Shadow Princess (Zodiac Academy, #4)

by Caroline Peckham

Hell, I couldn’t even remember the last night out I’d had that hadn’t been tainted by something bad. I was probably in need of this as much as Lance was. So I was determined to make this birthday the best fucking birthday he’d ever had. It was going to be epic. Just the two of us without a care in the fucking world for one single night.

“Hey,” Lance said with a confused frown. “What are you-” “Happy birthday,” I interrupted, pulling him into a tight embrace. “We’re going out.” “No,” he said, shaking his head as he stepped out of my arms. “I don’t celebrate my birthday. Not since Clara, you know I-” “Oh, come on, Lance,” I urged. “We need a night out. We need to get out of this place and out of our heads and just forget about all the shit here for one night of freedom.”

“I’m already having a party for one right here,” he said, settling back into his seat on the couch. “Fuck that. This is the most pathetic birthday I’ve ever seen. Those pants are stained for fuck’s sake. What the hell has happened to you, man? You used to be cool!” Lance looked down at the orange stain on his grey sweatpants and a smirk pulled at his lips. “I had spaghetti,” he said defensively. “Please tell me it was at least made from scratch by the kitchen staff, and you didn’t just microwave it,” I said. “Well, it was fresh yesterday…” “Fuck no. You’re not spending your birthday in stained sweatpants eating reheated leftovers. We’re going out. No excuses.” “Yeah, okay,” he agreed finally, shooting away into his room to get changed.

I’d gotten us a table in the VIP room in Celest so we could do whatever the fuck we wanted without having to worry about the press catching sight of us and I was planning on getting wasted.

Omg thats annoying honestly like you couldve been a little more creative instead of making them all be 'coincidently' at the same place. I am excited for darcy and orion tho...

A loud knock came from the front door and Lance looked around in surprise before motioning for me to hide.

Omg imagine it was darcy and she and darius saw eachother. I guess she could just talk about the shadows

I scowled as the Harpy yelled out his little nickname in return.

What is it?

Gabriel hardly even spoke unless he had to and certainly not to me. And Lance’s reputation as an asshole was well earned. But together they were like Bert and fucking Ernie. Nebula Allies my ass. The other Heirs were all my Nebula Allies, but I didn’t start jumping up and down like a little girl at a princess party every time I hung out with them.

“Orio!

Oh ok lol thats boring

What the hell? This is supposed to be our night! Great, now I was sounding like a fucking jealous girlfriend even inside my own head.

I folded my arms and waited for Lance to get rid of him so that I could come out again and we could get the fuck out of here, far, far away from third wheels.

“Oh,” Lance said, stalling as he came up with an excuse to get rid of the Harpy. “Well, I was just going to-” “It’s alright, I know Darius is here and he’s coming out with us. I saw it. I also saw myself not being an asshole and ruining th...

Lance laughed at that and the sound of it was way too loud and went on way too long to be genuine. It wasn’t even fucking funny. He was just stating facts about his visions. I could state facts about things that were happening, and they wouldn’t be funny. The air is cool. ...

“Am I missing something here?” I asked as Lance tossed the Pitball tickets I’d bought him down on the coffee table without even looking to check where they’d landed. His gaze was locked on that tacky piece of plastic like it was a damn rainbow stone.

Aww lance be polite please

My lips parted on another protest, thoughts swirling in my mind as I tried to think of anything I could say that wouldn’t come off like I was being a brat, stamping my foot and demanding time alone with my friend. But I came up blank.

Aww i feel bad for him

Lance was grinning like this was a great fucking addition to the night’s plans even though until about ten minutes ago his only intended birthday celebration had been reheated star damned spaghetti and getting drunk alone.

I tossed a handful of stardust over us, and Orion’s house swirled out of sight as we were transported through the stars to Celest.

Im guessing gabriel had a vision about the night and thats why he invited the twins

Your other guests have already arrived.”

“That was my idea,” Gabriel said with a knowing smile. “I had a vision about it and inviting them will make your night exponentially more enjoyable, Orio.” Who says exponentially? And who the hell gave him permission to bulldoze our fucking night?

Ahh no im scared. But excited. Ahhhhhh

I could only hope that whoever the hell else he’d invited wasn’t as irritating as him.

Gabriel replied dismissively like I was the one acting weird, but I didn’t see how he could just claim vision friendships with people and act like he didn’t have to put in any fucking groundwork to actually make that into reality.

“I don’t think we should really be out drinking with students,” Lance said warily, his gaze still on the Vegas who hadn’t looked our way yet. “Students like Darius?” Gabriel asked with a snort of laughter. I almost said I’m different, but realised that would sound a bit odd.

