Zodiac Academy 2: Ruthless Fae

I WOUND THROUGH the expansive hallways of the house, hunting for a way out. I needed some fresh air. I couldn’t find Tory and spending another minute in the company of people who questioned me on how I might rule their kingdom and destroy everything the Celestial Council had worked for was a special kind of hell.

As I continued my search for an escape, I got the feeling I was in Hotel California, turning left and right down endless beautiful hallways. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

For crap’s sake where is the exit???

“-well if you learned to behave appropriately for once, we wouldn’t have to keep going through this cycle would we?”

Lionel’s voice rocked a note of terror through me and I knew without a doubt I should not be wandering around the halls of his house.

I darted into a shadowy alcove beside a huge statue of a dragon – of course – and squeezed myself further in behind it. Not even a scrap of dust lay in the recess and I had to marvel at the efficiency of their cleaning staff.

Lionel stepped out of a door across the hall and I peered through a gap in the circling tail of the dragon with my heart in my throat.

He rolled down his sleeves, buckling up his cuffs and my gut churned as I spotted flecks of blood on them. “Oh for fuck’s sake,” he snarled as he spotted the marks. “Now I have to go and change as well!” he roared back into the room then stormed away down the corridor and veered onto a staircase, practically spitting fire.

My heart bashed against my ribcage, my breathing heavy as I remained there for a minute, making sure Lionel was well and truly gone. When I was confident he was, I wriggled forward to try and make a run for it. The door reopened and I shrank back quickly, my lips parting as Orion and Darius stepped out of the room.

“Drink,” Darius said gently but Orion shook his head.

“I’m fine, I’ve hardly cast tonight. You need to get back to the party. You’ll only end up here again if you don’t.”

Darius clapped Orion on the shoulder, “I’m sorry-” he started but Orion cut over him.

“Don’t. I’ll stand with you every time he lays a finger on you. I can’t always stop him, but I’ll be there.”

“You shouldn’t have to be,” Darius sighed heavily.

“It is what it is,” Orion said, then lowered his tone. “And it won’t be forever. You’ll be able to wield the shadows yourself soon.”

I frowned, unsure what he meant by that but it seemed to cheer Darius up as he nodded.

“Come on,” Darius said, but Orion shook his head.

“I’m going to get some air. You know I don’t like crowds.”

“Me neither, lucky for you no one forces you to stand in the middle of them.”

Orion scowled, resting a hand on Darius’s shoulder. “One day this entire estate will be yours. Hopefully sooner rather than later, huh?”

Darius ran a hand over the back of his neck, stepping away from him. “I’ll remember that the next time Father beats the shit out of me.” He didn’t let Orion answer, striding off down the corridor, glancing warily up the staircase his father had taken as he walked past it.

I held my breath as Orion remained standing there, my stomach all twisted up in knots. Lionel beat Darius? It was just awful. And why did it sound like Orion was often there when that happened?

My clutch slipped from under my arm and a soft clap sounded as it hit the floor, making my heart shatter as I snatched it back up. Maybe a normal person wouldn’t have heard it but a Vampire? No chance.

“Who’s there?” Orion snarled, his tone holding a deadly warning. “Come out this second.”

His Coercion dominated every muscle in my body and I lurched out of my hiding place like someone had tied a leash around my neck and pulled. His eyes widened as he discovered who had been eavesdropping on him and I bit down on my lower lip, trying to think up some reason why I might have been wedged in behind a stone dragon for the past five minutes. Nope; there was literally no reason in the world that warranted that.

His eyes were scalding hot and his jaw was pulsing with rage.

“Hello my shining star!” a female voice rang out. “What in Solaria are you doing down here with one of the Vega Twins?”

My gaze whipped down the corridor to take in a sleek woman who must have been in her fifties. She had a dark bob of hair which sharpened to longer points by her chin. Her skin was dewy and the fitted black dress she wore was elegant yet sexy at the same time. She walked toward us on high heels, using a burst of speed that could only have meant one thing. She was also a Vampire.

