Shadow Princess (Zodiac Academy, #4)

by Caroline Peckham

“There hasn’t been a record of someone having the Phoenix Order in…” “Over a thousand years,” Lance murmured, still staring at Gwen like the world began and ended with her.

We kept coming back to this point and maybe I should have accepted it. Because I couldn’t keep trying with her and having it thrown back in my face. So if she wanted us to hate each other then I’d have to play my part in it. Because I couldn’t keep away from her, that much was becoming abundantly clear. So I’d just have to keep being her villain.

“Do you really blame Darius for what happened?” I asked with a tug in my gut. I understood why she was angry at him, but I couldn’t blame him for the choice he’d made for the sake of his brother.

That was your fault Tory oh my days

“Oh holy manoli, I’m sleeping in a fish bowl,” she gasped as she opened her eyes.

“I…are you worried I’d be embarrassed to tell people about us?” I asked as she drew her dress over her head and stole my last hope for morning sex. “Why in Solaria would you be embarrassed?” she asked, widening those big blue eyes at me, and capturing me in them. “I’m the one who’s got to play the shame game. Whatever would anyone think if they realised I’d bumped bottoms with an Heir?” She said the word like it was dirty.

Geraldine is the GOAT

She’d been there last night, I’d given her the time of her life. That was more than just sex, it was like riding a high. Why wasn’t she still in my bed begging for more? And how the hell was I losing out to buttery bagels?

I needed to offer something useful to Blue. I felt like I’d failed her so completely last night that I didn’t know how I was going to ever make it up to her.

Because I’m not ever going to put my life on hold for a man. Especially one who doesn’t think I’m good enough to make the cut long term.”

Slay Tory - you finally say something that I agree with for once

Omg please just take your own advance Tory omfg

“An Heir?” she asked, a little bit horrified, a little bit impressed. “He is pretty hot,” Sofia added in Geraldine’s defence. “You have to tell us how it was,” I pushed, my smile widening as I managed to calm my laughter. Geraldine cracked a smile too, lowering her voice and we leaned together conspiratorially. “Well…I will admit he knows how to water the lawn,” she said. “Fuck me, how is that a description?” I asked. “Okay, he was very thorough,” Geraldine added. “He pulled out the old buckaroo and whirl.” “What the hell is that?” Darcy demanded. Geraldine smirked and I could tell that whatever the fuck it was had been pretty damn good.

“Yes. I’m afraid the scallywag will just have to accept I hit it and quit it. No need to go riding the same horse again, there are plenty more fillies to break in.” “Fuck yes, Geraldine!” I exclaimed, offering her a high five.

My mind drifted onto those memories, and I chewed on my lip as I let my gaze travel down his chest. He was still talking but I couldn’t hear a word as my eyes reached his waistband and I fell prey to a seriously dirty fantasy. I wonder if he keeps a ruler in his drawer which he could teach me a lesson with… “Are you concentrating, Miss Vega?” Orion barked suddenly and I sat up straight, finding everyone around me waving one hand in the air as they practised the movement. “Would you like to share your little daydream with the rest of the class?” He smirked, telling me he knew exactly what I’d just been thinking about, and I cleared my throat.

So, this crystal is a promise from me that I’m yours. For now. Forever. Or till it all goes to shit, I don’t know which yet.”

False Tory you have an attitude problem

but most of all, what we had was simple. And I had far too many complications in my life most of the time.

“What’s it like?” I asked curiously. “Finding your one true love?” Gabriel’s gaze softened as he thought about the woman who owned his heart, and he smiled as he answered. “Like, getting hit with a truck and having it back over you several times while you lay bleeding in the dirt.”

I’d fallen back on my old role of tormentor, and I couldn’t fucking stop myself from keeping it up. I didn’t even know why half the time. Only that the only thing worse than her hating me was her ignoring me. Because then I knew she didn’t care about me at all.

“Happy birthday, your majesty.”

Foreshadowing??

Her big green eyes sparkled and the way she bit into her lip with excitement had me tumbling into insanity. Fuck it.

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

“Blue.” I smiled dreamily, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. She is so…everything. Does she know how everything she is?

Her power tasted like candy and air. She was sweet and sharp and fucking delicious.

