Zodiac Academy 6: Fated Throne

All hail the goddamn, asshole of a king. I’d been up half the night again at the Hollow, discussing everything that Lionel’s ascension to the throne meant with the Heirs while trying not to lose my mind with fear.

Now, I was lying on the couch after a few broken hours of sleep. My head was pressed to a warm arm and I drew in a breath as the scent of smoke, cedar and coffee reached me. Beyond the window, the dawn was red, the light seeping through the sky like blood. And I couldn’t help but feel that the world was wounded.

Everyone knew about the shadows now; it had been broadcasted to the whole world and Lionel had made it clear Tory had the gift of them too. No one would dare challenge him while he held that kind of power, they couldn’t. And now everyone in school would fear my sister almost as much as him too.

I sat upright, looking at Darius beside me who had smoke pluming from his nose as he slept, his brow creased with lines as nightmares plagued him.

Geraldine was curled up in an armchair across the room and Max was at her feet on the rug, his arm slung over his eyes. On my other side Seth was curled up like a dog, though he was in his Fae form. My eyes fell on Caleb last in the kitchenette across the room pouring coffee. Ah coffee. The shit that couldn’t solve anything but made everything seem better for five minutes.

Caleb shot around the room in a blur of motion, planting a cup in my hand with a smirk at the fact that he hadn’t spilled a drop. He placed the others down beside everyone else before lowering into an armchair, his ankle balanced on his knee and his hair freshly styled. He was in his uniform and I guessed he’d been up for a while, but you could never tell with a Vampire considering they could do things at ten times the speed of a normal Fae. If they were ever a second late to anything it was absolutely intentional. And a Vampire-who-would-not-be-named was the kind of asshole who used to like intentionally doing shit like that. Damn, why do I miss that?

“What time is it?” I asked as I sipped my coffee, the zing of caffeine helping to rouse me further.

“Half seven,” Caleb said. “Nova’s called an assembly at eight.” He waved his Atlas at me and I searched for mine, finding it wedged under Darius’s leg. He jerked awake as I grabbed it, breathing in sharply and looking at me through squinting eyes. “Pinching my ass, Gwen?”

I snorted. “Gross. And don’t call me Gwen.”

“Why’s that gross?” Seth asked as he woke, yawning broadly as he sat up and nuzzled into my neck in his Wolfish way. He did that shit so often these days, I didn’t even notice it half the time. “Darius has a lovely peachy ass.”

“Because he’s in love with my sister which makes him about as appealing to me as a three day old tuna sandwich – no offence,” I tossed at Darius and he smirked.

“You’re an old tuna sandwich to me too, Gwen,” he agreed and I punched him over the name, but couldn’t fight a smirk.

“Mmm, tantalising tuna,” Geraldine mumbled in her sleep. “Such a large trout you are.”

“That’s my trout she’s talking about,” Max said cockily, getting to his feet and Geraldine’s foot shot out, slamming right into his dick. He crumpled forward with a wheeze and she pushed him aside as he got up, tutting under her breath.

“You are always in my breathing space, Max Rigel, if you don’t want your Long Sherman in my way then take your leave.”

“How is that my fault?” Max asked indignantly.

“How is it not your fault?” She started doing her morning stretches, bending down to touch her toes and rocking her hips side to side while Max drooled over her and forgot all about their argument.

The first thing I came across as I raised my Atlas was my horoscope and I read it over as I tried to concentrate on waking up and getting my brain into gear for the day.

Good morning, Gemini.

The stars have spoken about your day!

Beware of changes and upheaval throwing you off balance today. It may seem like times are at their toughest, but don’t forget that everything can always get worse. So try to remain calm in the face of adversity and play the long game if you wish to succeed.

Great. Even my horoscope knew how fucked everything was right now.

I tapped on FaeBook next to see the world imploding and the first post that came up was one from Tyler.

Tyler Corbin: Back. The. Fuck. Up.

Does anyone else need a recap right now?

Big L shows up at the palace with some crazy smoke blowing outta his ass, a Vega on his arm and Clara Orion who looks fresh back from the dead (uh, hello? Have you heard of sunlight, dear? ‘Cause you got veins coming outta your veins).

Anyways, Big L starts spewing this speech about gifts from the stars and holy Dragons and fuck knows what else, but hold up, was anyone actually paying attention to Clara at this point? The girl LEGIT started floating, no lie (screenshot below).

Now I’m not saying this girl is a zombie dragged outta the depths of hell, shoved in a long (albeit hot) dress with a demon possessing that fine body of hers. But okay, I’m calling it. Because WTF???

King Lionel just took over and the press haven’t printed a SINGLE WORD about floaty McGee over here who ‘disappeared’ years ago and miraculously reappeared like she just popped out of Lionel’s buttcrack – and frankly, that would explain the translucence a bit but not enough for me to back the theory a hundred percent. I’m not entirely ruling it out though, because Big L has buns of steel and I wouldn’t put it past him to have shrunk her down to the size of Thumbelina and wedged her between them as punishment for drinking his favourite tropical punch Kool-Aid or some shit – but what was she living on up his ass all these years – butt dust???

I digress. Point is, can we all focus on the bigger issue than Lionel taking the throne, that being one scary ass see-through bitch who, rumour has it, calls Big L ‘DADDY’.

#nope #Imout #onetickettoanywhereplease #whatdoesbuttdusttastelikethough #crackwhore #oneguywatchedthewholeshowthroughthebackofherhead #ghostestwiththemostest

Eliza Smoot: Oh my stars! She’s a #flyinorion

Cat Vann: I wouldn’t mind getting up in Lionel’s #crustycrack

Lacey Ledlow: I wish I could #tropicalpunch our new king in the face

Gizelle Alea Oyelade: Do not speak ill of our king or his wonderful Guardian!! #thetruekinghasrisen

Shabnam Hosseini: Do you think Big L has a big D? #daddydick

Cynthia Rodriguez: I’d call him Daddy and let him put me between his buns of steel any day of the week #signmeup #putmeinyourclenchtrench

“God, I’m not ready for this day,” I said heavily, not even finding it in me to smile at Tyler’s post. And that was a damn shame because it was funny as hell. I also figured he could probably know the truth about Clara now as Lionel had outed his shady shit to the whole world anyway so I made a mental note to fill him in.