My heart lurched as she came to a halt before me, head tilted and eyes roaming. She was an inch taller than me even in my heels and that gave her the advantage of staring down her nose at me. “Hello pretty girl, I’m Stella.”

“Darcy,” I said, trying not to show my discomfort as she breathed in deeply before my face.

“Mmmmm,” she hummed. “All that power.” She bared her fangs. “Just a little taste…”

“Hey – wait!” I raised my palms in a panic, magic thrumming in my hands as I prepared to try and fight her off.

Orion was at my side in a heartbeat, his arm sliding possessively around my waist. “She’s my Source, Stella,” he snarled, baring his own fangs back at her.

“Oh my, you have been busy since I last saw you baby boy,” she teased. Baby boy?

She licked her lips as she eyed my neck again and I took a step back. “What a terrible crime it would be for a mother to share her own son’s Source. How selfish of me to think I could ask such a thing of my own flesh and blood.” She toyed with her hair, a pout pushing out her lips as she tried to manipulate him. But I didn’t get the sense it was working.

“Don’t start,” he said wearily. “What are you doing down here anyway?”

“I could ask the same of you.” Her eyes flashed to me and she swayed a little as she inched closer.

“You’re drunk,” Orion sighed. “Go back to the party.”

“You don’t mind if I stay a little longer do you, cherub?” she asked me and I wriggled out of Orion’s arms.

“Actually, you two stay, I’ve got somewhere to be anyway.” Specifically: anywhere but here. I started walking but Orion caught my wrist and yanked me back against his hip.

I looked up at him in alarm as he held me firmly in place.

Stella licked her lips, weaving her head as she laughed. “Do it again. But let her go further this time. I love the hunt.”

“Go back to the party,” Orion said forcefully, his voice reverberating through his body right into mine.

Stella started circling us, sighing dramatically. “Oh Lance, you’re so disappointing. I miss having a child who enjoys my company. Clara-”

“Don’t you utter her name,” Orion spat. “You lost that right a long time ago.”

Stella tutted, still circling us, plucking at my dress, trying to take my hand, but Orion kept swatting her away. “I miss your Daddy. He was such fun. Always up for chasing, hunting, playing. You’re so boring ever since you became a teacher at that drab Academy.” She leaned in to pat Orion’s face and he had to let her or else let go of me.

Her eyes dropped to me. “The apple never falls far from the tree though, cherub. Just like The Savage King’s blood runs in your veins, so does a predator’s in my baby boy’s. If he wasn’t bound by so many rules and consequences, he’d chase your pretty neck all around this house and drain you dry when he caught you.”

“Stop it,” I snapped, anger climbing in my chest. I despised the way I was being handled. Like a mouse in the paws of cats. I wanted to get the hell out of here. “Let me go,” I demanded of Orion but a low noise in his chest told me he had no intention of obeying.

Stella nodded eagerly. “Yesss let her go, let her run.” She snapped her teeth together and I suddenly realised I was probably better off where I was. I clutched onto Orion’s shirt with one hand and with the other I aimed my palm at her. “Go. Away. Or I’ll make you.” The amount of alcohol I’d had was loosening my tongue and I was kinda proud of myself for embracing my inner Fae.

She gawped at me, stepping back and holding her heart in shock. She was still swaying, but I couldn’t smell any alcohol on her even though Orion seemed to think she was drunk. “Are you going to let The Savage King’s daughter talk to me like that?” she demanded.

Orion glowered at her. “I don’t control her, she can say what she damn well likes.”

“Gah! What a child I’ve raised. I’d swap you for Clara any day.”

Orion stiffened, his arm beginning to tremble where it was locked around me. “And I’d trade you for Dad in a heartbeat.”

Her eyes glowed like nightshade then glimmered with tears. Thick, wet droplets splashed down her cheeks. “How could you say such a thing? How can you hurt me like this, after all I’ve done for you?” Her tone had changed to a melodramatic begging and I had to pity Orion for having to deal with this crap.

