Heartless Sky (Zodiac Academy, #7)

by Caroline Peckham

“Watch it, Noxy. Cal and Darius are the only ones I have time for.” “You laughed for five whole minutes after Max told you about the Vampire who went to the mortal realm and made everyone believe he was the real Edward Cullen by covering himself in Pegasus glitter.” “That shit was funny,” he said defensively. “It’s not him I like, I liked the story.”

“I’ve got Darcy, her sister, you and your family, Darius, Xavier, Cal, isn’t that enough?” he asked, proving his stubbornness. “Yeah, it’s enough,” I admitted. “But there can always be more.” He shrugged and I clapped a hand to his back.

“Of course I am,” he said firmly. “And you can hardly destroy my life, Noxy, what are you gonna do? Take away my status and make everyone repulsed by me? Oh wait, too late.” I dug my fingers into his back, my wicked smile growing. “I’ll burn every book you love for starters.” He inhaled sharply, looking to me in horror. “You wouldn’t.” “I would. I’d rip those pages right out and make those hardbacks scream.” “You’re a monster,” he cursed. “So, she’s happy with you?” I pushed and a crease formed on his brow. “Well, yeah. Mostly, I guess.” “What do you mean?” I frowned. “I mean…” He looked to me. “And don’t go after my fucking books for this, but I know she’s not exactly happy with my stance on our current situation.” “Meaning?” I pressed and he sighed, looking pained as his dark eyes bored into mine. “She doesn’t care about my Power Shaming because she hasn’t grown up in this world. She doesn’t understand how deeply this will affect us. Always. I’m never going to be accepted in society again. When this war is over, and pray to the fucking stars, the Vegas ascend to the throne, what then? I can’t stand at her side, she’ll lose the support of her people. She’ll be ridiculed. What if she resents me for that? She deserves an easy life, a partner she can openly be with without the judgement of the whole fucking world.”

“So what are you planning? Because I swear to the moon, Orio, if you leave her-” “I won’t leave her,” he promised. “But I’m happy to remain in the background, let the world believe we’re not together.” “Like you’re attempting to do here in The Burrows?” I scoffed and he nodded. “You should be proud to claim her as yours.” “I am,” he snarled. “But you can’t deny this situation is putting me in a difficult position.

“I guess I would do what you’re doing and my wife would give me hell for it,” I admitted and Orion snorted a laugh. “Yeah, well welcome to my world,” he said

“Just love her with all your heart, Orio,” I sighed, knowing I couldn’t interfere with their fate. They had to make their own decisions, overcome their own obstacles. But it left me with fear clutching my heart for them.

“If Hamish would just let me inside his cell, I’d get it out of him in minutes,” he said with a glimmer of malice in his eyes. “Yeah, and you’d add another crime to your collection. Are you sure you wanna be a murderer?” I asked. “What’s one more little crime? I’m on the run anyway,” Orion said with a shrug and I laughed.

“Geraldine,” Darcy hissed. “Forgive me, my lady. Have I spoken out of turn?” she gasped. “Don’t call him repulsive,” Darcy insisted. “Oh my holy biscuit box!” Geraldine gasped. “Forgive me, dear Darcy. I shall pick a more fitting word in future. Ghastly perhaps? Or abominable? Maybe the word pugnacious would be more to your tastes?” “He isn’t those things,” Darcy growled. “Oh – I -um- apologies - blast my baking goods,” Geraldine seemed to glitch out, caught between the cultural norm to turn on Power Shamed Fae and the desire to please her queen.

“Are you okay, Gabriel?” Darcy called in concern. “Someone slipped me a potion!” I barked and Orion shot to my side in concern. “What can I do, Noxy?” he asked in earnest. “Get them all out of here,” I begged and he nodded, turning back to the class. “OUT!” he bellowed in his best professor tone.

“Don’t let go,” I begged, like Rose trying to cling to Jack at the end of Titanic. But we all knew how that had turned out. “I won’t. I’ve got you,” he promised,

Sofia ran at my side, pink glitter cascading from her blonde hair as she smiled. “You really did that?” she laughed. “Yeah, and he’s gonna freaking kill me when he gets out of there,” I said with a snort of laughter. “You’re so funny, Xavier,” she said with a wide grin. “Oh yeah?” My chest puffed up as we turned another corner and slowed to a halt.

A small gasp escaped her and I gave her a moment to push me away, but she didn’t. My throat bobbed as I stared down at this perfect creature who’d captivated my dreams. She was the most beautiful mare I’d ever seen, and I couldn’t believe the way she was looking at me right now.