It had been so long since I’d felt content. But with her, I was starting to see glimpses of my old self, the guy who’d loved life, who’d had a future. And I hadn’t realised how much I’d missed him.

“I’m coming for you, Grus.” He pointed at her. “Ooh, I’m shaking right down to my leopard print pantyhose,” she said with an eye roll. “You will be.” He stalked away and Geraldine waved goodbye to him just with her little finger. “Is that supposed to be a reference to my dick?” he snapped. “I didn’t make any kind of reference,” she said innocently. “Though maybe you think it looks like your floppy frankfurter as you mentioned it?” “It was not floppy!” Max shouted so the whole class could hear.

It was as if the stars themselves were pressing me into his arms, holding me there and refusing to release me.

We were in too deep with each other, and the universe seemed to be conspiring to keep us that way. I just hoped that meant the stars were on our side and would help keep this secret from ever coming out.

Our rivalry over her aside, me and Darius were getting on fine, but she was obviously causing a little tension.

Youre delulu

But then a memory found me of someone whose flesh matched my own, whose soul was built of the same essence as mine. Then another presence, a man with endless eyes who held me close and begged me not to go. And whoever they were drew me back a step, because there wasn’t a realm in this universe where I could go without them at my side.

“You’re as skinny as a dieting toothpick, Diego. Tuck into my buttery bagels.”

“Plans,” Faun spat out a laugh. “Plan away, Miss Vega. You will soon realise that all plans are futile. The only ones that matter are written in the stars.”

My sister seriously needed to be less cynical. We were at Zodiac Academy for god’s sake. I didn’t like the idea of my life being fated either, but if it was, I’d rather know that…and what freedom we had in our choices.

Nope, if ever there was a knight in shining armour awaiting me in the locker rooms, it was Geraldine Grus.

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.

I’ve never even seen her crack a smile unless she’s following up after some wiseass comment or just laughing at her own rudeness. She has no pep!

She’s actually spitting FACTS

Seeing him around school made my fingers itch for him, my soul burn for him. It was torture being so close while being unable to bridge the gap between us.

He felt like air and light and freedom.

“I’ll have your attention even if I have to take it without your permission.” “Why?” I demanded. “Why not just go after someone else?” “Because we don’t get to choose our obsessions. And you’re mine.”

In the grand scheme of things, my misery isn’t relevant.”

Darius my sweet child no

He’d just tried to open up to me about his feelings for Tory and I’d shot him down. But what else could I say?

“Oh god, please tell me we’re not about to see a dick pic,” Sofia groaned. “Of course not,” I replied, looking at Darcy again. “Is it?” “Oh, give me a gander!” Geraldine exclaimed. “I do like an eyeful of man meat from time to time.”

“Princess Mer-Geraldine would never be seen dead with some common hagfish,” Geraldine said dismissively, and a snort escaped me. Max’s jaw clenched. “I’m not a hagfish, I’m Poseidon, king of the sea.” “Oh, well why would the mighty King Poseidon wear a hagfish costume?” Geraldine asked with a frown and Max’s eyes flared with rage. “He’s not - I mean, I’m not. It’s not a hagfish costume!”

I couldn’t bear to look at him because I could feel him accepting this fate. But I refused it. I would not say goodbye to him because of Seth fucking Capella.

“If you hurt her, I’ll kill you. I don’t care if you’re an Heir or if I end up in Darkmore Penitentiary for the rest of my fucking life. I’ll take any fate for her, so just remember that when you’re playing your little game, Capella.”

If you can’t laugh at yourself from time to time then you’re going to end up spending a lot of your life taking offence over things that really don’t matter.”

For a moment I could only stare at him, wondering how fucked up his life must be if he seriously thought the only reason someone might have wanted to spend time with him would be to get something out of it.

I felt bound to him like the stars had wrapped golden thread around us and refused to let us go. In the very root of my bones, I knew we belonged together.

“Where have you been?” I asked, my throat tight, not voicing what I really meant. I needed you.

Like just maybe I could have something good like that, something pure and honest and just…mine.”

And if he thought I was betraying him by suggesting he share the throne with them, he’d think of me as even more of a traitor if I told him I adored one of them.