The Awakening (Zodiac Academy, #1)

by Caroline Peckham

He beamed at us and there was that dimple again. Just the one. Denting his masterpiece of a face and somehow making him even damn hotter.

“Your parents were the last King and Queen of Solaria. You return here as joint Heirs to the throne.”

“Max Rigel,” (the dark-skinned demi-god). “Caleb Altair,” (the blonde-haired beau next door), “Darius Acrux,” (my sin-filled fantasy). “And Seth Capella,” (the long-haired lothario). “This is Gwendalina and Roxanya Vega-”

“Water focus, House Aqua. My house is for those who have what it takes to face the deadly sea of life in Zodiac without flinching.”

Tears never did anyone any favours, but sometimes they just needed to fall.

ORDERS OF FAE TAENIA (Parasitic Orders) Vampire Siren MUTATIO (Mutating Orders) Dragon Manticore

Griffin Cerberus Pegasus Werewolf Nemean Lion Hydra Caucasian Eagle Chimera DIVISUS (Spliced Orders) Minotaur Medusa Centaur Cyclops Sphinx Harpy

Everyone in this school is a beast. It's just a student. Just someone in one of their Order forms.

What are they gonna do if they catch me?!

I am Fae. And I need to embrace the darkest part of me if I’m ever going to survive here.

“Your weakest Element is fire, although I use the word weak very loosely. You're

an eight in earth, a nine in water and a ten in air.”

My skin prickled at the mention of a Hydra. My Greek mythology knowledge came pretty much entirely from Disney’s Hercules, but that serpentine beast had stuck in my mind.

I folded my arms, growing tired of his tone. “Professor, I know you think I'm useless because I don't know anything about magic or Fae, but I'm not stupid. I can learn. Isn't that what these classes are supposed to be for? Guiding me? Catching me up on everything I've missed out on? So at least give me the chance to prove myself.” I wasn't quite sure where the determination had come from but being dismissed so easily just rubbed me the wrong way. It wasn't like I thought I was fit to run a kingdom I'd never even heard of until two days ago, but I at least wanted to be given a chance to learn about my supposed birthright.

Your daily horoscope is waiting for you, Tory! Just what I’ve been waiting for - a vague set of sentences which might just relate to my day if I skew the meaning to fit whatever random things actually occur.

Be wary of those close to you. Even the friendliest of dogs can bite.

At least Seth can’t talk in this form. So what the hell?

But then I’d never been the kind to let fear rule me. Was I afraid? Hell yes. Would I turn back? Hell no.

He looked like he was about to murder every one of us when the door flew wide open and Caleb sprinted into the room, diving over Orion's desk. He slammed the professor against the board and a collective inhale sounded around me. My heart took a freedive as Orion shoved him off with a blast of air and Caleb's head slammed into the desk, sending a crack up the middle of the wood.

She’d been a kind woman, but her husband had never wanted us there. In the end, she chose him, and we were cast out.

“I know,” he said, his eyes glittering. “But until that day, you're mine, Blue.”

Ignore the dimples, Tory, he’s an award winning dickasaurus.

“Do you want me and my sister dead?” I pinned him with my hardest, most unwavering stare. For Tory. For me. I had to hear his answer, even if it was a lie. His eyes softened, running over my face with the faintest of frowns. “No, Blue. I don't.”

Great, now I'm eyeing up a potential serial killer. If there was one final ass I had to stare at though...

I made a mistake and now my time is up. The Shadow has discovered me and there is no hope for me to escape their wrath. The answers you seek are hidden between Leo and Libra. Don’t trust the flames. Claim your throne.

Falling Star