“Your mortal talk is so weird, is it because they think they’re all ruled by Zeus or something?” Seth asked and I realised he was nibbling on a piece of my hair. I batted him away and stood up, draining my coffee.

“Or something,” I snorted then headed into the bathroom. Before the door had swung closed, Geraldine strode in behind me, whipping off her top and revealing her large breasts before dropping her pants and walking into the gaudy golden shower which screamed of Darius Acrux.

I brushed my teeth then swapped places with Geraldine in the shower once she was done. By the time we were dressed in our uniforms we found all the guys waiting for us in the lounge, looking casually gorgeous and prepared to take on anything. I just hoped they really were prepared because I had a feeling we weren’t going to like the world that was waiting for us outside of this place. I sure as hell wasn’t looking forward to facing it, but with all of them around me, everything seemed easier.

We headed down the stairway together and started walking to The Orb where the assembly was being held. Darius tugged on my sleeve beside me, drawing me to the back of the group and casting a silencing bubble around us.

I frowned curiously. “What’s up?”

“So, there’s something I need to ask you.” His Adam’s apple rose and fell as he stared at me and I got the feeling I wasn’t going to like what he had to say. I swear any news any of us got these days was bad news. I probably should have been used to it by now.

“What is it? You’re giving me that doomed Dragon look and I don’t like it.”

“It’s not too bad, it’s just…I need you to visit Lance.”

“What?” I hissed, my heart rate going from nought to a thousand miles per hour in one second flat. “No,” I blurted, my instinct to refuse driving through me. The last time I’d seen him, he’d turned me away, told me to move on, acted like we were nothing. He’d ripped my heart out and watched it bleed for him. I wasn’t going back there. Besides, he didn’t want me to go back there. And I sure as shit wasn’t going to be making a visit so he could tell me to fuck off again.

“He’s agreed,” Darius said quickly as if that made it any better.

“Oh well, if he’s agreed,” I said sarcastically. “Then I’ll fly there right now and skip into his arms like an obedient little homing pigeon. Oh no wait, I’d rather eat Griffin shit.”

“Darcy,” Darius sighed. “The star vow he broke is putting him in danger. The bad luck he gets means he’s coming up against the most vicious assholes in that place over and over again. I had to heal him of a broken arm and a shattered nose yesterday.”

I stopped walking, the horror of that news making everything bunch up inside me and hurt like hell.

Darius turned to me with a serious look. “And it’s more than that. We need to find out what’s in his father’s diary. He’s never going to get the luck to do that if he remains under this curse.”

I drew in a long breath, trying to hear him out through the cloud of rage and betrayal in my head. Slowly, I nodded, giving in. I couldn’t just let Orion suffer in there. And though I’d never admit it, knowing that he was being hurt just made me want to tear through the walls of that prison and take him as far away from it as Faely possible. I knew I couldn’t do that, but I could do this…

“Okay,” I agreed tightly. “But I want to go in and out. Five minutes, that’s it.”

“Deal,” he said, a grim look entering his eyes. “But you could talk to him.”

“No,” I growled. “I gave him a chance to talk and he told me to stay away from him. I’m done, Darius.”

He looked like he wanted to say more, but finally nodded and disbanded the silencing bubble. “We’ll go tonight.”

Shit. Tonight??

“Sure,” I forced out like it didn’t matter. But it did, hell it really did.

We kept walking, hurrying to catch up with the others while I tried not to panic about the bomb that had just exploded in my face. It’ll be fine. In and out. Five minutes.

There was a strange mood hanging over the campus as students headed to The Orb, some obviously overjoyed and others sombre. I was definitely in the second party. Lionel taking the throne was the worst thing that could have happened freaking ever. I had no idea how we were going to stop him now. I just knew we had to.

We reached The Orb, heading inside and my heart thumped a little harder at the sight of Nova standing before the faculty at the far end of the room, a wide and disconcerting smile on her face.

I walked toward the A.S.S. table, but Seth caught my hand and tugged me on toward the Heirs’ couch. I was extra surprised when Max held onto Geraldine too and she didn’t pull away, letting him guide her that way as well. Maybe we all just needed each other a little more today.

I dropped down between Seth and Geraldine, while Max sat on her other side and Darius and Caleb perched on the couch arms. My gaze hooked on Tory who was sitting with Mildred near the front of the room and I hated that I couldn’t just go over there, slap that moustached bitch and take my sister back to where she belonged. I mean, I could, I just didn’t think it was worth the detention or the fight with my sister over it. Sigh.

Seth’s hand stayed wrapped around mine even when I tried to pull it free but as I opened my mouth to rebuke him, Nova spoke, her voice carrying across the room.

“A new king has risen to the throne, and now we have entered another era. One which will make right the wrongs of old and will see us grow into the Fae we were always meant to become.” A few of the staff clapped, plenty did not.

I noticed Gabriel was sitting rigidly in his seat, his hands balled on the table in front of him as he stared coolly at Nova’s back. Washer was on his right, shaking his head and muttering under his breath to Gabriel and the way my brother nodded said they were in agreement on something for once.

I shared a look with Seth as my stomach knotted.

Nova went on, “King Acrux has decreed a new law this morning and sent a personal letter to me which outlined the law as it will apply to you all here at Zodiac Academy.”

My heart thumped unevenly and I stopped fighting Seth’s grip on my hand, squeezing it back.