Orion said nothing and Stella barrelled on, practically wailing. “This is why your Daddy’s gone, he couldn’t bear the son he’d raised. You had such promise. But you had to go after your own heart and you broke his in the process. That’s why he killed himself.”

“He didn’t kill himself. Stop acting like a child,” Orion said coldly and his tone said this was a game he was used to. Like he was the parent in their relationship.

“He might as well have!” she shrieked, heading off down the corridor in a flood of tears.

Orion released a long breath. “I’m sorry you had to see that. She’s…got some issues.”

“Is she alright?” I breathed, unsure how to feel as her sobbing carried back to us.

“It’s all an act. Don’t buy into it. The second she sees you’re affected, she’ll sink her claws in and never let go.”

I glanced down at his hands which were still locked tightly around me. I was flush to his side and the burning heat of his body seeped into mine. “Speaking of not letting go.” I cocked a brow and he released me, though I found myself lingering against him for half a second before I moved back.

I glanced over my shoulder and pointed. “Is this the way out?”

His face skewed into a devilish smile. “Aren’t you forgetting something, Blue?”

“Err.” I shrugged. “No?”

“Why were you hiding behind that statue?”

I folded my arms. “You never let me away with anything. For all you know I like wedging myself in dark corners.”

A laugh burst from his throat and I grinned in response.

One point to me.

“Come on, I’ll show you the way out and you can give me the real story while we walk.” He stepped to my side, placing a hand on my back to get me moving and sending white hot sparks flying out from the base of my spine. I nearly stopped breathing when his arm slid around my waist and remained there.

“So?” he prompted when I said nothing.

“I heard Lionel and decided I didn’t want to be found wandering his home like an enemy spy.”

“Good call,” he commented. “And I suppose you figured out why we were all in that room?” he asked darkly.

I dropped my eyes to the shiny wooden floor beneath us. “Yes,” I whispered.

“So you know the way Lionel treats his son?”

I nodded, my gut tightening uncomfortably. “I know the way Darius treats us too,” I murmured.

Orion fell quiet for a long moment, seeming to be thinking. “Darius is just doing what he thinks is right.”

“It doesn’t excuse-”

“I know,” he said firmly then sighed. “Let’s not talk about the Heirs. They give me a headache most days of the week.”

I nodded and quiet descended on us, seeming to thicken the air and make it harder to draw breath. All I could feel was his hand on my waist, and all I could smell was cinnamon and his manly musk.

For a moment, it felt so natural to walk there like that, side by side with him. But the second we turned a corner and he released me, the spell was broken. He was my teacher and there really wasn’t anything more to it than that. Half the girls in school swooned over Professor Orion in class. But he was the look don’t touch variety of guy. Which made him enticing even before his villainous good looks were factored in.

“So…your mother seems interesting,” I said lightly and he shot me a grim look.

“That’s being polite. She’s a black-hearted woman and I advise you to stay away from her. Anything that comes out of her mouth tends to be a lie devised to manipulate.”

“What she said about your father-”

“Like I said, it’s not true. My father died in a magical accident. I would know. I was there when it happened.”

“Oh,” I breathed, my heart breaking for him. I may have lost two sets of parents and never known the embrace of a mom or dad, but I’d never been old enough to mourn them. “That’s awful, I’m so sorry.”

Orion drew in a long breath. “It’s in the past. That’s where I tend to leave it.”

We reached a long hall lined with floor length windows which overlooked an incredible courtyard. Stretching through the middle of it was a glimmering rectangular pool, illuminated by blue lights at its base. Orion opened the door and I followed him out into the beautiful place. Every wall was lined with potted trees and ivy climbed the walls, all highlighted by strings of golden fairy lights. Several sun loungers lay in a row to the right of the pool and to the left was a pool-side bar complete with barbecue.

“This place is ridiculous,” I half laughed as I took it all in.

Orion threw a grin back at me as headed to the bar, ducking behind it. “What would madam like?” he asked in a formal tone which was a damn good impression of the Acruxes’ butler. I giggled hurrying over to take a stool in front of the bar and placing my clutch down, relishing the cool breeze against my burning neck.

