Vicious Fae (Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, #3)

by Caroline Peckham

“We need to talk,” I said in a low voice and she jolted, realising I was right behind her. “By the stars, Gabriel! You need to wear a bell around your neck.” I smirked, holding out my hand. “Come with me to the roof.” “No, I’m going to bed.”

I could feel his eyes on me but I ignored him as I continued my hunt. “Because it feels natural to look after you,” he murmured, leaning close to my ear. “So natural that sometimes I forget you don’t want me to.”

Dante just found out that someone got into his stash and he’s on the war path. Gabriel: That sounds suspiciously like you’re worried about me…

Mindy was on her knees in front of me and I groaned as she put her back into pleasing me. “Yes Mindy,” I sighed. “Right there.” A heavy book slammed into my lap and I yelped as it crushed my fucking dick. My eyes flew open and I found Elise dropping into the seat beside me. “Whoopsie,” she said innocently. Holy asstarts, I’d nearly kicked Mindy right in the face.

Everyone knew the rumour that he and Ryder were Astral Adversaries just like their fathers had been. Putting their hatred aside for one another was practically laughable.

“Maybe funny looking, Simba,” Ryder replied flatly. “You really do love The Lion King, don’t you?” Leon asked thoughtfully. “Maybe we should watch it together some time.” “In your dreams, Mufasshole,” Ryder scoffed.

I released a shaky breath and surreptitiously brushed my hand over my junk to make sure that I definitely hadn’t pissed myself. Luckily I was bone dry, but I was also half sure that my balls had crawled right up inside me to hide. I was going to go and sit in my room and spend the rest of my day trying to coax them back out again because I sure as shit wasn’t going to risk running into Ryder while he was in this mood.

Before I could respond to that, he caught my waist and pulled me flush against him as he kissed me. My heart leapt in surprise. He’d always been so secretive about his feelings for me before, like letting anyone know how he felt might put me in danger, but it seemed like he’d really meant what he’d said the other night. He was done trying to fight it.

The cost of entry is your magic. Only those with none may enter.

I paused for a long moment then shrugged. “I found a Killblaze lab beneath the restrooms by the Cafaeteria, so I…blew it up.” Dante’s lips parted for a long moment then he suddenly let out a laugh. “Why do I believe that?”

“We’re not a pack,” Leon said, waving a hand dismissively. “We’re a pride. But instead of a King with a bunch of lionesses we have a Queen with a bunch of Lions.” “I’m not a fucking Lion,” Ryder disagreed. “You are. You’re Scar, Dante’s Mufasa and I’m Simba and Gabe is…Zazu.” “Don’t call me Gabe,” Gabriel snapped. “And Elise isn’t your fucking Queen, she’s my Elysian Mate.”

“I’ll go calm Mufasa down,” Ryder said in a low tone. “You stay here.”

Roary frowned at my words, pushing a tongue into his cheek as he mulled them over. “He knows how much I care about him. I don’t just turn up at Academy Pitball matches for the hell of it. And I travel back home for dinner whenever I know he’s coming. I don’t need to say it.” My heart twisted as I read the sincerity of those words in his eyes and I thought about what Leon had said about him. He thought Roary only showed up to taunt and tease him. He had no idea his brother just enjoyed his company.

“It was pretty fucking funny until you rubbed your dick against my ass,” I said, a laugh tearing from my throat.

“As much as we’re all jumping for joy at the return of The Lion King, I think we should be focusing on the plan,” Ryder muttered behind us and I stifled a laugh as I forced myself to release my hold on Leon.

“Wake up you stupid peacock,” I demanded. “If you die here, Elise will have my balls for it.”

“Shift back you ten ton pussy cat,” he snarled as the vines creaked and groaned with the effort of holding Leon’s weight.