A ripple of chatter ran through the air which Nova hushed instantly. “As of today, Orders shall no longer fraternise, socialise or cross-breed with one another unless given express permission from the King himself.”

The air thickened and it became harder to breathe as shouts of anger broke out around me.

“No way!” Max barked.

“This is an outrage!” Geraldine gasped. “You cannot divide us like colours on an abacus!”

“Sit down!” Nova commanded, raising her hands threateningly and a bunch of the H.O.R.E.S suddenly stood up to join her side. Tory was among them and shadows coiled out from her hands, making a bunch of people scatter from the front rows. “King Acrux has asked me to appoint loyal members of the student body to ensure the law is abided to. Those chosen will have leeway with the law and will be allowed to mix with other Orders so long as it is in the interest of the King. Teachers will also be allowed to spend short periods of time with students who need extra attention, so long as their discussions are focused solely on academic topics. They will be permitted to run classes and detentions as normal providing they abide by the new code of conduct emailed to them by me this morning.”

No. Fuck no. We couldn’t let this happen.

I got to my feet as Seth and the rest of the Heirs rose too. My hand fell free of Seth’s as we braced for a fight and I realised the A.S.S. were all rushing toward me and Geraldine to back us up.

“We won’t stand for it,” Caleb snarled, his shoulder pressing to mine as a deep growl left Darius beyond him.

“It is the law, Mr Altair,” Nova said cuttingly.

A mini tornado twisted in my left hand and flames curled around my right as I bared my teeth at Nova, hatred pouring through me.

“Lionel Acrux will never be my king,” I spat.

“You will all sit down or there will be dire consequences,” Nova warned and Tory moved forward, raising her hands so smoke blasted out from them.

I gasped, casting an air shield and it combined with Seth and Max’s as our magic slid smoothly together. I braced as the shadows impacted with the shield and everyone behind us was protected from the blast as it crashed over the dome like a spill of oil.

The strength of her dark power made me grit my teeth and I forced more of my magic into the shield, losing sight of everything around us as shadows consumed the world beyond it. Screams rang out and adrenaline surged through my veins.

The pressure suddenly eased and my heart stammered as the shadows cleared and I spotted all of the Heirs’ siblings on their knees in front of Tory, her eyes swirling with darkness.

“Enough!” Nova yelled. “The King has agreed that any force necessary may be implemented to ensure his new law is upheld. You will all stand down or the punishment will fall on the Fae before us. This is your last warning.”

My throat tightened and I looked to the others, seeing the defeat in their eyes.

“Our hearts are made of sun steel and our wills cannot be broken!” Geraldine cried.

“We’ve got no fucking choice,” Darius growled as he gripped her arm, his eyes turned to golden slits as his Dragon form begged to come out.

He locked me in his gaze next and my heart cracked as I felt us being forced into line. He was right. Because what could we do? If we fought this, Lionel could have us arrested. We’d give him the excuse he needed to get rid of us. And we couldn’t risk the Heirs’ brothers and sisters getting hurt.

I dropped my hands and the others all followed suit. A smile tugged up Nova’s lips and anger washed through my chest like a deluge.

“My lady, we will fight if you wish it,” Geraldine spoke to me and I looked back at the A.S.S. who were standing behind me like they were ready to go into battle.

I shook my head, refusing to let them all put themselves in the line of fire for this. Lionel was going to ensure this law was upheld, and today was not the day to throw away our lives for a fight we were going to lose.

“Stand down,” I told them all firmly and they did so immediately, surprising me with how readily they listened to me.

“Sit!” Nova commanded and we reluctantly dropped back into our seats. She pressed her shoulders back, looking to the few teachers who’d risen from their chairs too, including Gabriel.

He slowly lowered back into his seat beside Washer then his eyes glazed with a vision. My heartbeat stuttered. Could he see a way out of this? I had to speak to him. If there was something we could do to stop this, I had to know. If anyone could see the way forward now it was him.

“Tory Vega will be leading the King’s United Nebular Taskforce here in the academy, and anyone selected will be allowed to mix with other Orders whenever necessary to uphold the new law at Zodiac Academy, reporting directly to me if ever there is a breach.” Nova spoke casually as if the fact that she had the Heirs’ siblings on their knees before her wasn’t totally fucking insane.

“Wait…oh my stars, they’re in the Kunt,” Tyler hissed from somewhere behind me, but even that couldn’t make me laugh right now.

Nova hushed everyone once more. “Now please make your way to your classes, ensuring that you divide yourself into your Orders. The teachers of your first classes will all get you acquainted with the new ways of the academy and answer any questions you may have about it. Please pass through the door in single file on your way out. An enchantment is now in place which will mark you with a symbol of your Order. Enjoy this wonderful day.”

Mark us?

“Meet at the Hollow at midnight,” Darius said under his breath and we all nodded before splitting apart and heading for the door.

“I’ll give that crab headed goon of a principal what for,” Geraldine hissed as she stalked off ahead of me. “The Almighty Sovereign Society will not stand for this.”

I queued toward the exit and caught Sofia’s eye as I glanced over my shoulder. She was standing close to Tyler and a look of worry filled their eyes. Just behind them was Xavier and a few other Pegasuses I vaguely recognised. His jaw was pulsing and rage filled his eyes over this. A rage I felt on a soul deep level.

I stepped through the door and the kiss of magic tingled over my skin, the sensation trickling over me and a flare of magic shining beside the Zodiac Academy crest on my blazer. I gazed down at it as the fiery symbol of a Phoenix glittered there. I ran my fingers over the mark with my upper lip peeling back. My sister was the only other Phoenix in existence, so Lionel’s little law held a double whammy for me. I was essentially cut off from everyone else in the school. But hell if I was going to abide by his rules anyway.

I headed to Jupiter Hall and queued up outside, finding the floor marked with lines a meter apart which had symbols of each Order next to them. A growl built in my throat as Tyler and Sofia joined me on the Pegasus line and I didn’t budge an inch away from them.