“Hmm…a Manhattan?” I teased and he cocked his head.

“I’m afraid we’re fresh out of bullshit, how about a white wine spritzer with a tiny umbrella in it?”

I laughed, nodding eagerly as he made up my drink then poured himself a measure of bourbon.

He held it out for me and I leaned across the bar to take it. As I took hold of the glass, he didn’t let go and I gazed up at him under my lashes questioning why.

“Have I told you have exceptionally beautiful you look tonight, Darcy?”

Darcy.

He’d said my name. For the first time ever. And why did it sound like so much more than a name when he spoke it? It was like he’d fired an arrow and it had punctured a flesh wound in me at the exact same moment.

Hell. I needed to get over this guy. Why was I so caught up on him?

Unavailable, that’s what it was. We always want what we can’t have and Professor Orion was off limits. Simple as that. And those muscles. And the beard. And the dark eyes. And the dimple. But that was it.

“That’s the first I’ve heard of it, Professor,” I whispered, unable to make my voice rise any louder.

“Don’t do that,” he grunted, releasing the drink.

I eyed him curiously as he walked around the bar with his bourbon in hand. He took the stool beside mine, his arm butting up against me.

“Do what?” I asked, swivelling around to face the pool and taking a sip of my spritzer. It fizzed on my tongue and sent a deep kick of heat through my chest.

“You know what.”

“You’re very presumptuous, Orion. You think I’m far more aware of your chaotic way of thinking than I really am.” I sipped my drink again, spying on him from the corner of my eye. 

He took a swig of his own drink and the familiar waft of bourbon drifted over me, tingling my senses. It was becoming a trigger, like the moment I walked into his office and he uncorked a bottle, it made me want to taste it on his mouth. And then that led to me wondering whether his fangs would brush my tongue when we kissed, and that always led to me mentally undressing him, then me conjuring an image of what those muscles looked like beneath that shirt…

“I have something for you,” he said and I turned, blinking out of my dark fantasy.

“You do?”

He nodded, reaching into his inside pocket and taking out my coil of blue hair. My heart combusted and a choked noise escaped me. I reached for it and he slid it onto my wrist.

He kept my hand in his, his eyes downcast as they remained on the band of hair. “I want you to know, I believe you would have gotten this back yourself when you were ready. But I took a lot of pleasure in retrieving it for you all the same.”

I stared at him in complete shock, unsure what to say, my tongue tied in knots. “But Fae don’t fight battles for other Fae,” I blurted, completely astonished that his actions that day had been to take this back from Seth. For me. And nothing else.

He finished his drink and planted the glass on the bar, rising to his feet. He didn’t reply to what I’d said and I barely even remembered what it was as he started pulling his clothes off.

“Err, what are you doing?” I half laughed as he shed his jacket and kicked off his shoes, pulling off his socks. Oh my god.

“I hate parties, but I like swimming.” He started undoing the buttons of his shirt and though his back was to me, I was still captivated as he dropped it to the floor like a silken sheet. My eyes scraped down his skin to where his muscles etched an upside down v into his lower back, disappearing beneath his waistband. His shoulders were tanned and heavenly broad, making me long to explore all of those muscles with my hands.

He dropped his pants and my mouth grew wetter as he stepped up to the edge of the pool in nothing but black boxers.

Heat rode a wave in my belly and I clenched my thighs together as desire took hold of me. He leaned forward then dove into the water like a pro, disappearing under the surface with complete grace.

I finished the end of my wine, placing the glass down and twirling the little umbrella between my fingers. When Orion didn’t resurface, an uncomfortable feeling plucked at my gut.

I dropped the umbrella, hurrying to the edge of the pool and searching for him. I couldn’t see him anywhere and my heart started to race at the amount of time it must have been already. One minute, two?

I knelt down, leaning further over the edge.

Hang on a second, he has the power of air so maybe that means-

He breached the surface right beneath me, catching hold of my arm and dragging me into the pool. My scream was swallowed by the water as he pulled me down down down to the deepest part of the pool.

