Fated Throne (Zodiac Academy, #6)

by Caroline Peckham

"Because I'm not giving up on you, Roxy. I don't care what I have to do or what it costs to pull you back out of the shadows. I won't stop until you're yourself again,"

She was becoming the queen she was always meant to be. It was just hard to accept that I was never going to be her king.

I hated being tactile with anyone. Anyone except Darcy. Alright, and Darius. Apparently I only liked the D.

I fucking love you, Roxy,"

Her fingers stroked through my hair and there was this beautiful feeling of contentment that came from her which helped to ease the ache in my soul and stop the cycle of horrifying memories from dominating my mind. It wasn’t enough to chase out all of the dark in me. But it was the sliver of light I’d been aching for, calling me home.

Through all the darkness, I’d finally found something good to hold onto. My brother, my sister, my friends. I would never take any of them for granted.

And Lionel had better enjoy his time on the throne while it lasted, because the true queens would soon be coming to take it back.

“We’re all at least a little fucked up, Tory,” he said roughly. “But the people who love us don’t give a shit about that. Better still – they love us even more for it.”

"No. Just you. I didn't even see her at first. I swear, I didn't even think you were who you are. For a few, endless seconds I just saw you and I wanted you. And when I did see Darcy and I realised who you were I was just so fucking angry. Because I knew I couldn't have you."

I was fast slipping back into old habits, but whereas alcohol had once given me some relief from my demons, nothing could rid me of the loss of my girl.

“You’re not nobody,” I growled seriously. You’re one of the most important somebodies I know.

“No…I think the world of you, Darcy Vega.”

“You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen,” I growled and she reached out to fist her hand in my shirt. “And you gave me something to look forward to when I thought I had nothing in my future. I dreamed about meeting you every night, Sofia. And it didn’t come close to the reality. You’re my sunshine in the dark.”

"It's you, dumbass," Roxy snapped, shoving me again and making me growl even louder. Why the fuck did she think it was a good idea to bait the beast in me when I was ready to- "It's only you. Even though it can't be, it fucking is."

So fuck the stars for always wanting to part us. Fuck them for thinking they could stop this, stop us. There was no stopping us. She was it for me and even if I could never truly have her, I wasn’t ever going to stop wanting her. I wasn’t ever going to stop belonging to her.

But she lit me up and made me burn. And I never wanted to stop burning with her.

"I think I'm already burning, Darius," she breathed. "And it's time I stopped pretending I'm not."

She was beauty and strength and bravery and hope and if I spent every day for the rest of forever making her mine then I'd gladly do it.

She was the owner of all that I was and I knew I'd make any sacrifice I had to to save her.

I didn’t want her or anyone else. Only Roxy. Only ever her.

“I love you, Blue. I loved you then, I love you now, I’ll love you tomorrow even if I’m no longer on this earth. No time exists where I won’t love you.”

But I would fight until my very last breath to keep my girl safe. Death would have to try and rip her from my arms itself if it wanted her, and even then, I would not let go.

A man I had chosen for myself, regardless of stars and fate and laws. He was mine and I was his. Now and always. In the end, he’d kept his promise to me after all and I’d kept mine. We’d fought for each other until we couldn’t fight any more.