“This is bullshit,” Tyler spat as the rest of the class started spreading out over the lines and the other Pegasuses moved to stand behind us.

Kylie appeared at the back of the queue, her arms folded and a pout on her lips as she stepped onto the Medusa line. Everyone around her ignored her as usual, but my heart leapt as Tory appeared with shadows in her eyes and strode straight up to her.

“You’ve been chosen to join the King’s United Nebula Taskforce,” she said in a flat tone, holding out a rectangular gold pin for her with K.U.N.T. printed on it and I snorted.

A huge smile split across Kylie’s face as she snatched it and put it on. “So I can tell everyone what to do?” she asked excitedly.

“You can ensure the law is upheld,” Tory corrected then Kylie wheeled toward me, pointing excitedly and a cool anger swept through my blood.

“Darcy Vega is standing with those Pegasuses!” she exclaimed and Tory looked to me, her hair stirring as the shadows writhed up around her. Plenty of the students shrank back against the wall at the sight of them and my heart stammered as she approached me.

“Tory,” I breathed, not raising my hands. I would never fight her.

I kept my defences down, gazing into her eyes and I hunted for a piece of my real sister to hold onto. My gut writhed and Sofia caught my hand as if to pull me away, but I stepped toward Tory, seeing if she really would hurt me one on one.

“It’s me, Tor,” I begged, desperate to get through to her. “Your sister.”

“Clara is my only sister now,” she said lightly and her words felt like an injection of poison into my blood. Her fucking sister?? Never. “Get in line,” she warned, but I shook my head as hurt stung my heart.

She raised her hand and shadows exploded toward me. I refused to shield, praying she might stop if she realised what she was doing, but she didn’t. They wrapped around my throat and threw me to the floor onto the Phoenix line and I coughed out a breath. The weight of them pushed me down and I gritted my teeth as they tried to force their way under my skin. But my Phoenix flames burned hotter and blocked her out as they flared through me like a wall of fire. It didn’t stop her using her power to immobilise me, but the shadows couldn’t reach into me anymore. Through all the pain, nothing hurt worse than her being turned against me like this.

She released me at last and I growled as I pushed myself up to my feet, watching as she moved down the queue, checking everyone’s marks to make sure no one was standing with anyone they shouldn’t be. My heart beat erratically, but I didn’t care about the war taking place in my body. We’d soon have the antidote to the Order Suppressant Lionel was giving her anyway, and once her Phoenix was awake, she’d be able to fight the shadows off too. I just knew it.

A sharp clicking of heels told me Professor Highspell had arrived and she swept past me a second later, wearing a fitted red dress, her dark hair tumbling down her spine in soft waves. She nodded to Tory before walking into the classroom and ushering us inside, offering a sugary smile to a few of the boys as they passed her. When I walked by, her green eyes darkened to pitch and I mirrored the same scowl she gave me.

“There is now a new seating plan you must all abide by,” Highspell announced before anyone could take their seats and I stood with my arms folded as I took in the newly arranged class. Over half the seats had been pushed to the back of the room in grouped sections and the other half at the front had been exchanged for cushioned chairs with glasses of water on the table and freaking mini muffins beside them.

“The following Orders will take a seat at the back of the class,” Highspell called as she moved to her desk – Orion’s fucking desk – and took out her Atlas.

My throat tightened as I exchanged a concerned glance with Sofia.

“Heptian Toads, Tiberian Rats, Pegasuses, Minotaurs, Sphinxes, Experian Deer Shifters-” She continued on, each Order heading off to take seats in groups at the back of the class, all muttering under their breath.

When she was finished, she smiled darkly and I wanted to punch that look off of her disgustingly beautiful face. She stroked the glimmering aquamarine necklace at her throat as her eyes scraped across the remaining students waiting to be seated. “The rest of you may take a seat at the front.” She gestured to the selection of mostly powerful, predatory Orders at the front of the class and my heart pounded out of rhythm as Harpies, Nemean Lions, Manticores, Vampires, Werewolves, Sirens and the others moved to sit down.

“What is this?” I demanded, my feet rooted to the spot as the rest my classmates swept away toward the comfy seats, some of them seeming far too pleased with themselves as they dropped into them.

Highspell arched a brow at me, seeming shocked that I’d questioned her. “It is the new way,” she said lightly. “Classes must now be split by lesser and higher Orders.”

“Lesser?” I spat. “Who are you to judge that?”

“I am a humble servant of our King,” she said icily, her eyes flashing. “And you will not question the ways of our new ruler, Miss Vega.”

My pulse hammered in my ears and I refused to take one of those seats at the front of the class.

“This is wrong,” I growled and a bunch of people murmured their agreement.

“If you don’t like it, Miss Vega, then you may take a seat at the back of the room with the rest of the lessers,” Highspell said with a smirk that said she expected me to back down for the sake of a comfier seat. “But as your grades were abysmal last term, I would suggest you take any advantages offered to you in the new world.”

“Screw your new world,” I spat, turning my back on her and walking to the rear of the class.

“Mr Corbin, be a good boy and please move a seat for Miss Vega so she is placed with the rest of her kind back there,” Highspell mocked me, knowing I had no one else but Tory who had emotionlessly taken her seat at the front already.

Tyler casually flipped Highspell the finger, drawing a laugh from a bunch of students around him. I smirked, dropping down beside him with the Pegasuses and gazed calmly back at Highspell, a challenge in my gaze.

Her eyes turned to snake-like slits, showing her Medusa Order peering out of them.

“This will not be tolerated,” Highspell hissed.

Tory got to her feet and, like a good little minion, Kylie popped up too.

“Stand up, Miss Vega!” Highspell snapped at me, raising her palms and I quickly cast an air shield around myself.