My chest was ballooning already and the panic of him yanking me under so fast meant I’d barely taken a breath. He suddenly pushed me from behind and I crashed onto my knees, air somehow flowing freely around me. I stared up in complete awe as I found myself in a large, rectangular pocket of air carved out by magic against the wall of the pool. I stood upright, pushing my sopping hair from my eyes as I caught my breath.

I was alone in the space as I stared at the water rippling above me, the blue pool lights reflecting off of the surface. I was soaked through and I’d lost my heels on the way down, but I didn’t care, the party had sucked anyway and this moment was too incredible to be ruined by smeared make-up and damp clothes.

I stared out into the gleaming water to my right just as a shadow emerged from it. Orion walked through the wall of water as easily as if he’d been walking above ground.

“This is amazing,” I laughed, my voice echoing back to me.

“You’re not mad I dragged you to the bottom of a pool then?” he teased.

“This makes up for it,” I said with a slanted smile, gesturing to the beautiful magic he’d cast.

I hope I can do things like this one day.

His shining skin drew my attention and I became enslaved to the need to explore every inch of his flesh. His body brought on an ache in me I hadn’t known for a long time. Since my ex had dumped me after I’d given him my virginity, I hadn’t done more than fool around with guys. The desire to go further had never really risen again. Not until Orion. And I had never, in all my life, wanted anyone like I wanted him.

His beard had been trimmed even shorter for the party, revealing the powerful cut of his jaw and that divine dimple in his cheek. He’d brought me here, alone, cordoning me off from the world. And the blazing intensity in his gaze made me hope that maybe he was about to drop the teacher act for one night and admit he was drawn to me too.

He glanced above us and his brow furrowed heavily. “Up there are a thousand reasons why we can’t be together.”

I swallowed thickly, goosebumps rushing along my skin in response to his words. I pressed my back to the cool tiles of the pool and the goosebumps spread deeper, evoking a shiver across my body.

“I’m bound by so many rules I could waste the rest of your evening telling you them,” he said.

“Skip them then, sir.” A smile played around my mouth as a thrill danced in my chest.

He moved closer and rested his hands either side of me on the wall. “I think the time for sirs and professors is over, don’t you?”

No answer came from my lips, but my body gave it to him as I reached out and did the one thing I’d dreamed about the most since this all-consuming crush had first started. I brushed my fingers across the stubble on his jaw, resting my thumb over the dimple in his cheek, feeling the tiny rivet in his skin.

The distance parting us suddenly felt like too much; the air was racing over my exposed flesh, chilling me to the core. I needed the heat of his hands, the red hot press of his stomach and chest.

“Lance,” I breathed and his pupils dilated as I met his gaze.

He devoured the space between us and I experienced pure sin as his mouth crushed against mine. It was gunpowder meeting fire and the result was an all-consuming blaze which burned me up from the inside out.

A desperate noise escaped me that would have made me blush if I’d had any scrap of self-awareness left. But that was all it took for him to slam into me full force, hitching my legs up around his waist so fast it made my head spin.

My hands finally got their deepest wish and roamed down the plains of all that gloriously golden skin. But it wasn’t enough just to feel the flex of his muscles, I needed more and I took it by scratching against his beautiful shell, wanting to break beneath flesh and bone and burrow my way deeper.

I need more.

One of his hands tangled in my hair, tugging it to tip my chin back and eliciting another moan of pleasure from my lips. He swallowed it up, his tongue sinking into my mouth and making my heart find a rhythm it had never beat to before.

He kissed me like he wasn’t allowed to kiss me, but if he didn’t he’d die. I tangled myself around him with equal desire, the well of magic in my body spilling over and flooding my veins. A profound and unknown energy hummed within me, drawing to the edges of my skin. Orion seemed to sense it too as the hairs raised along my arms and static energy crackled everywhere our flesh met. 

I was entirely lost to the deepest and most carnal desire I’d ever felt.

