Zodiac Academy: The Awakening As Told By The Boys

Now that Professor Bites-A lot was gone, I had Darcy Vega all to myself. She looked like a daydream on a whipped cream cloud and I was the big bad wolf here to eat her cloud and watch her fall to her doom. And the more I looked at her and pinned all my problems on her, the easier it became to turn into my most psycho self. Because she and her sister were the reason I was missing out on my family moon march. They were the reason I couldn’t go home, the reason my mom was cutting me off. And more importantly than all of that, they were the reason I was going to potentially lose my seat on the Celestial Council if I didn’t deal with this now. So yeah, I was embracing my inner demons, because they liked the taste of pain and suffering and made my smiles a little easier to wear. Especially when I cut off my weaker emotions and stuffed them deep down inside me where not even I could find them.

I jogged to her side, winding my fingers between hers and locking them tight. “All good?” I asked brightly and she nodded, though there was a faint frown on her brow left there by Orion. She clearly hated him biting her, though I didn’t really get it. A Vampire’s bite could be hot as fuck, and I definitely enjoyed it when Cal pinned me down and drove his fangs into me, but I supposed when it was an asshole professor it kind of sucked the fun out of it.

I towed her along the path with a smile on my lips, guiding her to a bench which sat before a large bush where Kylie and her friends were hiding. I’d needed someone willing and as I didn’t wanna implicate my pack in this, I’d chosen Kylie and a few of her friends to help out. Dick move? Pretty much. But Alphas had to protect their own.

I dropped down onto the bench and pulled Darcy down beside me, pressing my face into her hair. My smile fell away as I breathed her in and something yanked on the inside of my chest.

I’m a ruthless Fae. A leader. And one day I’ll be a lord. This is for the greater good.

“What’s wrong, babe?” I asked as my mouth skimmed over her ear. She seemed tense, distracted. And I wasn’t really used to girls being this aloof with me when I turned on the charm.

“Nothing,” she said quickly and I leaned back, tilting my head to one side as I examined her expression.

“Liar,” I teased. “Did Orion hurt you?” If he had, I’d bury him. But then again, I was about to do far worse to her than he could have, so that little vow was kind of pointless. Me and her were about to go in very opposing directions. She might run all the way back to the Mortal Realm never to be seen again, though the thought of that didn’t sit quite right of me. Still…I’d get over it. I had a heart of iron. I was a heartless beast just like my mom always said I was. And tonight, I’d make her proud.

“No,” she admitted, but something still didn’t seem right with her.

A rustle sounded in the bushes behind us and irritation ran through me. They have one fucking job. Stupid freshmen can’t even cast a silencing bubble. Useless.

I ran my tongue across my teeth, needing to hurry this up and becoming entirely aware I was hesitating. But there was no room for weakness now. I had to Fae up and do what I was born to do; push rivals down in the dirt and prove I was superior. It was our way. And I didn’t need this girl’s affection when I had the Heirs. We were all each other had ever needed and I realised now they were the only ones who would ever truly understand me. We were in this together. Brothers until the bitter end. And they’d have my back no matter what decisions I made, because we made them together. A united front. The kings of Solaria. And it was time to do these girls a kindness and destroy them thoroughly, efficiently and in a way they could never recover from.

I brushed my fingers over Darcy’s cheek, drawing her attention to me and she gave me the big eyes which worked to tug on my heartstrings. But I crushed away any sympathy I felt, falling deeper into the darkness that lived in me. “If he bothers you, I can get my pack to make him back off. We don’t normally take on professors but…” I smirked, leaning in closer, my fingers sliding down to cup her chin and tilt her mouth up in line with mine. “You’re worth it.”

At least I’d have one last taste of sweetness before I became the most bitter creature she’d ever known. My hand brushed her knee and she moved into the arc of my body, a need in her eyes that demanded answering. And as she offered me her lips, I took them, tasting them slowly at first before I grabbed hold of her, dragging her firmly against me. I drove my tongue into her mouth in the filthiest way I knew how, pulling her fully into my lap so her dress rode up her thighs and my cock swelled. It was meant to be a show for the camera, but I lost myself to Darcy for a stolen eternity, possessing her, making a Vega bow to me in the best way I knew how.

I groaned as her tongue met mine for every stroke and her fingers clenched in my shirt, almost making me forget what this kiss was intended for. Because it was a villain’s kiss, a distraction designed to buy me time for the crushing blow I was about to deliver.

I slid the blade from my pocket and gripped the back of her neck, locking her in place against me as I prepared to sacrifice a piece of my soul for the throne.

“Seth,” she yelped, breaking our kiss as I held on tighter, not willing to lose this chance.

I caught hold of her bun and with one clean slice, cut it off in my hand, my fist tightening around it as a ripple of cruel satisfaction pooled in my chest. There. It was done. I’d done my duty. But why was that satisfaction already starting to turn sour?

“No!” she gasped in absolute horror, shoving me back and I released her.

She fell from my lap in a heap onto the path, grazing her knees and I let the monster in me take over fully. I needed to put on a good show now. Needed to make it hurt, needed the world to see her weakness so they knew never to place their faith in a Vega again. Because the true Heirs were rising and no one could defeat us. Not even the spawn of the Savage King.

A single lock of blue hair came free from my grip, fluttering down onto the ground before her and she snatched it, her hands trembling as she stared at it, her eyes welling with tears.

I watched her break, refusing to look away as I faced what I’d done. I could take it. I wasn’t going to feel guilty. I’d done what I had to. This was who I was. And now she was seeing her enemy under the stark light of the moon and she wasn’t strong enough to fight back. So I’d won. And that was all that mattered. Right?

A satisfied smirk pulled at my features as I felt the lens of Kylie’s camera on me. “Told you I’d get your hair,” I said, my voice a cold thing that sucked all the warmth from the world. “And since Max told me the little sob story behind it, I was even more determined to get my hands on it.” 

Her lower lip trembled and tears washed down her cheeks, and some Wolfish part of me begged to comfort her for a moment before I forced myself to remain where I was. I was her fear embodied and I’d play the role to a T. I could practically feel my mother’s pride over this when I told her. Maybe she’d let me come home now. Maybe she’d let me come to the moon march.

Giggles filled the air and Kylie burst out of the bushes alongside a bunch of her friends, her Atlas held in her hand. “I recorded the whole thing,” she told me triumphantly.

I kept my gaze on Darcy as her palm opened like she was about to cast magic and I rushed forward, closing her fist in mine as I crouched before her.

“Nothing personal, Vega,” I whispered, hoping she’d see that I really meant those words. She was a sweet chick, it wasn’t about her. It was all politics. And politics were dirty. “It’s the way of Fae. If you don’t want things getting even worse for you, then take your sister and get out of our academy.” I winked, getting to my feet and slinging an arm around Kylie as a final fuck you to Darcy, not focusing too much on if she’d ever trust a guy again after this.

“Let’s go to Lunar Leisure, I don’t wanna miss the fun,” I said loudly so Darcy would hear me, keeping her hair locked in a tight fist.

One down, one to go…