up like I’d just told him Christmas was coming early and I frowned in confusion.

“Why do you look so damn happy about it?” I asked.

“It’s just exciting,” he said with a shrug, but I wasn’t buying it.

“Seth,” I warned and he sighed, dropping down to sit beside me and rest his head against mine.

“Fine, I want you two to get back together. Is that a crime?”

I wheeled on him, surprised that he was echoing what my sister had said. “You what?”

He shrugged innocently. “You’re fucking made for each other, and come on, it’s been months since he was gone and you’re not over him. Not even one percent over him,” he implored and I hated him calling me out like that. It put me on the defensive and I spluttered a non response while he just gave me a patient look that said he was waiting for me to admit it. Goddammit he was annoying sometimes.

“Even if I wasn’t over him, which I am, I could never be with him after what he did,” I said, but even as I said it, I knew it wasn’t entirely true anymore. Since Orion had explained himself, I kept running over his words in my mind. They were too sincere, too fucking sweet.

“You mean when he sacrificed himself for you so you might have a chance to take down Lionel? So that you wouldn’t lose everything including your place at the one academy capable of training up a Fae of your power level and giving you a real chance for the throne? By the stars, what an asshole,” he growled mockingly and I pursed my lips. “No, you’re right, Darcy. I won’t stand for it. How dare he throw himself into the most dangerous place in Solaria and face months of hell in Darkmore because of how much he loves you? How fucking dare he.”

“Stop it,” I snipped, but he just kept going.

“How dare he ruin himself as far as any Fae can possibly ruin themselves for you.”

“I didn’t ask him to,” I said heatedly. “I never wanted him to.”

“I know,” he said, his smile falling away as he took my hand and squeezed. “And you have a right to be mad at him for that. But not forever, babe.”

A lump burned my throat as emotion welled up in me. I dropped his gaze, unable to face the blazing truth in his eyes. “It’s all so messed up.”

“But it’s not unfixable,” he urged. “Look, I love hanging out with you, Darcy. Staying here with you feeds my inner Wolfiness, but I’m only here because I can feel your pain. Not in the way Max can, but…” He reached out, brushing his knuckles across my collar bone with a dark frown. “It’s instinct, I guess. I just know you’re hurting. And that hasn’t changed since he left. Even since Tory came back, I know you’re happier but it’s not enough. And if I’m honest, I don’t think it’s going to change unless you two fix this.”

“I don’t know if it can be repaired, Seth,” I said, the pain in me splitting open like a sealed box cracking in my chest.

He cupped my cheek, giving me an intent look. “If you both want it enough, it can be.”

I ripped my gaze from his, not wanting to face what he was asking of me. But I knew I needed to. I just wasn’t sure I could ever let go of this hurt Orion had left in me. I couldn’t see a reality in which I could trust him again, and if I couldn’t trust him, then there was no hope for us.

***

I sat in my last class of the day, scowling at Highspell as she handed out fat chocolate brownies to the ‘higher’ Orders at the front of the room, spending particular time chatting with the boys and casually running her fingers through their hair. Her skirt was almost short enough to see her snake hole and she made a point of bending over in front of any guy she took a liking too.

I felt sorry for Tory having to sit up there and pretend she was a slave to the shadows. She was probably working to restraining herself from tit punching Highspell right about now. As amazing as it was to know she was mostly free of Lionel’s control, it sucked that I couldn’t spend more time with her. We had to always be careful in case anyone suspected anything. And as much as I missed her, I wasn’t going to risk Lionel replaceing out she was no longer a walking zombie.

There was one thing keeping my spirits high today though, it was another full moon at last. And Orion would be able to read more of his father’s diary. Maybe my mother had seen more of what we needed to do to face Lionel.

I tried to cast a levitation spell on the three kilo weight sitting on my desk and it raised up a few inches before I let it tumble back onto my desk again. Highspell didn’t let us have anything above five kilos for this, while the front of the class were already lifting up to fifty. She’d vaguely given an explanation to the whole class of how to cast the spell then spent the rest of the time moving between the ‘higher’ Orders and showing them how to do it in more detail. And everyone back here was unsurprisingly failing this subject hard.

My Atlas buzzed and I took it out. Highspell rarely paid any attention to any of us in the back rows, so I didn’t bother to hide it as I found a message from Darius. Of course, if she did decide to look this way, she’d punish the hell out of me for it. But I didn’t give a damn.

