Warrior Fae (Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, #5)

by Caroline Peckham

"I just heard a rumour that you were missing. That something might have happened to you in the battle and I've been so worried-"

“Blue is hate, red is love. Choose. But if you do not choose the same, the answer will be hate,” the stars whispered, then their power released me from their grip.

“Holy shit, fratello. I think the stars just made us best friends.”

Cindy Lou screamed like someone had just set her pubes on fire and an explosion of heat washed over us as she threw her power our way in a tornado of flames.

“Wear your pain as armour, Rosalie,” I told her firmly. “There is nothing more frightening in this world than a Fae who can bleed in front of their enemies without flinching.”

So this was it. My last shot. My only chance of winning the tournament and thrashing Zodiac, making them my Mindy. It was my dream, my dreeeeam. And I had to fulfil it or I’d end up like Lance Orion, because, welp, the guy had fallen from grace like the shiniest apple on the tree, to a fallen pile of mush on the ground. Poor dude. Gabriel knew more about it than me, but he was all sworn to secrecy by the stars or some shit. Sounded like old Asscrux was involved though, and when that Dragon prick stuck his nose in anywhere, no one ended up happy. Orion had shadows in his eyes these days and a heaviness about him since he’d started drinking on the reg. Bro was in training to be a professor now at this very school and was currently working as the youngest coach ever of the Zodiac Academy team in the meantime.

Leonidas Night. King of the pitch. Lord of balls.

half the stands filled with them in our purple colours and the other half in Zodiac’s navy and silver colours.

Rosalie climbed up onto a railing with a few of the younger pups, wearing a crop top and open Pitball jacket, waving to all of us and I grinned at her, my heart swelling with how many people had come to watch us. Ethan’s eyes moved to her and a hungry look entered them which made me step forward and slap him good. “Get horny after the match, not during,” I growled but he just shook his head. “Besides, she’s fifteen, dude, way too fucking young for you.” “Dunno what you’re talking about. As if I’d ever be interested in an Oscura. I’m ready to crush this,” he replied fiercely, turning away to focus on the game again. Good.

Gabriel began dry heaving and Ryder scrunched his nose up while I looked up at the camera and grinned just as the flash went off. It sure as fuck wasn't a perfect picture, especially as a Griffin with his pants around his ankles and frosting smeared all over his junk ran past being chased by a raging Nemean Lion just as it was taken, but I had to admit, it was definitely a moment to remember.

The twin flames await. You must answer the call of your ally and go to their aid. The world needs you, Gabriel Nox. -Falling Star

Visions flashed through my mind in a blur and I saw a terrible fate befalling the twins from my dreams, Lance Orion and Darius Acrux. My heart beat out of rhythm as I saw so many dark fates playing out before my eyes and I knew in the depths of my soul, that I needed to take the job Orion had offered me.

“It is time, son of fate,” they whispered to me. “The questions of your origin will be answered. Follow the footprints of the past and you shall find all that you have lost.” My mind rattled with the weight of that voice and I took in two deep breaths of the cool morning air as I made my decision, knowing in my soul it was the only one I could really make. Looks like I’m going to work at Zodiac Academy.

"The stars love predicting carnage, baby," he said, glancing up at the heavens. "I think they enjoy making us all hurt." "Why would they enjoy that?" I asked curiously. "Because happily ever after always tastes sweetest when it's been earned through agony," he replied simply. "The best things in life hurt us the most."