Weird

“You think you can touch my girlfriend and get away with it?” Tyler snarled. “She wants the strongest Pegasus, Tyler, and that’s me,” I insisted. “Stop it,” Sofia snapped. “I like both of you, okay?” She tried to pull us apart, but we ignored her, our heads knocking together once more as we fought for dominance, trying to force the other one to submit. I was so sick of Tyler acting like I was less than him. My instincts demanded I crush him beneath me and claim my rightful position as Dom of our herd. I’d fallen for Sofia a long time ago, and yeah maybe I knew it wasn’t my right to move in on another guy’s girl, but this was more than that. It was a need of my Order. I had to claim her as I had to claim the Dom position.

“Now look what you’ve done.” Tyler shoved me in the chest and I stumbled back into a wall. “Everything was fine until you showed up with your stupid quaffed hair and your hot as fuck abs, and now your fucking dijazzle to top all other dijazzles. It’s bullshit. And you know what?”

What???

“He Dommed me down, it was instinct,” he said and she leaned back, capturing hold of my hair and dragging me closer. “I know, I saw,” she panted as my hands fell to the soft curves of her waist as the water washed over me heavily. “And I’m happy. Because this is the answer we’ve been looking for.”

“Sorry?” I tried as I swallowed a laugh, wondering if I should explain the deal I’d made for my dick gems, but Gabriel didn’t seem in the mood to see them all right now, so I decided not to get them out. “You’re not sorry,” he growled. “But you will be.”

“You know, if this betrothal no longer suits you-” he began, but I cut him off with a gasp. “Sweet sourcrout whatever gave you that idea?” I gasped. “Well, I’m not blind, honeybutton, I see the looks you share with the Rigel chap and I know he has a dastardly opinion about the throne, but perhaps that’s not such a bother. It is clear our ladies will rise regardless and once he has been cowed down by the sweet and stern hand of fate, he may become a suitable match for you.” “But what of Justin?” I cried. "Poor, sweet, foolish Justin who was so wrongfully accused? What kind of lady am I if I do not return to him now after all he has suffered?”

I ran like a peacock on a tennis court,

know the truth soon. “Gerry?” My heart stilled at the sound of that voice and I sucked in a sharp breath, freezing where I was and wondering if I hadn’t just conjured the idea of him into my mind. “Gerry, talk to me.” I felt him at my back even before he touched me, his hands finding my forearms and sliding down my skin until his fingers met with mine and he began to guide me in the dance of kneading the dough. “I can feel your heart breaking,” he murmured

“You’re Geraldine Grus,” he replied. “And you’re fucking everything to me.” My fluttering heart free fell to my nether regions at those words and I broke for him, opening up like an egg cracking apart and offering him a view of my yolky insides. “But you are a cad and I am a lady,” I breathed. “We are as unlikely as a fish and a dandelion finding truest love.” “Well this fish would grow legs and crawl from the water to sit with you, dandelion.”

“And what if the wind blows and my seeds take flight?” I murmured. “Then I would grow wings and follow you to the moon,” he replied. “Because nothing in this world means more to me than you do, Gerry. And there are no differences we can’t overcome to be together.” I turned my head, my eyes cracking open and swimming with tears that revealed a watery view of his handsome face. “Then meet me on the moon,” I breathed,

baking with him and together we made the butteriest bagels that I ever had made which we devoured together away from the crowd. And not a single crumb was offered to Justin’s thin lips.

I turned to face him, letting my arms fall to my sides as I approached this weasel of a man before me.

the Savage King was savage in his youth too,” I said, quietly loving that I was tarnishing Hail’s name even more than I had managed while he lived. “He was the Captain of the Pitball team too

“Are you sure you were proficient, My King?” Portia asked, a teasing lilt to her voice and I allowed a light laugh to fall from my lips as my hands tightened on the arms of my chair. “I had come down with the Fae flu that very day,” I worked to play it off as the crowd settled down. “I assure you I destroyed him on that pitch not a week later when I had recovered, but Hail swept my second try-out under the rug, not wanting to be put to shame by my talent.” “I see,” Portia said lightly.

Your brother Radcliff Acrux tragically died when he was just twenty,

“The sting marks were solely located in this one spot,” Portia said, a ring appearing around the blistered red sting marks on Radcliff’s chest. “And some biologists claim the norian wasp stings erratically, that it wouldn’t sting in a localised place repeatedly unless it was held in place by magic, or perhaps a jar-” “Preposterous,” I blurted, waving a hand at her as heat flared within my limbs. What the fuck was this? Was she accusing me of something? This was meant to be my night of celebration, how dare she bring my brother’s death into it?