Darius:

Can you go to Lance’s tonight? He might need help and I’m busy.

My heart missed a full beat.

Darcy:

Busy doing what?

Darius:

Stuff and things. Be there by seven, shrew.

I shot him a gif of an angry Minotaur shouting ‘NO!’ and he replied with one of a shrew running away from a torrent of Dragon fire.

I pursed my lips, wondering where the hell he’d found such a gif before tossing him one back of a Calonian Octopus Shifter with Fae hands on the end of every tentacle putting its middle fingers up.

Darius:

Have fun!

“Asshole,” I muttered.

Right, well if I was going, I definitely needed a buffer. I wasn’t gonna spend an evening alone with a guy I craved like a drug and who was just as bad for me. So I shot a message to the group chat asking for help.

Max:

No can do, little Vega, Gerry’s sneaking over to my place tonight.

Darcy:

How did you pull that off??

Max:

I stole all the bagels from the school supply and stashed them in my room. If she wants breakfast tomorrow, she has to come. Literally.

I snorted a laugh but it fell dead as Seth’s reply came in next.

Seth:

Can’t come tonight. Cal’s hunting me.

Caleb:

I am?

Seth:

Yup. *crossing swords emoji*

Seth:

Shit that was meant to be a battle axe emoji.

Caleb:

…

Seth:

Anyways, sorry babe, we’re out. Good luck, let us know all the juicy deets…about the diary.

I gritted my jaw in annoyance, looking over to Tory, but I knew she couldn’t join me. She only went home to Lionel at the weekends and there was no way I was going to make her head back to the palace any more than she had to.

My Atlas buzzed and I found a message from the only other person I could have called on.

Gabriel:

No can do, I’m heading home for the night for Faetalian Tuesdays. I’m cooking. I’ll freeze you some!

Great. It looked like it was on me.

It wasn’t like I didn’t want to see Orion. Hell, that was all I wanted to do. But being in a house alone with him seemed like a terrible idea. Especially since we’d kissed. I’d worked really hard convincing myself it meant nothing, and I didn’t want to be proven wrong.

I moved my thumb onto the new number in my contacts for Orion, his name saved as Starboy just like it used to be to hide the fact that we were talking. I guessed some things never changed. I hadn’t messaged him once since I’d gotten his number, but I figured it was only right to tell him I’d be showing up later.

Darcy:

Hey, I’ll be over at 7. Darius thought it would be best if someone is there with you.

P.S. Full moon woo!

Full. Moon. Woo??

God why would I say that?

Three little dots appeared to let me know he was typing a reply and I couldn’t believe how much that made my heart backflip.

Starboy:

And Darius thought the best someone would be you?

P.S. I think you’re spending too much time with Werewolves for the moon to get you that excited…

I rolled my eyes, but I was also struggling to flatten my grin as I replied.

Darcy:

He’s busy doing ‘stuff and things’ apparently which I’m gonna assume means counting out his gold and checking all the locks on his doors to make sure no one ever steals it.

So I guess you’re stuck with me.

P.S. No more time than I do with Sirens, Vampires, Cerberuses and Dragons.

Starboy:

I can think of worse fates.

P.S. They don’t sleep in your bed though, do they?

My heart lurched into my throat as I stared at those words. How the hell did he know Seth slept in my bed? Had Darius told him?

“Miss Vega!” Highspell shrieked and I looked up in surprise, replaceing her storming toward me like a bat out of hell. Her eyes turned to green slits and the necklace around her throat glowed brighter as she closed in on me. “How dare you disrespect me in my own classroom?” she hissed and I tucked my Atlas into my pocket.

“I don’t need to disrespect you, miss, you manage that all on your own,” I said lightly, poking the beast.

Tory met my eye across the room, a grin tugging up the corner of her mouth ever so slightly. I noticed her fingers flicking under her seat and Highspell suddenly tripped over like a whip of air had caught her legs, sending her tumbling to the floor ass over tit. Everyone roared with laughter including me. Yes, Tor.

The bell rang for the end of the lesson and I sprang out of my seat, leaping over Highspell as she struggled to get up and running for the door.

“Darcy Vega stop this instant!” she roared and I knew I’d pay for it tomorrow but I didn’t care.

Tonight was the full moon and I was not getting landed in detention. I laughed as I ran full pelt down the corridor and ice suddenly blasted over my head. Oh shit!

