Fated Throne (Zodiac Academy, #6)

by Caroline Peckham

There was a fire burning in the grate and I bit my lip as I looked at it, trying to figure out when Darius had managed to sneak in here and get it going for me since we’d returned. It wasn’t like I needed any help in lighting a fire, but the room was always so nice and warm when it had been burning for a while and the constant flames meant that I always woke up with my magic fully replenished every morning too.

When Darcy reappeared wearing a pair of my pyjamas, I grinned as I tossed the crown onto her head, and she laughed as she settled herself back against the pillows. “Look at us, practically queens already,” I joked, grabbing a huge bar of chocolate from my nightstand and tossing it to her before cursing as I realised my second bar was gone. Fucking Seth. I knew it was him. Always sniffing about my snac...

“As if,” Darcy balked. “There is no me and Orion. Not anymore.”

“Fuck no. He doesn’t just get to rip my heart out, stamp on it, leave it to rot for six months then dust it off and start it beating again. We’re just...he’s just...I’m just...nothing.” She looked so broken by that statement that it cut into me, and my heart twisted with sympathy for my twin as I burrowed down into the covers beside her. “Maybe you should think about forgiving him?” I suggested in a small voice. “What?” she gasped like she never would have expected to hear that opinion from me, and I grimaced at the words too, but I stood by them. “Look, I know I’m always the first to tell people to get fucked if they cross me. And I’m the first to kick a dude in the dick if he even thinks about crossing you - which I have been doing repeatedly to Orion by the way - but my situation has made me realise that maybe, sometimes, it’s worth letting your pride slip and thinking about forgiveness.

I don’t want to see you left pining for the man you love when there’s a chance for you to find happiness with him, even if it’s only the slightest glimmer of hope. At least there is hope.”

Darcy’s eyes filled with tears for both of us and I smiled sadly as I pulled her into my arms, and we lifted the covers over our heads like we used to when we were little kids.

but I sure as shit wasn’t gonna stand for anyone badmouthing any of the Gruses.

tell Geraldine that Agent Foxy sent you.” He sighed as we laughed. “I didn’t pick it, Geraldine did. I tried to change fate before she decided but she’s a very stubborn girl.”

“Oh, my dear Xavier.” She pulled me into a tight hug, squeezing me tight. “I am overjoyed that you have joined us at last.”

“Is this an official challenge, Xavier?” He narrowed his eyes, and I lifted my chin.

“What’s your problem?” she demanded, yanking her wrist free and glaring at him. “He had his hands all over you,” Hadley snapped.

“I need a taste. Just one taste, Athena. Then I can get you out of my head. Please. I’ll do whatever you want in return,” he said, sounding completely unlike himself as he begged her.

Hadley chuckled mirthlessly, clutching her closer as he pulled his fangs free of her throat then dropped his mouth to her breasts and started feeding once more. She fisted his hair as he drove her against the wall and when he was done, he dropped to his knees, throwing her leg over his shoulder, and driving his fangs into her inner thigh.

He snarled then lunged forward and took her lower lip between his teeth, drawing blood and making her wince. She swallowed visibly as he released her lip, their mouths grazing and his body pressing flush to hers. Their eyes were locked and for a moment I saw a hint of something more in Athena’s eyes as she gazed at him.

“Why are you always trying to tangle your tentacles around me, Maxy boy?” she demanded. “I’d have thought that was pretty obvious by now,” I said in a low voice. “Oh, hell no,” Darius growled drawing my attention to what he was glaring at on the far side of the lagoon.

She did a pretty good job of keeping her bitchy shadow girl mask in place, but as she turned and looked at Darcy, a smirk escaped her hold, and the tension ran out of Darius’s limbs.

but Darius had ditched me too, heading over to Tory with water magic swirling around his arms before he cast a field of liquid flowers to bloom all around her. Tory’s lips twitched as she stole control of the water and created a miniature city instead, the Empire State Building rising up in the centre of it.

The only people in Solaria powerful enough to face me were the Vegas, the Heirs, and their siblings.

“You’re strong of spirit, I’ll give you that, Roxanya,” he commented,

“You’re taking that fear and shit away from her like this a lot?” he guessed, eyeing me as I cringed a little. “Yeah...well if I don’t, she just gets worse and I-” “That’s gotta be fucking with your emotions though,” he said, knowing too well how my Order gifts worked and the way I was affected by the kinds of emotions I fed my power with.

“You want me to stay too? I’m not exactly laughing my ass off, but I’ve probably got some lighter emotions than that going on in my head to balance you out.”

caught a taste of laughter, joy, and lust on him as he thought about that which made me grin.

“They already know, Dad,” I admitted. “They don’t give a shit. We’re loyal to each other.”

“You’re fucking insane, and he’ll probably try to strangle your ass for this,” I said. “But?” he prompted. “But, I’m onboard with it. The two of them need to sort it the fuck out and get back together. So, if he asks me again, I’ll play along.”

YAY

“Fuck my father,” I growled. “What loyalty has he ever shown me? Give me your Atlas and I’ll record a statement in support of you. We’ll make it clear we’ve known about this for a long time and tell them the only reason it was kept secret was to protect your stepmom from the scandal of the world knowing your dad cheated on her. Simple.”