His hand found the slit in my dress and his fingers trailed onto my bare leg, making me gasp in response. Fire surged down my spine only to bounce back up again as he gripped my thigh and squeezed.

With so little clothes parting us, I felt every inch of his arousal pressing between my legs and I started to wonder how far this kiss was going to go. My fingers slid into the verge of his hair as I ground against him and my thoughts scattered again. He released a rumbling growl filled with nothing but need and his hand shifted between us, roaming deeper beneath my dress until he found the top of my panties. I nearly lost my mind as his fingers brushed the sensitive flesh there and skimmed the line of my underwear. My back arched as I tried to bring his hand closer to fulfil the promise of ecstasy I knew he could bring me.

Instead, he pulled his hand free and placed it on my hip with a heavy breath. It took everything I had, but with his fingers firmly away from the area of my body which was trying to run the show, I could think a little clearer.

He pulled back almost the same moment I did and I swallowed hard as I felt the lasting sensations of that kiss everywhere. My mouth tingled and my cheeks stung from the scrape of his stubble. My thigh muscles throbbed where they were still locked tightly around his waist and my heart seemed to bleed from the loss of contact with his mouth.

We remained breathless and silent, staring at each other like the reality waiting above us wasn’t about to rip us apart. But I knew as well as he did, this was a one time only thing. Now I just had to convince my body of that.

I unwound my legs from him, bracing my hands on his shoulders as I dropped down. He steadied me for a moment then the air between us changed. His eyes darkened and he didn’t need to speak to let me know what he was thinking. A vow hung solidly around us. This won’t happen ever again.

He opened his mouth to speak but I spoke before he could, not wanting to be commanded into eternal silence. I already knew what would happen the second we left this magical place behind, I didn’t need to be told. “Let’s go.”

“We can stay a little longer…if you want.” His expression was that of a wounded man but I knew whatever pain lay in his body, would never be mine to heal.

I shook my head, lifting my chin to gaze up at the surface of the pool. “No, I think we should go back to reality now.” The longer I stay, the harder it will be to leave.

“Are you angry with me for bringing you here?” he asked and I was compelled to look down, falling into the intensity of his eyes as a strained line formed on his brow.

“No.”

He reached out to skate his fingers across the line of my jaw, feather light. “You know how it has to be.”

I nodded, leaning away from his touch which felt like forcing two magnets apart. “I know.”

What happens at the bottom of the pool, stays at the bottom of the pool.

“Come on then, Blue.” He held out his hand.

I took a shuddering breath, placing my hand in his. “I think it might be best if you don’t call me that anymore.” I tugged at a lock of wet hair. “It’s not blue anyway.”

He glanced at me with shadows in his eyes, but nodded all the same. He stepped into the pool, tugging me after him and I took a breath before pushing through the magical wall. I felt it drawing in behind me, the water filling that private space which would never exist again.

I pulled my hand from his grip, swimming to the surface and taking a breath as I breached it. I swam to the edge of the pool, pulling myself up onto the tiles and shivering as the night air blew around me.

Orion resurfaced a second later, placing my shoes beside me before hoisting himself out and rising to his feet. I got up too, hugging my arms around my chest and trying to will heated air to my fingertips. It was like trying to get fire going in a storm, the kindling was there but the flame wouldn’t take.

“Here,” Orion said stiffly, moving closer and opening his palm. Hot air wrapped around me and he left me in it as he scooped up his own clothes and had himself dry within a few seconds. I turned away as he started to dress, a sinking feeling weighing in my gut. I’d stepped out of a blissful dream into a darker reality and I so wanted to go back to sleep.

My dress dried out and my hair fell around me in loose curls. I slipped on my shoes which Orion must have dried already then moved to pick up my clutch from the bar, taking out a pocket mirror and checking my makeup. I looked miraculously okay. My mascara was waterproof and hell was it proving its worth right now. I used the powder in my bag to touch up the rest then placed it back. I eyed the damp band of hair on my wrist with a tug in my heart then slid it from my wrist and tucked it into my bag.