“Stop this second or you’ll regret it!” Highspell screamed and I spotted Caleb walking up the stairs ahead of me.

“Cal! Zoom me out of here!” I called and he didn’t even question it, shooting towards me and throwing me over his shoulder, laughing as Highspell came racing toward us on her high heels.

Caleb flipped her the bird then shot away at high speed, shooting across campus and making my head spin. We both cracked up as he placed me down and I realised I was beyond the outer fence.

“You’d better keep running, sweetheart. She’s gonna have every K.U.N.T. in school hunting for you.” He smirked, taking out a pouch of stardust and tossing it to me.

“Thanks.” I grinned. “What about you?”

“She’s got a thing for me.” He winked then stepped back through the fence. “I’ll just flirt my way out of trouble. Oh, and I’ll slip her a memory potion to get you off the hook too. See you later.” He shot away and I was left smiling as I took a pinch of stardust between my fingers. It really paid off being the Heirs’ friend these days.

My mouth grew dry and I looked down at my school uniform with a frown. Not exactly the outfit of dreams for tonight. But I didn’t really have much choice now.

I threw the stardust over my head and pictured the woodland outside the palace as I was tugged away through the stars.

I landed in the mud – without a single stumble thank you very much – and started jogging down to the tree where I could access the passage into the palace. I never stardusted too close to it just in case someone happened to be out here when I showed up. I didn’t think it was likely, but I was always cautious just in case.

I headed up to the gnarled tree, my breath fogging before me in the cool air as I pressed my hand to the Hydra mark and it shone beneath my palm.

I thought of my father with an ache in my soul, wishing I could have had a chance to know him. But more than that, I wished he could have been saved from what Lionel had done to him. It haunted me knowing his fate. I just hoped he’d known happiness alongside my mother at least.

I walked down the stairs the roots formed, descending into the tunnel below before they retracted and the lasting light of the day vanished. I took out my Atlas, figuring I should give Orion a head’s up that I was early, but found I had no signal. I swore under my breath as I tucked my Atlas away and cast a Faelight to see by as I jogged along, willing heat into my veins to fight away the cold.

When I reached the hatch, I cracked it open and peeked out with my heart pounding. The sound of the shower running reached me and I climbed up, gently dropping the hatch back into place and moving into the living room. The door to the bathroom was half open and my pulse went haywire at the sight of Orion in the shower. His back was to me and water rushed down his broad shoulders and the muscles tapering at the base of his spine before washing over his ass.

I remained stock still, not daring to breathe as he carved his fingers through his hair.

I should move.

I should do anything but stand here and just stare.

Heat burned a path through my body until I felt like I was melting. I forced myself to take a step away, but the floorboard creaked beneath my foot. His head whipped around and I nearly swallowed my own tongue as he met my gaze. Shit shit no shit.

I panicked, all rational thought going out of my head as I fled. It was stupid and childish but I didn’t give a damn because I just needed to get back into the tunnel and leave, come back later if I had to, but right now I just had to embrace my inner coward and run like a maniac to escape.

I almost made it to the hatch when Orion shot in front of me with a towel wrapped loosely around his waist, his naked body dripping water as he smirked at me. Fucking smirked. My heart collided with my throat and I folded my arms as I tried to regain some composure, but I was pretty sure I’d lost that the moment I’d freaked out and acted like the house was burning down.

“Where are you running off to, Blue?” he asked, his eyes glittering darkly and everything tightened between my thighs. Why had he started calling me that again? Why did I like it so much?

“I’m early,” I stated the obvious, because that was an awesome idea obviously.

“I see that,” he said, his fangs glinting at me and I wondered if that little chase had woken his Vampire up. Despite all the recent evidence to the contrary, I wasn’t, in fact, prey. And I needed to remind him of that fast.

“Were you spying on me?” he asked, amusement written into his features and I pressed my shoulders back.

“No. But maybe you shouldn’t shower with the door open, idiot. I wasn’t planning on seeing the crack of dawn twice today,” I tossed at him.

He barked a laugh and it was so damn infectious that a smile hooked up the corner of my mouth. His dimple dented his right cheek and I had the urge to reach out and run my thumb over it. An urge I quickly squashed.

He took a step toward me and I fought to keep my eyes on his face as his gleaming abs begged for my attention. “Don’t leave,” he said in a low growl which made my toes scrunch up in my shoes. “I’ll get dressed.”

