Fated Throne (Zodiac Academy, #6)

by Caroline Peckham

“It’s kind of a big deal.” “Every crush you have is a big deal, you had a crush on a cookie the other day and didn’t eat it for like eight hours.”

“We won’t die,” he said with a shrug. “We’re the Heirs and the Savage Princess. Darcy and the dudebros. Wolfman, Bitey C, Fish Fury, Dragzilla, and the Phoen Dream.”

“So you’re officially together now?” she demanded, her lower lip quivering. “Did you hear something?” Seth mused and I turned away from Kylie with a shrug. “Nope, must have been the wind,” I said. “See you later.”

My eyes snapped open, and I looked up to find Geraldine Grus knocking her fist against my shield like it was a door while holding a plate stacked high with bagels in her other hand.

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.

“He’s agreed,” Darius said quickly as if that made it any better. “Oh well, if he’s agreed,” I said sarcastically. “Then I’ll fly there right now and skip into his

arms like an obedient little homing pigeon. Oh no wait, I’d rather eat Griffin shit.”

“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.”

“Are you going to sit down or continue to perch there like a constipated owl?” he asked dryly, and my lips dared to twitch.

Denial was my best friend who liked to braid my hair and call me pretty.

I got up off my ass and headed to the fake bar in the fence that would let me into the academy, walking fast toward it. My forehead collided with the metal and a loud dong rang out that echoed through my skull. Nope. Not that one.

“Reaper Hounds,” Darius revealed darkly. “They’re bound here to protect the perimeter,” Orion explained, casting a silencing bubble around us. “No one look them in the eyes, they’ll rip the soul right out of your body if you do.” “They’ll do fucking what?” Max balked.

“Rip the soul from your very being, Maxy boy, do keep up,” Geraldine said, raising her flail.

“No. But maybe you shouldn’t shower with the door open, idiot. I wasn’t planning on seeing the crack of dawn twice today,” I tossed at him.

“Two phoenixes, born of fire, rising from the ashes of the past. The wheel of fate is turning, and the Dragon is poised to strike. But blood of the deceiver may change the course of destiny. Beware the man with the painted smile who lingers close to your side. Turn the scorned. Free the enslaved. Fear the bonded men. Many will fall for one to ascend. Suffer the curse. The hunter will pay the price. Do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Keep the broken promise.

Mend the rift. All that hides in the shadows is not dark. Blood will out. Seal your fate. Choose your destiny.”

For a moment I just looked at the snow, thinking of how Roxy had told me her only Christmas tradition was a snowball fight with Darcy and remembering the way she’d laughed with me when we’d wrestled in the snow exactly a year ago in the grounds of this very place. I should have told her then how much I wanted her. I should have been a true Fae and owned up to all the shit I’d put her through and just told her how much I admired her, hungered for her, needed her. But I’d known I wasn’t good enough for her. Even then I’d known it, so rather than just tell her how I felt I’d hidden it. And look where that had gotten us. I’m so fucking sorry, baby.

“Tell me what to do, baby,” I breathed, looking into her green eyes, hoping she might have thought of something I hadn’t.

Her lips met mine and I tasted her tears and my grief between us for the sweetest, most painful moment I’d ever known.

“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.”