“And yet,” Portia interjected, making my eyes snap back to her. “When we delve deeper, it appears that bond wasn’t always in place.” “How do you mean?” I laughed lightly, taking a long swig of my drink as I set this woman in my deadly gaze. “Well, let us take a look at this exclusive undercover footage from the graduates party at Zodiac Academy,” Portia announced

“Oh don’t be lame, Lionel,” he sighed as he took in my rage and those words sent a ripple of blazing heat up my back. “Lame Lionel!” Tiberius laughed as he leapt up beside the young version of me. “Isn’t that what Rad used to call you?”

Forgive my outburst. I grieve Hail daily so I can get a little emotional recounting our friendship.” “Of course,” Portia said, bowing her head. “Apologies, your highness. We only wanted to show things weren’t always rosy between you and the other Councillors, and perhaps this shows a hint of the Savage King’s savagery too.” I felt she was trying to cool my temper, feeding me what I wanted to hear, but it worked regardless, helping me find my composure as I played it off, pushing a hand into my hair and smiling roguishly. “Ah, yes. He could be savage indeed.

“Lame Lionel, Lame Lionel, Lame Lionel!” The crowd picked it up and I lost my grip on Portia as she darted away. “STOP!” I commanded in a roar, rage pounding through my chest as those words echoed everywhere around me. “I am your king! You will respect your king!” Portia was almost off the stage and I pointed at Francesca Sky who was nearest to her. “Get hold of her!” I ordered,

I was never going to forget the way Lionel had squirmed on that stage, and it had made me proud as hell to see my dad tearing him down to size at school – like, literally down to size.

But you’re a princess, so maybe I’m the cruel beast who wants to keep you locked up in a tower.” “You wouldn’t be able to keep me locked up,” I countered. “True…” he conceded. “So what’s your next move?” “I suppose I’ll be your vicious attack dog and destroy anyone who touches you,” he said, a grin in his voice. “You could get arrested for that,” I said lightly, fighting another shiver as he dragged his fangs up to the sensitive skin behind my ear. “That would be quite awful.” “Yeah, I can imagine,” I said dryly and he laughed deep in his throat.

“Come bite me in the dining hall,” I offered and the playful look in his eyes melted away. “You know I can’t do that.” “Well maybe it’s the only place I’ll let you do it in future then,” I said, anger igniting in me. I was so sick of him acting like we weren’t a couple in front of the rebels, always shifting away from me whenever I tried to take his hand or lean in to kiss him. “Blue,” he growled. “Lance,” I growled back and he sighed, stepping closer to me as I stepped away. “You know why it has to be this way.” “Fuck what everyone thinks,” I huffed,

“Because it would destroy you,” he snapped. “Let me be destroyed then,” I growled. “I would rather be judged for living a life of my choosing than have to lie about you, to have to watch you pull away from me every time some random Fae looks at us. I don’t care what they think.” He shook his head. “I won’t be responsible for your downfall.” “You’re not responsible for shit, Lance. You just won’t let me make the choice I want to make. It’s my downfall, so let me have it if I want it.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying,” he hissed, stalking towards me as I continued to back up. “Solaria needs you more than I need to claim you in public.” “Or maybe you just don’t want me in public,” I spat, knowing it was just coming out of anger, but I said it anyway. “Oh don’t be a child,” he said dismissively. “No, maybe there’s something to it, Lance. I’ve always been your dirty little secret. Maybe you like the thrill of sneaking around. Maybe that’s the appeal for you.” He shot toward me in a blur, shoving me up against the wall and baring his fangs in my face. “Don’t belittle what I feel for you. I would tear down mountains for you.

Where you go, I will follow. There is no force powerful enough in this life or the next to tear you away from me. So don’t you dare question my love for you.”

“Then why can’t you love me in front of the world?” I whispered, my voice cracking on those words. “You say you love me more than anything, but you keep our love hidden like it’s something shameful. Do you know how much it hurts me that you expect me to accept that the man I love won’t touch me in front of anyone but our inner circle? It kills me.” His face twisted in pain at my words, his eyes a sea of agony and confliction as he stared at me. “Let me choose my fate. If I’m to be ruined, then so be it, but let me be happy in my fucking destruction,” I demanded.

headed over to them, slapping on a fake smile as I took a seat beside Tory, but the moment she looked at me, she gave me a twin look that said she knew something was up. I shook my head marginally and she squeezed my hand under the table, a promise in her eyes to talk to me later if I wanted to. She knew me so well, but honestly I didn’t see the point in talking about this.