He shot away across the room and I glanced over my shoulder as he dropped his towel by a set of drawers beside the large bed. I snapped my head around again fast enough to give myself whiplash. “Are you quite done being naked?”

“So long as you’re quite done with it,” he said teasingly and pockets of heat burst in my cheeks.

“I was done a long time ago, Lance,” I said lightly, though I was probably way past looking innocent at this point. I really should have texted before I went into the tunnel. My Horoscope had warned me about making rash decisions today. ‘Think before you act, Gemini’. Well that advice had gone to the dogs.

He shot past me into the kitchenette in some grey sweatpants and a white wifebeater, starting to make coffee.

“The moon won’t rise for another couple of hours,” he said, glancing at me. “Why are you early?”

He sounded kind of pleased that I was and the idea of that warmed me through. “Let’s just say I’m on the run.”

“From who?” he asked with a low laugh.

“Highspell,” I said, wrinkling my nose.

“Well you can hide out here away from that witch anytime you like,” he muttered, brewing the coffee and handing me a mug. It had a little ray of sunshine peeping through a cloud on it and I wondered if the set had been my mother’s.

“Thanks.” I blew on my coffee for something to occupy myself with, but despite me walking in on him butt naked, this somehow didn’t feel as awkward as the last couple of times I’d been here.

And this time I at least had some idea of what to say to keep the conversation moving. Which was kinda sad seeing as we’d never had trouble talking before. But opening up to him was difficult now and I wasn’t sure I wanted it to become easy again. Tory and Seth had planted a seed in my head about Orion though and it just kept growing a little bigger each day. With all I knew about his reasons for what he’d done, how could I stay angry at him forever? Especially after everything he’d been through since. He’d been punished plenty for it. But the idea of forgiving him opened up more questions I wasn’t ready to face. Even if I admitted that I still loved him, what then? He wanted me to move on. He didn’t see a future for us. He’d made that clear enough. Ergh, what a mess.

“Any chance you want to help me with another spell?” I asked, hoping we could focus on that for a while and stay away from uncomfortable territory like us.

“Sure,” he said, sipping his coffee and watching me over it. “What has Honey Highbitch failed to teach you this time?”

“Levitation,” I sighed. “I can do small objects, but she won’t let me practise on anything bigger than five kilos in class because the students at the back of class aren’t ‘capable’. But even when I’ve tried on my own, I can’t seem to grasp it. Tory said she’d talk me through what the bitch showed her when we get a chance, but it’s hard to replace the time together when she’s pretending to be shadow controlled all the time.”

He frowned angrily at that, placing his coffee down on a table and beckoning me over. “Come here.”

I placed my mug down too, walking over and the scent of cinnamon carried from his flesh, making my mouth water. I missed that scent more with every passing day. One time, Max had found me sobbing in my room at the palace in a heap of Orion’s clothes which I’d made Darius give me. His scent had finally left them and I knew that was it. The last time I’d ever smell him. But now it turned out I’d been wrong. And I wasn’t sure which fate was worse. Having him this close knowing I could never have him, or never being near to him again.

“Turn around,” he instructed and I did so as he moved up close behind me. He lifted my right hand, angling it toward the couch and his breath against my shoulder was definitely not distracting. “Levitation is a mind game. You can only lift five kilos because you believe you can only lift five kilos. Highspell is holding you back on purpose by teaching this spell that way,” he said in a furious tone.

A growl of anger left me as I absorbed that.

“Do you really believe a Vega princess can only lift five kilos?” he asked in my ear, making goosebumps rush down my arms.

“No,” I said in realisation, raising my chin.

“You could lift a mountain, Blue,” he murmured and I felt his belief in those words trickle into me too.

He angled my hand towards the couch then released it, letting me do the work. I brought my thumb in against my palm as I urged magic to the edges of my flesh and focused on the furniture in front of me. I let Orion’s belief in me and my belief in myself fill me up to the brim, leaving no room for doubt.

I can do this.

The magic left me in a wave and I yanked back on it as it met the couch, keeping the power attached to me the way I’d learned so I could control it. The whole thing lifted a foot off the floor and I gasped in excitement, magic tumbling out of me and all the furniture in the room started lifting up to join the couch. The bed, the coffee table, even the pictures on the walls. Everything in the room was floating and it was easy, easier than forcing myself to lift a tiny weight one at a time and fear that was all I would ever be able to manage. This was how my magic was meant to be cast. Freely with complete, utter belief behind it.

