Shadow Princess (Zodiac Academy, #4)

by Caroline Peckham

Orion’s eyes finally found mine and he looked like he’d just been handed the holy grail.

“You’ll have to work on your stamina,” he said with a suggestive smirk. “Apart from that, it’s clear you’re made for this, Blue.” He dipped his head to my ear for half a second. “Thought you might be.”

He stepped back and I stared at him with my heart pounding as I found a world full of faith gazing back at me. No one had ever looked at me like that. Like I was unstoppable.

“Keep going!” Orion called to the pitch. “I’ll be back with a pissed off Vega ...

Sweet Dreams by Beyoncé

I hadn’t spoken to him since the slightly mortifying screaming through the door scenario and I didn’t plan on it either.

“You’re late for cheer practice, Miss Vega!” Orion boomed, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he looked down at me. “What the fuck?” I gasped as I scrambled upright and yanked my headphones off. “Are you insane?” “It has been suggested before,” he agreed with a dark laugh. “Now get your ass up and grab your shit. You’ve already lost fifty points for Ignis.” “Boohoo,” I growled,

Was this one of those asshole boys club things that dudes did to each other for a laugh but girls did not find funny?

“Let’s all have a round of applause for our latest cheerleader!” Orion called, drawing every fucking Fae in the stadium’s attention to me.

I rolled my eyes at her before leaping straight into a backflip and landing it perfectly.

“I don’t like her,” Kylie whisper shouted behind her hand to the other girls. “Boo to the fucking hoo, I don’t like you either. It’s not really the point though, is it?”

Darcy snorted a laugh and Orion spotted us. “If you can exchange loaded looks with your sister then you can run faster, Vega!”

My gaze slid to Orion as he took in my new, peppy as fuck appearance and he smirked at me like a goddamn psychopath. “Very nice, Tory, I can see your inner pep shining through already,” he called. I scowled and flipped him off.

pick and choose what I’m willing or not willing to do and you’ll suck it up or I’ll kick your ass again.”

“And as you’re just a fire Elemental that basically makes you powerless in a fight against me. Doesn’t it?” “If you don’t fall into line, I’m going to talk to Professor Orion about getting you kicked off of the squad,” she snapped angrily. “Please do,” I deadpanned. Jillian released an unexpected laugh which she tried to cover up with a cough as Kylie glared at her.

The girls beneath me started cheering and a laugh spilled from my lips as I let sparks of fire magic fall from my fingertips as I spun. They whirled around me like I was a Tory shaped comet falling back to earth and I couldn’t help but grin at the rush I got from using my magic for something so fun.

“Shit, Vega, you don’t do things by halves do you?” Bernice cooed with a wide smile while Kylie glared at me like I’d just used her bleached blonde hair for toilet paper. “Well she doesn’t seem to be doing too badly to me,” Orion’s voice came from behind me and I turned to find him approaching with Marguerite at his

I turned my back on them and started walking away, flipping up the back of my skirt so that they could appreciate my use of the face paint I’d been gifted. Marguerite gasped in shock as Orion released a surprised laugh. I’d scrawled bite me across my ass cheeks where they hung out beneath the tiny pair of shorts which somehow counted as a uniform for this ridiculous sport.

I dropped my skirt and raised both middle fingers over my shoulders as I strolled away.

“Looking good, little Vega,” Max called as they drew in on us. “I hope you’re practicing chants with my name in them.”

I sighed. I didn’t like surprises. But I got the feeling he wanted me to keep prodding him about our destination while he had no intention of giving it away so I let it drop.

Caleb snorted a laugh. “Well I don’t think Darius would agree to lend it to us somehow.” A prickle ran down my spine as I took a step closer to the bike. Of course it belonged to Darius, I didn’t know why I hadn’t realised that instantly.

Caleb laughed like I was joking and dropped into his car beneath the door which swung up like a weird wing. And of course I was joking. Mostly. I wasn’t going to steal Darius Acrux’s bike. Probably. At least not while one of his besties was here.

I gave up on trying to find something good to listen to, realising our tastes in music were a bit too far from each other’s for me to find a middle ground easily.