Seth came to sit at my side, whimpering softly while Max looked over at me with an expression that said I wasn’t doing well at keeping my emotions hidden. I didn’t know why I’d even bothered to try and hide it at all. They all knew me too well. Caleb was sat at the far end of the table from me and Seth, and I looked to my Wolf friend beside me with a sad smile, knowing he was hurting inside.

“No,” Darius said. “Francesca hasn’t responded to his message.” “Fucking Fran,” I muttered and Tory glanced at me with a nod of solidarity. “Fuck her up the butt with a coconut,” Tory added. “And a pineapple,” Seth added. “And a bushel of prickly pears.” “And a rotten carrot,” Tyler called across the table and I looked over at him, his hand on Xavier’s on the table while Sofia sat on Xavier’s other side, nuzzling him with a look of contentment on her face.

I was super freaking happy for them but also like, fuck my life. Because it was just another perfect relationship on display for everyone to see. Xavier was showing off his Subs at every chance he got, and they were doing the same to him in return. My fingers tightened around my fork as I gritted my teeth so hard it hurt, and Max raised his eyebrows at me. “You okay there, little Vega?” he asked. “You’re giving off murderous death vibes, it’s kinda ruining my appetite.”

“I am in love with Darcy Vega, heir to the throne of Solaria, daughter of the Savage King – who by the way was tricked by Lionel Acrux into being an evil sonuvabitch. And I know you all think I’m a complete waste of oxygen.” He kicked a bread roll into Justin Masters’ face and it bounced off his forehead as he tried not to react. “That my shame is infectious and you don’t want it anywhere near you, let alone your precious princess.” He leapt from one table to another, making his way towards us and I got up, a smile nearly splitting my cheeks open. “But it turns out she wants me anyway. And I’m done making decisions for a girl who has always made better ones than I do. So if this is what she wants, then she can have it. Because she owns me right down to my black heart.”

“You owe me a kiss,” he purred, a devilish gleam in his gaze. “Where do you want it?” I asked, high on this moment as raindrops pattered in my gut. He tapped his lips, his smirk still hitched in place and I swear I was never going to get enough of this man.

“I’m so terrified of what this will mean for you, Blue, but I’m so much more terrified of hurting you. So if you want this, then it’s yours. Besides, now the decision is made, I get to do what I’ve wanted to do since I first laid eyes on you.” “And what’s that?” I asked, my hands sliding over his broad shoulders and looping around his neck as I zoned out the cries of disgust around me, focusing on him and nothing else. He was all that mattered anyway. “Kiss you in front of the world and show them that you’re mine.” He leaned down and I offered him my mouth and everything else I was made of right down to the dust that made up my bones.

His tongue met mine in firm strokes and my sister whooped loudly, pounding her fist on the table, the Heirs taking up the cry and all my friends were suddenly working together to drown out the rebels. I swear I had never felt so much joy in all my life as I did then, and I hoped it was never going to end.

“You’d suit scarlet,” Angelica suggested. “Nonsense! And have my hair look like a boiled lobster to attract more hungry hammerfish to my shores? You’re being nonsensical, Angelica,” Geraldine said, shaking her head fiercely.

“I see what you mean, Justin has no edge. He’s…” I tried to find the word. “Dull?” Geraldine offered. “Boring beyond what should be possible within the realms of our kind?” “Err, yeah,” I admitted and Geraldine wailed like a half strangled goat.

“Can’t you just break the wedding off?” Sofia suggested. “I’m sure your dad won’t care.” “Papa has given me his blessing to end the engagement. But I am a lady of my word, and what am I without my word, Sofia?” Geraldine gasped, clutching a hand to her chest in horror. “What if we break it off for you?” I suggested. “Like a princess declaration thingy?” “You would do that for me?” Geraldine breathed in awe.

“Can I decree that everyone stops pointing in horror at me and Orion whenever we touch?” I grumbled. Geraldine reached out, patting my knee with sympathy in her eyes. “No, my sweet and gentle Darcy. You can only decree things that are possible within the realms of reasonability.” I growled, messing up the pink paint I was coating onto my nails and using water magic to correct it. “Dammit.”