I twisted around with a laugh, throwing my arms around Orion’s neck and he pulled me tight against him. My heart tried to beat its way out of my chest as I was reminded of what it was like to be held by him again and it was nearly impossible to pull away. But I did. I backed up, turning around and lowering everything back to its place.

“You didn’t answer my question earlier,” Orion said darkly and I moved to sit down on the couch, picking up my coffee and frowning over at him.

“What question?”

He rubbed his hand across the thick stubble on his jaw, dropping into a chair opposite me. “About the Wolf sleeping in your bed.”

My gut clenched and I stole a few extra seconds drinking my coffee before I answered. “Who told you that?”

“Does it matter?” he shot back.

“Fucking Darius,” I muttered.

“You said you weren’t together,” he said and I sighed, not wanting to get into an argument again.

“We’re not. He just sleeps in with me sometimes,” I said like it was so simple, but it probably didn’t sound that way.

“And kisses you on the Pitball field?” he snarled and my jaw literally dropped.

“How the hell do you know about that?” I gasped, but his teeth snapped together. Goddammit Darius. “He kissed me because he was trying to-” I stopped myself there, not wanting to give away Seth’s secret about Caleb. “He just wanted to make someone jealous, that’s all.”

His jaw ticked as he rested his elbows on his knees. “Do you really have to lie to me?”

“I’m not lying,” I said in disbelief, my tone getting harsher as I failed to keep myself calm.

“You lied about us, so why not him?” he threw at me and outrage hit me like a punch to the chest.

“I had to lie about us,” I snarled and he blew out a breath.

“For fuck’s sake, that came out wrong. I mean, you have reasons to lie about him too. There’s a law banning Fae of different Orders from dating, your sister might disapprove and-”

I pushed out of my seat in fury. “I’m going to say this one last time, Lance. And if you don’t believe me then that’s your problem. But I am not with Seth Capella. And I wouldn’t make the mistake of lying to my sister ever again.”

My Atlas started ringing before he could respond and I took it out, replaceing Gabriel calling. I answered, holding it to my ear as I rose from my seat as my stomach dipped.

“Hey, everything okay?” I asked, concerned he might have seen something bad.

“All good, Darcy, can you put me on speaker? Lance needs to hear this too.”

Damn psychic. I wondered how much he saw of me sometimes. Could he just figure out wherever I was by turning his mind to me? Probably.

I hit the speaker button, lowering the Atlas from my ear and Orion frowned curiously.

“I’ve had a vision,” Gabriel said, sounding excited. “It’s an opportunity. One we really mustn’t miss.”

“What is it, Noxy?” Orion rose from his chair, moving to stand in front of me so the Atlas was held between us.

“Lionel’s hosting a party at the palace on Christmas Eve,” he said. “And there’s going to be a chance for me to get inside and use the chair in the Royal Seer’s Chamber that night. The stars are going to grant me this one opportunity to use it even though I don’t officially hold that title.”

I sucked in a breath. “That’s great.”

“Yeah,” Gabriel said. “And I think we might have another opportunity at the same time too…”

“Like what?” Orion asked.

“Stella’s going to be at the party, which means you two could try and get onto her property. I can’t see how that might go unfortunately, she still has Nymphs stationed there and they’re keeping it concealed from me with the shadows.”

“Why us?” I asked, glancing at Orion then back to my Atlas.

“Because you’re the only two who won’t be invited to the party. Besides, you can break the wards, Orio, and Darcy, you know where to look for Diego’s hat.”

My heart beat harder and adrenaline coursed through my veins as I accepted he was right. “Okay. Shit, let’s do it.” I looked up at Orion with a grin and he smirked back at me.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” Gabriel said. “The moon’s up.”

He hung up and I turned to look out the window, my smile widening as moonlight spilled across the patio.

“Fuck yes.” Orion shot away, grabbing the diary from his nightstand drawer and I jogged to the door, sliding it open just before Orion ran past me, catching my hand and towing me after him at speed.

He planted me in a seat at a patio table and dropped down beside me, placing the diary in front of us. I started casting a concealment spell around us and Orion helped until we were totally hidden then he threw me an addictive kind of smile.

He opened the diary and the moon bathed the pages. Light shimmered across it and words appeared in dark, swirling handwriting.

