Restless Stars (Zodiac Academy, #9)

by Caroline Peckham

while handing out bagels, fruit and yoghurt, first to Darcy and me, then Darius, Orion, Caleb and finally tossing Seth and Max some half-heartedly.

I looked up at my husband, parted my lips then closed them again. “I think that was my stalker,” he said mildly like that wasn’t disturbing as fuck.

“That’s nice,” Darius commented. “Not as nice as gifting him the ring he’s going to propose with. But nice.”

Seth had picked out this suit from my closet and rubbed a star damned cinnamon stick on my neck before announcing me done.

Because if we hadn’t been mated, I would still love you like this, like the world begins and ends with you.

“Once upon a time, I was a girl afraid to be burned by the world, now I’m a queen who rules the fire. I will win this war for you, Lance, and I swear to the stars I will meet you at the altar.”

Dragzilla: She can’t see shit, she’s in the middle of getting her pretty dress torn off. Wolfman: That’s twisted! Are you watching them fuck?

Big Bird: He’s not the only one. **Big Bird changed their name to Gabriel**

“Whatever happens tomorrow, our time is always.”

He leaned into me, whispering in my ear as I bowed my head and drew him closer with my paw. “Our time is always.”

Near the front, I spotted one wearing a beanie hat speared upon his horn and knew that had to be Diego’s father Miguel.

“Daughters of the flames,” he spoke into our minds with a reverence to his tone. “I have come.”

“If all the second-borns in our family are runts, then wouldn’t that include you, lame Lionel?”

“To you, my rule-breaking barracuda!”

“I am Tory Vega, daughter of the Savage King, sister of Darcy Vega and rightful queen of this fucking land. I. do. Not. Beg.”

“I command you to come to me,” I hissed. “Return to fight with us and pick up your swords. Your kingdom needs you and your queens have commanded you, so answer my fucking call!”

“We serve at the command of the True Queens,” my father said, bowing his head to me.

“Tell the poor choice,” Hail murmured in my ear as we prepared to charge into war. “He did…okay.”

I gasped as I spotted Diego, a bright smile on his face and no hat to be seen.

“You will never speak of her like that again. I will assure it.” Orion ripped the man’s head off with his hands and let it fall from his grip, and my heart raced at the sight.

“Die? All things can die if I wish it,” a dark voice made the ground rumble, and I looked up to find a cloaked figure standing there with a weathered paddle in hand and his black hood drawn low to conceal his features.

“You have my blessing, good choice,” my father muttered to Orion, and I shook my head in disbelief, finding no words as purest shock took hold of me.

Darius and Orion turned to face us before falling to one knee in front of us, the first to swear fealty to the new order.

Geraldine turned to us and I took Darcy’s hand in mine, and together we sat upon the Hydra throne, claiming it for our own in front of our kingdom and the world.

“Rise, Geraldine Gundellifus Gabolia Gundestria Grus, Fate Weaver, protector of the True Queens and sacred guider of the kingdom,” I commanded.

“This story is yours to tell now,” I told them both. “Take the pen and guide us towards our happily ever after.”

“We should get going. We’re exactly late enough to have Orio freaking out.”

Geraldine let out a pterodactyl shriek and used her water magic to catch my tears as they fell, sending them flying out the open window into the summer air before they could ruin my makeup.

Someone knocked into me from behind and I glanced around, finding Dante there apologising as Leon and Seth broke into a dance off beyond him, Seth blasting out a bubble of air to widen the space for them on the dance floor.

“You really don’t do anything by halves, do you Darius?” “Like I’ve been telling my dear wife, it is your genetics which predispose you to multiple births – not mine,”

A grin twisted my lips and I raced out of the bathroom, trying out a trot and a neigh. I’d asked Xavier to give me a few pointers, and he’d even let me go riding with his herd.

giving him a mysterious wink when he’d asked whether this had anything to do with Caleb’s Pego-fetish, and I reckoned that had thrown him off. I was a wily creature, me.

“What are you doing in there?” Caleb asked in amusement, and I neighed in reply. “What the fuck?”

“That you’re horny for the horn,” I said, crawling around so my ass was to him and shaking my butt so the tail swished for him.

his face kinda red and maybe that was what he liked, being all angry when he fucked me like a naughty Pegasus who’d eaten all the carrots.

He liked to be wild, he wanted to punish his bad bronco.

“I don’t judge you for it. I’ve done all kinds of crazy shit. This is actually one of the least crazy things I’ve done.” “Are you actually bringing up other people you’ve fucked right now?”

obviously he didn’t include everyone in that statement. Our besties knew all our secrets. And I bet Orion would be happy to know his sanguis frater was having such a great sex life.

I sensed my parents gathering closer from beyond The Veil, drawn here to see their grandchildren, and I swear I could sense my old pack howling in celebration.

“Oh come on, Moon Uncle,” Elara pouted at me, and I threw a glare at Seth who smirked at the name he had most definitely told her to call me.