“No,” I said, my breathing coming rapidly.

Mutters broke out behind me as Tory closed in on us and I heard a few mentioning my ‘addled mind’, making my jaw clench. I’d had enough of this. Enough of the lies, of everyone believing Tory had really changed sides and that I was some lunatic who spoke to ravens in my spare time. And now that Lionel had exposed his use of the shadows, there was no need to protect Darius and the others from people knowing they had the Fifth Element too. Lionel wasn’t going to let them be punished for it now that he was in charge and claiming it was some gift from the stars.

I pushed out of my seat and raised my chin. “Lionel Acrux is controlling my sister with the shadows. He forced us to take part in a ritual that-”

“Enough!” Highspell shrieked.

“- brought a meteor down from the sky. Lionel turned it to stardust with his Dragon fire and-”

Highspell waved a hand and a storm of ice slammed against my air shield.

Tory raised her palms, taking Highspell’s place against me and I decided to just keep talking until she was able to shut me up, because screw it, what was there to lose now? “It created a portal to the shadow realm!” I cried and I realised a bunch of people were recording me on their Atlases. “He forced me, Tory, Darius and Lance Orion to kneel at the heart of the meteor crater and-”

Shadows blasted toward me and a bunch of students scattered around me with screams, but I was shielding anyone close enough to me. The darkness slammed into my shield and I swore as I had to focus for a moment, straining with the effort of holding them off, but I managed to keep talking for anyone who cared to hear the truth. “We were cast into the Shadow Realm and when we returned, the Fifth Element was gifted to us all, including Lionel Acrux and his followers. It was the same ritual he did years ago to Clara Orion and that’s where she came back from. She’s been in the Shadow Realm all these years and now-” Power blinded me as the full brunt of Tory’s shadows crashed over me and my air shield finally buckled.

I was thrown to the ground and my Phoenix reared up to protect me from their power before they wound around my body and dragged me across the room. I was hauled forward and thrown into a seat.

As the fog of darkness cleared, screams reached me that made my blood curdle.

I twisted around in my seat which had been dragged forward away from any of my other classmates, finding all of the Pegasuses falling prey to the shadows, crying out and whinnying as they paid for what I’d done.

“No!” I yelled, trying to get up, but the shadows were still wrapped around my waist, holding me in place.

Highspell was smiling, delighting in the chaos and when the screams finally stopped, she turned to the board, ready to teach the class while I silently vowed to destroy her.

***

I flew with Gabriel at my side, releasing all the tension of the day as we twisted through the clouds, flying up above them to watch the sun die. We weren’t allowed to do this, but technically Gabriel was teaching me how to fly, so if anyone asked he could cover for us.

“Highspell gave me a week’s detention,” I said as we hovered side by side, my burning wings flapping behind me as his ebony ones beat in time with mine.

I’d told him what she’d done, not that he could do anything about it, but maybe he’d had a vision that could give us some hope in this situation. I’d held off on asking until now, just wanting to fly and be free and forget all the bad shit that had happened today.

“I despise that woman,” he snarled.

“I don’t suppose you can see a way to get her fired, can you?” I asked, half joking, half serious.

“I’m afraid she’s here to stay for now,” he sighed.

“And what about Lionel? Is he here to stay?” I asked, my throat constricting as I turned to him.

His grey eyes darkened. “I’ve been consulting the stars about that all day,” he admitted. “There is still hope. But it rests with the Imperial Star.”

I nodded and he dove down through the clouds suddenly. I took chase, tucking my wings and swinging away from a herd of Griffins as they sailed beneath us.

Gabriel kept ahead of me as we moved into view of the campus below and I followed at a distance before he flew through his office window. I circled the building once, making sure the coast was clear before doing the same, landing lightly inside. He might have been able to cover us to an extent, but I didn’t want anyone looking too closely at how much time we spent together. His connection to me and Tory was still a secret as far as I knew unless Tory had spilled it, but as she barely seemed to know who any of us were, we were hopeful that wasn’t the case.

He pushed the window closed and cast a silencing bubble. His office was sparse and I didn’t think he spent a whole lot of time here. Gabriel went home most evenings by stardust to see his family and despite him saying I was welcome to go with him anytime, I knew I couldn’t leave Zodiac while my sister was here. She needed me, even if she didn’t know it. And I had to be around to help her if anything ever happened.

Gabriel moved to his desk, taking a bottle from the top drawer with a few syringes. “Here’s the Order Suppressant antidote,” he said with a half smile.

My heart lifted and I rushed to take it, but he shook his head. “You’re going to be stopped on your way back to Aer Tower, and if they find it, they’ll take it then Nova will put you in detention for the evening.”

My lips parted on a demand to take it now and find some way to give it to Tory, but I stalled with a sigh. I trusted his gifts. I just had to fight the urge to snatch it, fly to Tory and try and inject her with it right this second.

“If you follow that line of thought, you will still be stopped and searched before you take it – ah, but if you take that route, you will be unable to give it to her. No, it’s just not going to work tonight.” Gabriel shrugged sympathetically.

I sighed and my wings dissolved away behind me. “I hate when you do that,” I said, but a smirk tugged at my lips.

He chuckled. “You love it really.”

“Yeah, I do,” I breathed a laugh but then my amusement fell away as the weight of this day fell over me again. He walked forward and wrapped me in his arms without a word, resting his chin on my head. For a moment the world paused and everything was okay. Just for a second. But what a perfect damn second it was.

“So the Imperial Star…” I started as he released me.

I sat on his desk and crossed my legs underneath me, toying with a lock of my hair. I’d changed into leggings and a crop top for the flight, but now my wings weren’t warming me, goosebumps spread across my arms so I urged fire into my veins to keep the cold out.