“Is that the Imperial Star?” I breathed, pointing to the image at the base of the first page as I raised a hand to brush my fingers over the necklace and Orion whipped around to look at me.

“You can see the words?” he asked in surprise.

“Yeah, can’t you?” I frowned.

“I can,” he said. “But Darius couldn’t.”

“Oh,” I breathed. “Well…the tomb let us both in. So maybe it’s a Vega and Orion thing.”

“Yeah…actually, my father’s note said the diary would be unreadable to the disloyal. He must have meant loyalty to the royals,” he murmured with a small smirk as he surveyed me for a second before looking back to the diary and turning the page. I guessed that was proof he was loyal to me and Tory. Did that mean he no longer backed Darius and the other Heirs? He’d encouraged me before, but seeing this truth laid out for me made my heart squeeze with emotion.

I leaned close to him to read the next entry, our shoulders pressing together.

Congratulations, my son.

If all has gone to plan, you passed the test we laid for you in the tomb. Merissa Vega assured me you would protect her daughter no matter what spell you were under. Pride doesn’t come close to what I feel toward you right now. If you have gained the Imperial Star, then I know you are the man I hoped you would become.

Now, the star must remain hidden. Only your most loyal of friends can know its location. A star cannot be seen by Seers or divined by the arcane arts. So long as you protect the knowledge of its location, it can never be discovered by Lionel Acrux.

This brings me onto your next task. You must reform the Zodiac Guild. Choose those strong of heart, mind and soul to swear an oath to protect the Vega royals. They will need a strong following to help them ascend, Fae who they can trust with their lives. Choose wisely.

To bind new members to the Guild, you will need the Chalice of Flames, an item that has long been in my possession.

Spill your blood beneath the light of the full moon to summon the chalice.

Orion flipped the page over and the image of a beautiful chalice was drawn there with a postscript beneath it.

The Chalice of Flames holds an ancient Phoenix flame within its core. It is indestructible, cannot be tarnished and must be protected by the Master of the Zodiac Guild. All who drink the royal elixir from this cup and speak the words inscribed upon its surface will be bound to the Guild, sworn in to protect the Vega line.

Orion placed his thumb in his mouth, cutting it open on his fang and holding it up to the moonlight bathing us. Light glittered across his palm and a shimmering silver chalice appeared in his grip, making my lips part in awe. The words inscribed on it were written in what looked like Latin and I had no idea what they meant, but I could feel the power of this object practically calling to me.

“Can I hold it?” I breathed and Orion passed it to me without hesitation. The metal was warm, kissing my palm and I gasped at the feel of the flame curling within it, sensing some long lost connection to the Phoenix who’d placed it there.

“It’s beautiful,” I sighed, passing it back to Orion and he placed it down in front of us as he started reading the next page. I leaned forward to do the same.

The elixir of the royals is laid out on the following page. It will take six weeks to brew, and during this time, you have the sole responsibility of ensuring the Imperial Star is protected. Merissa informs me that with the help of a dear friend, you will see the way to keep it safe until the Guild can be reformed and your allies can help protect its location.

I smiled, thinking of Gabriel and feeling closer to my mother than I ever had before. Knowing that she’d seen us gave me some comfort, like we held a connection to each other. That Tory and I hadn’t just been strangers to her in our adult lives. She’d known us to some extent through her visions. And I wished I’d known her too.

Your final task is the greatest of all. You must ensure the Vega twins are crowned. They must become true Queens so that they are able to wield the Imperial Star. Meanwhile, you must safeguard the knowledge in this diary. Each spell the star can cast is accessed by a powerful word. Words which are contained within these pages. You must memorise each one, ensure the Vegas know them by heart and never, ever forget them. You must not try to use them on the Imperial Star yourself or allow the Vegas to attempt it before they are crowned, for only a reigning sovereign can wield the Imperial Star. All others will perish if they attempt it.

Orion turned the page and a word ran across the centre of it in curling script.

Immunisia

Immunity.

This spell grants lifelong immunity to all illnesses.

“Holy shit,” Orion breathed and I turned to him with laughter bubbling in my chest.

“This is crazy.”

His eyes met mine and his fingers brushed my hand on the table, sending a line of fire through my body. “You’re gonna need to polish your crown, Blue,” he teased.

I breathed a laugh, leaning a little closer and whispering, “I need to take it back from a Dragon king first.”