“So what? Fuck him. Fuck his Orderist bullshit and fuck the idea of me ever letting anyone think I believe in his screwed-up hate speech either. He won’t kill me without another Heir to replace me and I’ve lived through enough of his punishments to know that trying to follow his rules won’t save me from them. So, I might as well earn them doing something I believe in.”

“Alright. Shit, man, I owe you for this,” Max said. “No, you don’t. We’re brothers and this is what we do for family. No question. No debts. We’re just here for each other when we need to be.”

She wasn’t mine. But she was. And if he’d fucking touched her again, I’d rip his cock off and set it alight.

The world stopped spinning as my gaze fell on the bed where the two of them lay, her head on his chest and his arm around her. There was a dull, echoing thump taking place somewhere in the depths of my mind and a ringing in my ears that wouldn’t quit.

“I didn’t even know he was here,” Roxy added angrily, her glare fixed on me. “But thanks for trusting me, you piece of shit.” “You’re in her fucking bed!” I roared, aiming all of my rage at Caleb because I couldn’t bear to point it at her. “The two of you are half naked!” “It looks pretty fucking suspicious, dude,” Seth added bitterly, folding his arms over his chest while his jaw worked furiously like he was holding back on saying more. “Well, it’s not,” Caleb snapped, giving Seth a pained look, which pissed me off because his focus should have been on me.

“Then why the fuck are you all snuggled up in bed together?” I demanded, smoke spilling between my lips as the urge to shift overwhelmed me and I turned my furious gaze on Caleb once more. “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.” “What?” I asked, my brow pinching but her mouth was on mine before I could further form that thought. All the heat of the sun flared between us as she wrapped her arms around my neck and leapt up onto me, her legs tightening around my waist as a groan of pure fucking need escaped me and she pushed her tongue between my lips.

And there was only her, just like she’d told me there was only me.

“I can’t be without you anymore, Roxy. It’s killing me. It’s going to kill me,”

Dragon as thunder crashed overhead again. I threw one last, lingering look at the beautiful girl who owned my heart, wishing more than anything in the world that I didn’t have to walk out on her then tearing my own soul in two as I did exactly that.

“Don’t you run away from me, Darius Acrux,” Roxy snarled, striding right up to me in that tank top which I just now realised was actually mine.

And I told them I didn’t believe in fate. No matter how many times predictions and horoscopes and all of it was proved right, I kept scoffing and telling them I didn’t believe it.” “That’s not a surprise, Roxy. You’re the most stubborn Fae I’ve ever met.” “Said the pot to the kettle,”

You told me I was yours and I think that you’re mine too.” “You think?” I asked. “I told you I love you. I tattooed it on my flesh, Roxy, I feel like I’ve made my feelings pretty clear. You’re all I want for myself.

you don’t think anything. You know I’m yours, every damn piece of me. But you’ve never told me what you want out of owning me or if I own you too.”

“I’m the girl no one ever loved, Darius,” she said. “No one but Darcy, my whole life. And though I never let it show, I used to dream of finding someone who would love me like a prince in a fairy tale so I could be their princess.

“Maybe not,” she agreed, and my gut fell, but she lifted the hem of my tank, and my gaze was drawn to the movement of her hand as she dragged her thumb up the front of her thigh and removed the concealment she must have had in place over her skin there. A lump formed in my throat as my gaze tracked the lines of ink on her flesh. I knew the design because it mirrored the one Gabriel had told me to place on my own skin. The lines which dictated the position of the heavens on the night she’d told me no. The night when everything could have been so different if I’d only followed what my heart wanted sooner. The words which ran down her thigh to the left of the design in delicate script were a mirror of those on my own skin. There is only him.

Because if I had her then I knew I had it all. And I didn’t care if we really would have to tear the stars out of the sky to force them to give us our tomorrow. I’d do it. I’d pay any price they asked of me just to make this feeling last. Just to truly have her.

Roxy moaned my name and I swear that was the best sound in the entire world.

She pushed me back and I let her, lying on the wet, muddy ground as I grasped her waist and moved her to kneel over my face so that I could kiss the ink on her thigh. I traced each and every line of that tattoo with my tongue, my heart racing at the knowledge that she’d placed it on her skin permanently for me.

I turned my head from her thigh to the centre of her, gripping her ass tightly and bringing her down over my mouth as the sweet taste of her desire met my tongue.

she was the most prized possession I could ever hope to own. 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.

I was going to fuck my name into every inch of her skin, brand her with my kisses and mark her with my love until not a Fae in the world could deny it and even the stars would be forced to allow it.

“I’m yours, Darius,” she breathed, her voice barely audible over the storm. “And you’re mine. No matter what.”

“What?” Xavier asked. “Is that a prediction or something?” “No, fine steed, I am not blessed with The Sight, but I do have a river of faith and a mountain of belief in my ladies.

I am certain you will be most pleased to see how well she is doing,” Geraldine explained, and I really hoped that was true, because our mom deserved the chance to be happy after so many years chained to that monster she’d been married to.

“What did she lure you into the trees with?” I asked him, knowing his instincts wouldn’t have made him follow treasure the way I had. “Oh, erm.” Xavier blushed a little and I was enough of a dick not to let him off the hook, waiting for the silence to stretch out before he admitted the truth. “Carrots.”