“It made me feel like a total douchebag,” I replied with a shrug and he laughed. “Well get used to it. You’re Roxanya goddamn Vega. You’ll never queue for anything in your life, ever again.”

I wasn’t entirely sure I liked the sound of that. So just because it turned out I’d had royal parents now I was going to get special treatment my whole life?

“You know I don’t eat animals, right?” I asked, picking up a chopstick and poking at something bright pink. It wobbled. I almost puked in my mouth. “Not even fish?” “No,” I replied.

I love her evn modr

Why the hell had he ordered for me instead of asking what I might actually like?

RIGJT

was all for girl power but not when it was being butchered by a huge guy who looked like he was half transformed into a Werewolf and was wearing a sombrero.

I shrugged, knowing I wouldn’t like it. I enjoyed food that was heavy on the carbs and fat and ideally piping hot.

Real

Hell. I was in hell. “You don’t like it?” Caleb asked in disappointment. “Look, dude. You don’t really know me and I don’t really know you. I’m not into fancy, slimy food and listening to people sing live. I’m guessing you’re not into a lot of the things I like. It doesn’t really matter though, does it?” He was the one who’d told me he didn’t want any kind of future with me anyway. I wasn’t sure why he looked so disappointed.

Caleb arched an eyebrow at me and shrugged. “Maybe…I mean I could find out. Darius would probably know…” “Maybe just scrap that idea,” I interrupted. He was clearly about as into bikes as I was karaoke and the stars only knew where the hell we’d end up if he got advice from Darius about it.

“Paintball?” “At night? In these jeans?” His brow creased and I could tell he hated that idea.

“Well, we aren’t all pretentious assholes,” I teased. “And most of the best foods are prepared in vans.”

Agreed

We could have breakfast together?” “I’m not a morning person. Remember?” “No.” “Like I said, you don’t really know anything about me. Do you?” “Apparently not.”

I tapped on Orion’s bedroom window with adrenaline spiking through my body. I couldn’t stop grinning when he pulled the curtain back then smothered my laugh as his eyes widened frantically. He pushed the window up, reaching out and snatching me inside with his Vampire speed.

“Is little Franny with you?” Washer called hopefully and my neck prickled at that. It was pretty obvious Orion and Fran had slept together but the idea of them being in this actual bed suddenly made me stand up.

“You got off lightly. One time, he stuck his teeny weeny through that mail slot.” “No,” I gasped. “Yeah, it only took a new door and ten counselling sessions to stop the nightmares though.”

I ran my fingers across the back of the couch, recalling the last time I’d come here. It seemed like a dream. It was one of the happiest moments in my life and I often used it to push away the shadows when I felt them drawing in.

“You mustn’t. Not ever.” Orion’s throat bobbed as I looked up at him and the fierce emotion in his eyes started a fire in my veins.

didn’t like the idea of her practising with the shadows on her own, but when Tory wanted to do something, it was pretty impossible to stop her. “If she’ll listen to anyone, it’s you,”

He regrets what he did to Tory even if he’ll never admit it.”

I thought of him on the night of the Lunar Eclipse, how he’d tried to save us and something softened inside me ever so slightly. I didn’t trust him, or even forgive him. But maybe there was hope for him yet.

“There’s only one reason that makes sense to me, but I could be wrong. Maybe I fear I’m wrong too.”

“I think the stars picked you for me, Blue. I think you’re my Elysian Mate.”

The only Fae I’ve ever managed it with are Darius, you and-” He halted mid-sentence, a flash of pain crossing his features and I sat up straighter.

It’s a primal need. It’s why we claim the most powerful blood Source we’re able to. It’s why your blood pushes me to the edge of insanity.”

So he stole my life from me then stole my sister in the same breath.

But I realised you don’t need me to rescue you, Blue. You and your sister came back from the dark without anyone’s help. And Lionel should fear you both for that reason alone.”

The pranks we’d played on the Heirs just kept snowballing, delivering more and more rewards as time went on and I couldn’t for a moment feel bad about it.