Fated Throne (Zodiac Academy, #6)

by Caroline Peckham

“And you thought now was the best time to try and tame Lady Petunia?” I gasped. “Right when I have her all primed for a ramming?” “Your vagina is primed for-” “Good sir! Please do not be so uncouth. I cannot have this discussion right now.

I watched her as she looked at the tattoo, tracing the words with her fingertips and breathing them into the silence. “There is only her.” She continued to paint the marks that made up the Gemini and Leo constellations followed by the lines of the geometric design that charted the pattern of the moon and stars the night she’d said no to me. It was pretty complex, an interlinking design of triangles and interlocking lines that mapped out the alignment of the heavens on the night that had changed everything.

Having Orion’s new number was a treat in itself. I sent him daily photographs of me and Darcy together with captions like #sheaintblueoveryounomore and #teamDeth. He’d blocked my number after threatening to rip my intestines out and strangle me with them – among other murderous threats - but then I got a magical app which sent my texts from anonymous numbers so he couldn’t keep me away. It was hilarious. And very intentional. Because I was officially kickstarting Mission: Get Darion Back Together.

If I died today in defence of my ladies, then I would go on to join the stars knowing that my sacrifice had been worthy. And yet I had no plans to leave them now. I would be there, watching their ascent to the throne and bathing in the glow of their eternal reign over our kingdom.

I lunged at Darius, dropping the axe by my feet and slamming into him hard enough to knock him back onto his ass as I landed in his lap. “Is it you?” I demanded, looking into his dark eyes and grabbing his face between my hands as I held him still, searching for the man the stars had chosen for my mate. “Are you still you?” “It’s me, Roxy,” he said roughly, his hands moving to grasp my waist as he looked at me like I was the answer to every question he’d ever asked of the world. Relief spilled through me in an overwhelming torrent that made me sag forward as I pressed my forehead to his for the briefest of moments before rearing back again. “You fucking idiot,” I snapped, punching him in the chest as I realised he was okay. “Why the fuck were your eyes open?” “Because I wasn’t going to risk them getting past me to you,” he snarled like that was the most obvious thing in the world and I punched him again. “And what would I do without you?” I demanded, making his eyes widen with surprise before I even realised what I’d said, but fuck it.

I gasped aloud as I fought to contain so much power at once and when Geraldine grabbed my other arm and hers and Max’s power joined with ours too, my knees almost buckled from the weight of all of it. “Ho-ly fuck,” Caleb groaned. “This might just be better than sex,” Seth gasped, and I made a sound of acknowledgement which came out as a breathy moan. “Good golly lobsters,” Geraldine sighed and for once I knew exactly what she fucking meant.

“Satisfied?” Gabriel asked, smirking cockily and I grinned at him. That shit was stupid cool. I seriously had the best siblings.

Tyler Corbin: It looks like the Water Heirs decided to have a throw down during class today and I just received this video from an anonymous classmate of theirs. It’s just a shame that @EllisRigel made such an ASS of herself looking like an ostrich with a plucked butt after @MaxRigel was done with her. Are we sure she’s a Siren, because she might have lost control of her Order form and I’m pretty sure I saw a camel toe. #fullmoontonight #watershame #whoissheanyway #feelingbutthurt #mindthecrack #spareforareason #camelshifterindisguise

iykyk 😭😂

There is only him.

“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.”

Darius: Can you go to Lance’s tonight? He might need help and I’m busy. My heart missed a full beat. Darcy: Busy doing what? Darius: Stuff and things. Be there by seven, shrew.

“Not in your lifetime, mutt.” He shot away from me, cutting down a Nymph with a furious blow of his sword and I sighed internally. There goes my future best friend.