Ruthless Fae (Zodiac Academy, #2)

by Caroline Peckham

He’ll realise exactly who he’s crossed once I’ve graduated this place. I’m more than an Heir to him; I’m the most powerful Vampire in Solaria and his superior in every way once I leave this academy behind.

My mother’s words rang in my ears at that thought. If you can love the other Heirs like brothers then your life will be all the easier for it, but either way, you are stuck together. Through the good and the bad you are united. Your individual feelings do not matter when it comes to the actions of the group. You are one. And you must never show even the slightest form of weakness to

the outside world. The actions of each of you are the actions of all of you. You stand together. If you falter, the whole of Solaria will fall.

I kept thinking about the look Tory had given me when I’d kissed her in that classroom. My heart had leapt with excitement when she hadn’t pushed me away. And it wasn’t just because I’d known I shouldn’t be doing it. There was something about the twins that intrigued me to no end.

I don't want to let them win. But I think they already have.

I upped my pace. Now that my destination was in sight, the call of the job had me in its grasp. I felt more like myself, shedding the feelings of inadequacy as I walked towards something I knew I could do. I’d spent the last few weeks trying to claim a new start here at Zodiac Academy, but this was who I’d always been. So instead of striving to be something new, someone more, I was going to embrace who I already was. And that, was a damn good thief.

“Yo ho, yo ho, and a bottle of rum,” I murmured for my own benefit, snorting a laugh.

Good morning, Gemini! The stars have spoken about your day. A shift in the alignment of your stars may just have a positive effect on your day. But beware of trusting in change too easily; if you want this to be a permanent situation then it will take hard work and dedication to your cause. You could find yourself on a collision course with a Taurus today but if you can keep a level head, the interaction may be better than expected.

#shameonthisdame #humpedanddumped

I really hope you have that chat with him in public again so that I can watch you get dumped twice. #bitchesbecrazy

And you’re not your father, many will wonder what changes the two of you might make to our kingdom. Plus, they believe that if you’re strong enough to claim the throne then it should be yours regardless.”

Hydra. Kraken. Phoenix. Arian Dolphin. Empusa. Ophiotaurus. “Can anyone tell me what links these Orders?” Orion asked, gazing around the room as if he expected crickets. “They're extinct, sir,” Sofia said, her voice a little high. Orion nodded firmly. “Five points to Ignis. And can anyone tell me why?” He turned back to the board, circling the Hydra Order in red. “Because of impure blood lines?” a raven-haired girl called from the back.

“Precisely, Miss Abdul, five points to Aqua,” Orion said. “The Hydra Order is the most recent to become extinct after King Vega died seventeen years ago.”

“Families of rarer Orders often implement arranged marri-” A

A Nymph killed Astrum. So what does that mean? That it was a random murder? Or that the Nymphs cared about him giving us information?

“Iron is made stronger in the hottest part of the fire, Seth. You didn't break me, you forged me.”

“The boggliest eye I've ever seen. She looked like Mike Wasoswki from Monsters Inc.”

He was a Dragon through and through; he loved power, invoking fear and breathing fire. A Pegasus was about as far as you could get to the opposite end of the Order spectrum. They were flying horses who pooped glitter, granted wishes and were... cute.

I wanted to believe I was strong enough to face them, but in all honesty, I wasn’t sure if I was.

I took a deep breath and gave Darcy a nod before we walked toward the door. If she could face the school with her hair hacked to bits, then I could take part in a lesson by a pool with a couple of douchebags.

“Because you're beautiful and every time you're in a room he stares at you. And when you're not there he can't stop looking at that disgusting bracelet of hair he made. He wants you to bow to him, but given half a chance he'd have it both ways and have you under his arm too,”

A blur in my periphery alerted me one second too late before Orion swept me off my feet and tossed me over his shoulder. I yelled in alarm, smashing my hand into his back on instinct.

“But I learned a long time ago that blood doesn't define a person, so I shouldn't have judged you so quickly. You're unlucky to bear the title that you do. And I would never bow to either of you for many reasons. But you aren't bad people. That being said...” His eyes travelled down me, the sensation of a zip opening along the line he cast with his eyes. “I will do whatever it takes to ensure Darius and the other Heirs sit on the throne of Solaria. And

I urge you to never underestimate that vow.”

Bad Tory. Don’t look at the jackass like that. He might look good enough to

eat but he’d sure as shit give you indigestion.

“What in the name of Santa sunbathing in a thong are you up to?”

“Well pull my tail and call me Miss Whiskers!”

He puckered up his lips. “A kiss. That's the price for getting it back.” “I'd rather bite off my own tongue,” I spat.

“Maybe make-up sex is what we need to dispel all of this tension,” he said, conjuring a lustful smile.

The Three Types of Star Bond: Nebula Allies Elysian Mates Astral Adversaries

“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. But...”

“The stars will test you. The longer you are in each other’s company, the more volatile the universe will become. And

if you pass all of the tests the stars throw at you, you will be presented with your Divine Moment.”

“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.”

“An Astral Adversary forms a bond of intense hatred between both parties. Though they are rare and not everyone possesses one, some are unlucky enough to have several. The Astral Adversaries tend to be of a Star Sign which clashes violently with your nature. On top of this, their Natal Charts will oppose yours in many ways. If you were born at night, they will have been born in the day. If you draw your spiritual energy from the sun, they will draw it from the moon. Light and dark, night and day. Collisions between Astral Adversaries often end up fatal. Unfortunately, unlike the Elysian Mates, they are bound

to clash with you again and again until one of you is destroyed. So if you have one, beware.”

“Have I told you how exceptionally beautiful you look tonight, Darcy?”

He glanced above us, and his brow furrowed heavily. “Up there are a thousand reasons why we can't be together.”

A shiver ran down my spine at the raw, unbridled power of the beast before me. If he ever found out what I’d done, then I was sure I’d meet a worse fate than what he’d just dished out to Milton Hubert. But despite the fear that that invoked, as I watched him running away from the place he’d

called home, his faith in the unwavering loyalty of his fan club well and truly shaken, I couldn’t help but bathe in the glow of satisfaction it gave me. Too bad Darius Acrux, you really should have realised who you were dealing with before you declared war on us.

I can't believe I kissed a teacher. I can't believe I can't tell anyone. I can't believe I'll never get to do it again.

Maybe I should try and get out of them though. How awkward is it gonna be when we're next alone in a room together? And how will I stop myself

from thinking about that earth-shattering kiss? Oh shit. I’d better be ready to deal with that.