Gabriel’s wings fell away and I examined the artwork of tattoos on his chest, wondering what secrets were hidden within them. Things that had come to pass, things that were yet to. His gift was written into his flesh, future, past and present. There was a ring of star signs over his heart that were joined together in a beautiful circle and he scratched that very spot as he dropped into a chair in front of me.

“I can’t see where it is,” he said with a frown. “But I can see that Lance is the key to finding it.”

I nodded slowly, biting on my lower lip. “You probably already know this but-”

“You’re going to see him tonight?” he finished with a smirk. “He has something very important he needs to do. And you need to help him.”

“I’m going to free him from the star vow we made to each other,” I said, my chest compressing and I suddenly couldn’t meet his gaze. Gabriel could see so much, could he see right through me to the hurt I worked so hard to hide these days too? The love that still lived on in me for Lance as fiercely as ever?

“It’s more than that,” he said carefully, like he couldn’t say too much. “Just do whatever you can to help him.”

I frowned. “What can you see?” I pushed, the secrets lurking in his eyes making my heart beat wildly.

“So many paths,” he said with a pained expression that made me worry about how many of them were bad. “Just do your best, follow your heart and all that bullshit.”

I laughed softly, but it died away in my throat as I rested my chin in my hand, my elbow propped on my knee. “Is any of it good? Has the future got anything to look forward to, Gabriel?”

A crease formed between his eyes and he scooted his chair closer. “The future is just a roulette wheel, Darcy. Only every outcome is grey.”

“That doesn’t sound so good,” I murmured.

“It is good, and bad. That’s life. I guess that’s one thing The Sight makes me see clearer than anything else. It’s all about the choices you make, the actions you take. Cause and effect. If you do nothing, nothing will happen. If you do everything, everything will happen.”

“That’s…weirdly comforting,” I said thoughtfully. “But what about the stars, surely they’re deciding all of this? Isn’t it all just fate and we’re slaves to whatever they desire?”

“The stars will test us. And sometimes they may punish us or gift us for the choices we make, but they don’t make our fate. Only we can do that. So go make it, Darcy. You’ve got to get going if you want to be ready in time.”

I slid off the desk with a sigh and he stood up, grabbing a lock of my hair and tugging on it teasingly. “He’s going to eat his heart out,” he murmured and I rolled my eyes. “I hope he does by the way. I’m still pissed he hurt my little sister. Kick him in the dick for me, okay?”

I chuckled as I headed to the window, pushing it open and feeling him drop the silencing bubble.

“Can you see a dick kick in his future?” I asked with a grin.

“Definitely,” he said with a smirk.

“Love you, Gabriel,” I told him, then dove out of the window, the rush of falling making my stomach spin before my wings burst from my back and I soared along, climbing toward the sky and taking a direct route to Aer Tower in the distance. I got stopped and searched by a bitchy K.U.N.T. of a Harpy when I flew too close to a Manticore, but she let me go with a warning. And I may have not so accidentally started a tiny fire in her hair which wouldn’t take root until I was far away and unable to be held responsible.

I made it to my window, landing on the slim ledge before pushing open the tall pane that swung sideways to let me in. I dropped into my room, my flaming wings fizzling away behind me with a lasting crackle.

My covers were suddenly thrown back and Geraldine sat bolt upright from under them.

“My lady!” she cried. “I have been most sneaksome indeed to get in here. That wayward white Wolf let me in and snuck me upstairs under an illusion spell which disguised me as one of his pack. It was quite the thrill ride.”

I grinned as I rushed over to her, pulling her into a hug as she stood up and I noticed a bag on the bed.

“What’s that?” I asked.

She wheeled around, snatching it up and clutching it against her chest. “It is a gift from your most charming and devilishly handsome brother. He set me on this mission, a task I took as seriously as a cucumber on a bed of flotsam.”

“What kind of gift?” I frowned and she handed me the bag with the brightest smile in the world.

I opened it, finding a blue maxi dress inside the same colour as my hair and a velvet box sitting on top of it. I took the box out and flipped it open, gasping almost as dramatically as Geraldine did when I found a silver bracelet inside with a Gemini charm on it.

“I have strict instructions to not allow you to wear anything else but these items, excluding bloomers and shoes of course.” She laughed and I did too as she grabbed the bracelet and clasped it onto my wrist. I touched the pendant, turning it between my fingers with a smile pulling at my mouth.

I grabbed my Atlas, but before I could shoot him a text, one came from him.

Gabriel:

You’re welcome.

I shook my head with a grin. Damn sight seeing bastard.

Geraldine helped me do my makeup and practically forced the dress over my head when I said it was overkill for a trip to freaking prison.

“You will wear it and have that buffoon of a Vampire see how perfectly perfect you are without him. He shall feast on his feelings and his heart shall die a thousand deaths when he sees you dressed up fit for a dinner with the stars.”

“I don’t want his heart to die a thousand deaths, maybe just like, one death,” I reasoned, eyeing myself in the mirror. This is definitely too much.

“Nonsense,” she chastised.

I turned to face her as she finished arranging my hair over my shoulders. “I’m serious, Geraldine. I’m just going to break off the star vow. In and out. Five minutes.”

Her eyes glittered with tears and her lower lip wobbled. “Oh fudge fancies on a Thursday, I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.” She dabbed at her eyes and waved me off when I tried to comfort her.

“Is it the dress?” I frowned down at it. “It’s too much isn’t it?”

“No, it’s not the dress, it’s forbidden love, doomed to never be. Honey pots in a haystack, as angry as I am at that pest of a professor, it still breaks my heart.”

“It shouldn’t. I’m over it.” I pushed down the sharp lump in my throat, moving to my closet and grabbing out a leather coat before shrugging it on. Geraldine shrieked, ripping it from my shoulders before I could do it up.

“No coat. You have your Phoenix to keep you warm!” She pushed me toward the door, twisting the key in the lock and shoving me out of it. “Now go, the dashing Dragon says he will meet you at you know where.”