I took a breath then turned to Orion, knowing I couldn’t put it off any longer. He was fully dressed, his back to me and his hands in his pockets.

“My sister loved this place,” he said, surprising me.

I moved to his side, gazing around the beautiful courtyard. “Oh yeah?”

“We used to come here as kids. Back then things were so simple. We didn’t see anything but the good in the world.”

“What happened to her?” I asked gently, stealing a glance up at him.

His brows were drawn and the darkness in his eyes was back in full force. He didn’t answer for a long moment. “She got caught up with some bad people.”

“The Acruxes?” I guessed and Orion looked at me for the first time since we’d left the pool.

“Don’t go looking for trouble, Miss Vega.” His tone was formal and I was unsettled by how much it hurt considering I’d already known it would be this way. I said nothing and he released a low breath. “Would you like to see her?”

“Clara?” I asked and he nodded, giving me a ghost of a smile. “Yes, I’d like that.”

He headed back toward the glass doors and I followed him inside, relishing the warm air that heated the place. It was as if a constant fire burned behind the walls of this house, like we were deep in the belly of a volcano.

Orion walked ahead of me, never looking back as we wound through the huge halls, the only sound between us the click of my heels and the pounding of his footfalls.

He soon drew to a halt beneath the staircase Lionel had disappeared up earlier and a deep pressure weighed down on me. Photographs were dotted along the wall rising to the next level. Orion walked up the steps and plucked one of them from its hook. I followed him and he passed me the picture in its golden frame.

My fingers tingled with expectant energy as I gazed at the formal photograph. It was a group portrait taken on the vast porch steps at the front of this house. The four Acruxes stood at the centre of it and from the looks of him, I guessed Darius was around fifteen. To their left was the other Councillors and Heirs standing in front of them. A few more people I didn’t recognise clustered beyond them.

To their right was Orion’s mother, Stella, and beside her was Orion himself looking bored; he could only have been a few years younger than he was now. Beside him was a girl with hazel hair and stunning features and it was obvious who she was even before Orion leaned forward and pointed her out. She was leaning against her brother with a serene smile on her face that didn’t suggest anything was wrong in her life.

“This was the night she…vanished,” he said tersely, his eyes flashing with some memory. I glanced up at him in horror, pain stroking my heart at the broken look in his gaze.

“What happened to her? Didn’t you leave the party together?”

Orion’s mouth pressed into a tight line and I sensed he wasn’t going to tell me anything more. But that meant he knew something.

“Lance?” I whispered and he stood up straighter in response to that.

“If I can’t call you Blue, you’re not calling me that.” He snatched the picture and placed it back on the wall. Something about that cut deeper than any other promise we’d made tonight. But maybe that was the way he felt about his nickname for me.

“Go back to the party,” he sighed, his gaze firmly on the picture. Before I could respond, his head twitched and he looked up the stairs, his face transforming as he clearly heard something.

“What is it?” I asked, but he shook his head.

“Go,” he growled then shot up the stairs, disappearing around the corner.

I stood there, a little in shock at being left so abruptly, but I quickly regained my senses and climbed up a step, taking the picture from the wall again. That same burning energy rolled through me and my hands seemed to move of their own accord. I turned it over, removing the back pane.

My heart hammered with excitement as I discovered what I’d somehow known would be there. One of Astrum’s Tarot cards lay beneath it with a horned red beast sitting upon a throne. The Devil was printed at the base of it and fear crawled into my gut as I turned it over to read the inscription on the back.

Do not underestimate the beast who shadows you.

He is the ultimate power, ruling over your lives and the lives of many others.

Beware of his lies.

The answer to your question will be revealed on the lunar eclipse.

But when finding the truth, don’t let the shadows take you.

– Falling Star

My chest constricted and I hurriedly pocketed the card before rearranging the picture and placing it back on the wall.

I turned and headed downstairs, walking back to the party with fear licking up and down my spine. I needed to find Tory and show her this card. The lunar eclipse was just a week away and coincided with The Reckoning. So whatever was waiting for us on that day, we had to be ready for it.