“Fuck, Gabriel, when you said we were coming out with your friends, I assumed it would be people we didn’t know. Not tweedleass and tweedledipshit,”

“Believe me, if we’d known this place had such low standards, we wouldn’t have come here either,” I deadpanned, unable to resist the urge to bite back at her.

Gabriel and Darius? What the fuck? I organised this whole thing and that asshole just gate-crashed it!

“Oh, yeah, happy birthday,” Roxy said, placing her hands down on the table and leaning forward to kiss Lance too. The red lipstick print she left on his cheek was about as far from his mouth as possible and she drew back the moment she’d delivered it.

Omg girl. No. It was ony darcy cause theyre a thing. Omg that was so funny

Gabriel jumped up and pulled the two of them into a hug over the table and Roxy laughed as she was crushed to his broad chest like they really were old friends. I didn’t get it. They’d only met him a week ago and he was their damn teacher, why were they instantly acting like they were best friends, offering out hugs and laughs and somehow making me feel like I was the odd one out at a party I’d fucking organised?

“Okay, but you might as well prepare yourselves to lose because me and Darcy are gonna whoop your asses,” Roxy taunted.

People didn’t ignore me. It rubbed against every ingrained part of my nature to allow her to continue, but snapping at her wasn’t going to work. So I’d make it my mission to get her attention tonight whatever way I could.

“I dare Roxy to be nice to me tonight,” I said, and the others all looked between us. She sighed impatiently. “Pass. Give me the sour shot thing,” she said.

The waitress had brought us even more drinks, but I was nursing my bourbon. If I got drunk, my willpower was going to take a battering and I’d start plotting ways to get Blue alone. Which was risky as shit in a bar full of people and my current company.

Fuck you, bourbon. You do not get a say in this. It doesn’t help that that lusty bitch Venus is back in my chart today either. Then again, it is my birthday…

my girl

Ahhhhhhh

And more than that…she was important to Darcy. I supposed I could make an effort for her. No matter how fucking uncomfortable that might be.

“Yeah, Roxy’s real good at deceiving people,” Darius growled. “Not as good as you are. Honestly, I don’t think half your friends have realised you have no personality yet,” Tory said airily then firmly went back to ignoring him.

“That guy is gayer than the day is long, dude. So you flirt with him and I’ll get the neckerchief.”

I cleared my throat, stepping up next to the guy and letting my gaze slide down his dark blazer before dragging it slowly back up again. “Hey,” I said with a nod and half a smile.

Omg this is funny

“Do you want a drink?” I offered. He twirled his moustache again and I inwardly cringed. He shifted closer, reaching out to splay his hand across my chest. “Yeah, I want something tall, dark and handsome.” “Well…order’s up.” I nearly cracked up as Tory fell into silent hysterics behind him.

“I have a present I need help…unwrapping.” Tory met my eyes over his shoulder, reaching for the neckerchief again while biting her lip to stop from laughing.

“I have very nimble fingers,” the guy purred, and I bit down on the inside of my cheek as I pretended to be into that. “Good, ‘cause I’ve got a ribbon that needs pulling.” I’m gonna lose it.

“I’ll come for you later.” “Yeah, you’ll come real hard for me,” he growled, his hand pushing between us and grazing across my shirt. He pinched my nipple before I could do a fucking thing to stop it. Argh.

“Did he notice?” “No. He was too busy tweaking my fucking nipple,”

“What’s the dare?” she asked as my gaze slipped down to her lips and my insides knotted up. What I’d give for the whole world to freeze right now so I could steal a kiss.

I love them

Some of the most important people in the world to me sat around this table. Him included. I wished he could get along with them.

I was drunk. So fuuuucking drunk. And horny. Plan of dreams: Step one…get Blue naked. Oh, shit wait, I need more steps.

Darcy was dancing with her sister on the edge of the balcony while Gabriel ordered more drinks, and I watched them with Darius at my side. Just fucking watched, like it was okay to watch. Definitely wasn’t. But I was four bourbons and two Souraches too late to give a shit.

“I love you,” I told Darius, slinging my arm around him. “You’re so lucky, man. You could just go and be with Tor...

“Why does that make me lucky anyway? You hot for Tory? ‘Cause I’ll beat your ass.”

Why does everyone keep pointing me at Darcy tonight? It’s killing me.

Wait, did he say look after her? Why not them?

“I’m gonna miss you,” I said out loud even though I’d meant to say it in my head. “As much as Gabriel?” Darius asked, his forehead knocking against mine. “You guys need to get a room,” Tory interrupted, and we stepped away from each other.