“Great. Thanks for helping me. Just don’t cry, okay?” I hugged her goodbye and she nodded several times.

“I won’t,” she croaked and I headed off down the corridor, hearing her mournful sob following me.

I jogged downstairs and walked outside, a swarm of butterflies in my stomach making me want to throw up. Five minutes, that’s it. I can face anything for five minutes.

I ignored the yearning in me that wanted so much more than that. But I could never give in to that feeling. His betrayal ran too deep. And when I’d gone to him before and asked him for an explanation, he refused to give me one. It didn’t matter that Darius swore that what Orion had done was to protect me, to keep me at Zodiac. Even if that was true, he hadn’t had the right to make that choice the way he did. And he hadn’t even offered me an answer for that one desperate question I’d needed from him. Why? Why do this to us, why take everything from me, from himself?

I’d opened a can of worms now and I couldn’t seem to close it as the bastards wriggled out and crawled through my head. I approached the outer fence, checking around to make sure no one was watching. Then I headed off of the path and hurried through the trees to where Darius was waiting. He took in my dress with his eyebrows raising and heat crawled up my neck.

“This was not my choice,” I said firmly before he could open his mouth. “Gabriel and Geraldine are entirely to blame.”

He laughed. “I’m saying nothing. Except that he’s going to lose his fucking mind.”

I rolled my eyes, stepping back and we walked through the illusion Orion had cast here to hide the gap in the fence. He wouldn’t give a shit because he’d moved on just like I was supposed to have moved on. Which I was definitely working on. And most people were convinced of it anyway thanks to my newfound ability to stuff my emotions down so deep that they didn’t give me away. So I was calling it a win.

Darius turned me to face him on the other side of the fence with a dark expression. “Since my father has now outlawed Orders socialising, I had to make a last minute change to our plans. I’m not even really supposed to be able to visit Lance because he’s a Vampire, but in light of my Guardian bond to him, Father decided to be generous.” His sneer gave away what he thought of that. “But obviously I can’t disguise you as Max. Oh, and fuck my father by the way.”

“Yeah fuck him with a spiky dildo,” I agreed. “So what’s the new plan?”

“Well it’s Gabriel’s plan actually. He foresaw this last night and spoke to Dante Oscura. The Storm Dragon’s given you permission to use his image to get into Darkmore.”

I smiled. “Perfect.”

Darius stepped forward and I held still as he carefully disguised me under an illusion spell. It wasn’t an awesome idea to risk this right now, but breaking off the star vow was important. And since Darius had told me about Orion showing up to his last visitation bloody and hurt, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I’d kind of compartmentalised it if I was being honest. Thinking about him was dangerous territory as it was, thinking about him suffering was unbearable.

The illusion trickled over my skin and Darius stepped back, smirking at his own work. “Okay, let’s go.”

He took a pouch of stardust from his pocket and I steeled myself as he threw a pinch of it over us. We were whisked away through a tunnel of stars and my head spun as we were spat out in another part of the world, my feet hitting solid ground. I managed not to stumble too hard, but Darius steadied me anyway as I gazed at the huge complex that housed Darkmore. Damn if I wasn’t getting better at those landings.

A car came to take us in and it wasn’t long before we were heading underground in the large elevator that led us down into the prison’s depths.

My heart rate wouldn’t rest and I wrung my fingers together as we descended.

Darius shot me a taut frown. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I said firmly, fiddling with the bracelet on my wrist. “It won’t be like last time. In and out Darius.”

“Yeah, yeah five minutes right?” He smirked, turning to face the doors again and my heart thrashed harder against my ribcage.

“Why are you smirking?” I narrowed my eyes at him and he shrugged innocently.

“This is just my normal face,” he said, trying to flatten his smirk and failing.

“No, your normal face suggests you’re deciding whether or not to eat the Fae in front of you,” I pointed out. “You only smirk when you’ve decided you’re actually going to do it.”

He released a low laugh. “Maybe I’m hungry.”

“Well maybe you should have brought a snack.”

“Maybe I did.” He gnashed his teeth at me and I snorted.

“I’d cook your ass if you tried it.”

“Hmm, that’s a point. How will I fry you up if you don’t burn?” he mused and I laughed.

“Sucks to suck, Darius,” I said lightly. “I’m uncookable.”

The doors opened and we stepped out into the waiting room. We were only sat down a couple of minutes before we were called, but those minutes felt like an eternity as my nails bit into my palms almost hard enough to break the skin. Darius tried to distract me with a few jokes about how he was going to eat me raw like sushi but I couldn’t focus enough to laugh this time.

I followed Darius through the security doors and down the bland corridor, my instincts telling me to turn back, to not walk through that door and see the man waiting beyond it. Because this place was where I’d shattered before, and I couldn’t do that again. Not ever.

I stopped in my tracks, frozen in place as doubts gripped me and a voice in the back of my head screamed at me to leave. But in the pit of my stomach, I knew that I couldn’t do that. For everyone I loved, I had to walk through that door and face Orion. For us to even stand a chance at finding the Imperial Star, we needed him. And regardless of that, he was suffering in here. Despite everything that had happened between us, I’d never wanted that for him. I couldn’t just leave him here to the wrath of the stars. If I didn’t help him, he could end up dead the next time some assholes attacked him.

Darius paused by the door, waiting for me with a patient expression. “Are you ready?”

“I don’t think I’ll ever be ready,” I admitted, forcing myself to move and stand at his side. “But let’s get it over with.”

He pushed through the door and I followed him inside, finding the room empty as I took a steadying breath. I nudged the door shut as Darius flicked his fingers, casting a film of ice over the cameras, covering us from view.

“You’ve got as long as you want, I’ve paid off everyone who might cause us an issue today,” Darius said, giving me an intent look.

“I told you, I only need five minutes, maybe not even that,” I said determinedly.

