Ruthless Fae (Zodiac Academy, #2)

by Caroline Peckham

Everyone knows, karma’s a bitch. And today her name was Tory Vega.

If he was on fire and I was in my Cerberus form I wouldn’t even extinguish the flames with my urine.

“It suits you,” he said. “What does?” I asked. “Smiling.”

“Elysian Mates are the most unpredictable of all the Star Bonds,” Zenith started. “An Elysian Mate is your absolute perfect match. Your other half, your soul mate, your twin flame, your one true love. It has many names. But in Solaria we call it this. Your Elysian Mate is Star Bound to you somewhere in this world. And if you come into contact with each other, the Zodiac will draw you together like two ends of a rope bound to a turning wheel. And the more time you spend together, the more you will be pulled magnetically and inescapably toward one another.

“Your Divine Moment is the moment the fate between you and your Elysian Mate is decided. You will both be called under the night sky and be presented with the choice to seal your bond forever more. If you choose to stay together, your love will be branded on you, forming a ring of silver around your irises. But if you choose to part...”

“You will be Star Crossed and a black ring will form around your irises, marking your love as doomed by the stars themselves. From that day forward, every celestial being in the universe will work against you, forcing you apart.”

“Well I hear the King was a bit of a whack job,” I said mildly. “So perhaps it’s better not to live by the way he did things. But if you like the idea of addressing us by those names then why don’t I just call you Barry and we’ll see how you like it?”

“You like mutt muff,”

“Well I think I’m talking to an oversized iguana with a superiority complex, wrapped in an expensive suit. But its hard be sure beneath all the bullshit,” I snarled.

“Have I told you how exceptionally beautiful you look tonight, Darcy?” Darcy. He'd said my name. For the first time ever.

“I want you to know, I believe you would have gotten this back yourself when you were ready. But I took a lot of pleasure in retrieving it for you all the same.”

“Go on then.” He gestured to the raging battle. “Show me what you've got, Blue.”

And though it seemed like he should have been the last person in the world for me to care about after everything he’d done to me, I wasn’t sure I could bear it if I lost him here.

His hand moved over hers for a moment, holding it in place against his cheek as he held her eye.