Darius stepped toward me, dissolving the magic concealing me as Dante Oscura and taking my hand. He squeezed once, giving me an apologetic frown. “Sorry, shrew.”

He stepped past me, moving back out of the door and slamming it shut in my face, ice growing over the handle as I lunged at it and tried to open it. I used my fire magic to try and melt it, but the asshole somehow kept it locked.

“Darius!” I snapped, smacking my hand against the wood. Bastard!

The door opened behind me and I felt him enter the room before I even turned around. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck and a shiver raced down my spine that made me squeeze my eyes shut. How can he still affect me this way? After all this time, is it always going to be this hard?

Fae up, Darcy Vega. Get it over with.

I took a breath, fixed an emotionless mask into place and turned around.

Orion stood there in his orange jumpsuit, the sleeves rolled back to show his thick forearms and a layer of new muscle that seemed to cling to him all over. I dragged my eyes up to his face as my pulse pounded wildly and found a thick beard on his jaw, his mouth flat, his hair getting overly long.

I expected to see a wall in his eyes, forcing me out like the last time I’d seen him, but it wasn’t there. He looked…broken. As broken as he’d been back then, only this time all the sharp pieces in his eyes had settled. He’d accepted his fate as I’d accepted mine, and there was a painful knowledge in that which ripped at my insides.

His gaze travelled over me with slow and hungry movements, like he was trying to make an eternity out of seeing me.

“Hello,” he said at last, his voice deep and holding an edge of desperation in it that made me ache.

“Hi,” I said stiffly, wetting my lips and taking a step closer. “Darius locked me in here, so…”

“Asshole,” he muttered.

“Yep.” My heart thundered out a wild and yearning tune as it begged me to get nearer to him, to feel the heat of his body meeting mine in the air, to smell his familiar smell and brush my fingers over the lines of his face, seek out the single dimple hiding in his right cheek. But I’d be doing none of those things. Not now, not ever.

When I was close enough, I stopped moving, trying to ignore the way every fibre of my flesh seemed to pulse with energy, driving me toward him. “I don’t know how to break the promise, so if you could just show me how,” I said, my tone sharp.

He reached out and took my hand, his rough palm meeting mine and gripping it tightly. A small and involuntary gasp escaped me as a light but potent energy rushed through me from his touch. It was addictive, demanding and horribly familiar.

His jaw ticked furiously before he tugged me closer so I was right in his personal space, forced to look up at him and my breath caught in my throat.

“Lance,” I warned, unsure what I was even warning him of.

I just needed it to stop. All of it. I couldn’t believe after all this time I still felt like this. Like the world began and ended with him and I would never belong to any other man. But that’s not real anymore. He’s not mine and I’m not his.

“Fuck,” he growled, clamping his eyes shut for a moment before looking at me again with a tight expression. “How are you?”

I yanked my hand free of his, anger curling up through my body like flames. “How am I?” I scoffed. “That’s what you have to say?”

His jaw tightened and he said nothing. Nothing. I wasn’t going to demand an explanation from him again though. He’d had his chance the last time I’d come here. But he’d frozen me out and told me to go. That it was over and I needed to move on. So I had.

Every part of me was hot and I snatched his hand again, fire blazing against my palm as I fought not to scold him. “How do I break it?” I demanded.

“Just say the words,” he said defeatedly. “Recite the promise and tell the stars you release me from it.”

I nodded, keeping my eyes on his as I refused to look away. I thought back on that day we’d made the promise and how, no matter what we’d faced back then, we’d known we’d always have each other. Somehow, I’d fooled myself into believing that. I’d really thought we had a future. I would have fought the stars themselves to keep him. I guessed the sentiment had never been shared.

“I promised to fight for you, whatever it took and you promised it in return,” I didn’t let my voice shake as I held his gaze and saw a flicker of regret in his eyes. He probably had a helluva lot of regrets when it came to me. “I release you from that bond,” I said firmly, keeping my mask locked in place.

I wouldn’t break, or cry or let him see a single crack in my façade. I was stronger now. And no man, not even him, would be able to hurt me again.

Magic crackled between us and the feeling of something snapping against our palms rang through my body before I felt the promise lift from my heart. There was something so final about it, our worlds cleaving apart fully like an axe severing the final ties between us. My hand lingered in his for two more seconds before I pulled it free. Done.

“Thank you,” he sighed and I nodded stiffly. It felt like a thousand words hung between us in the air. But as I backed away, the window of opportunity to say them closed forever. And as I reached the opposite side of the room, it might as well have been a whole universe parting us. His and mine. Planes we could only exist on separately.

I twisted the door handle behind me, but it didn’t budge and Orion surveyed me with a tight frown. Dammit Darius.

“I’ll go,” Orion rasped, turning to head through the door that led into the prison. But he paused, glancing back at me, his penetrating gaze drilling a hole in my heart. “You look like a queen, Darcy. I’m looking forward to the coronation.” And with that, he left, making the air rush out of me and anger surge up inside me like a tidal wave. I twisted around, casting burning hot air into the lock and finally managed to break it open, stepping out into the corridor where Darius was leaning against the wall with his arms folded.

I strode up to him, slapped him hard then hugged him firmly, because dammit I needed him right now. “You had no right.”

He held me close and the feel of him casting the identity illusion tumbled over my flesh. “I know, but you haven’t given up on me and Roxy. So I have the same sentiment when it comes to you and my best friend.”

I pulled away from him with a sad look. “The difference is, you two actually want each other.”

“That’s not a difference, shrew.”

“Don’t call me shrew, Asscrux.” I rolled my eyes, but my stomach knotted because inside I knew all I wanted was Orion. But I would never admit it out loud. I’d smother that feeling, push it down until it went away one day. Because if the stars had taught me anything, it was that we didn’t belong with one another no matter how much it had felt that way once. And I’m done breaking for Lance Orion.