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“We all know this comes down to Lionel and his followers,” she said firmly. “Don’t let him get between the happiness you two have found together out of some bullshit sense of guilt, Darius.” A sad kind of smile tugged at his lips as he pushed to his feet before us. “The shrew has bite.” “You know I do,” she confirmed. “And I’ll prove it if you even consider pulling away from this now. Tory needs you. So get that self-loathing shit out of your eyes and be the man she needs you to be.”
“You need to stay calm for a bit,” he said by way of explanation. “No eye fucking the Dragon.”
“Thank you,” I murmured and he gave me an easy smile, though I could see the tension around his eyes which hadn’t been there before from the weight of taking on my fear and pain. “Any time, little Vega.” He got up and headed from the room, a strangled sob from beyond the door letting me know that Geraldine was hanging around out there as he emerged. “Oh you salty sealion,” she praised. “You have a true heart of gold beneath that barnacle encrusted exterior, don’t you, Maxy?” “Err…yeah?” he replied,
“Well…you didn’t have a silencing bubble up so Lance and Caleb definitely heard and Seth was the one who ran to get me even though I was already on my way, and obviously Geraldine heard so…” “Let’s hope it was just our group then,” I muttered
“Yeah. I feel great. I hope that bitch is off crying herself to sleep somewhere because her dumb curse didn’t take root in me,” she joked and I grinned. “That’s because you’re a total badass,” I replied knowingly. “Well that makes two of us,” she said.
“There’d better be chocolate down in these tunnels.” “If there’s not, what even is the point of living?” I lamented and she laughed. “I can see the headlines now, the Vega twins die in joint chocolate-related suicide,” she said and I chuckled. “I think our bigger concern around here is a sneaky white Wolf stealing all of our chocolate away,”
“Have you ever tried a Polar Bear shifter though? They taste like a snow cone,” Caleb said excitedly. “Well, nothing tastes as good as a Vega,” Orion said tauntingly and Caleb bared his fangs as they locked eyes. “Yeah? Try hunting the most powerful Werewolf in Solaria,” Caleb said with a smirk and Orion bared his fangs at him. “I’d rather drink a Toad’s blood than drink from him again,” Orion sneered
Do sit down you pompous, sharp-toothed velociraptors!” Geraldine banged her fist on the table.
“I’m not joking,” Xavier balked. “I’ve had plenty of…sex.” “With who?” Darius demanded, leaning back in his seat and folding his arms. “Girls,” Xavier blurted. “Lots of girls. I’ve had girls on their knees while I rut my…horn on their swollen…parts.” “Oh dude, please go fuck someone, it’s painful to hear you talk about something you’ve never done.”
“I see you Lance Azriel Orion. My eyes are wide open and there you are like a crisp apple balancing upon the bosoms of the stars.” “Thanks,” he forced out. “I mean, not about me being a tit apple, but the other part.”
“Would it help if I dick punched anyone who ignored you?” Tory offered and I laughed. “Is that your answer to everything, little savage?” Orion asked her with a smirk and she thought on it for a second. “Most things, yeah,” she agreed and Darius frowned at her. “How come you’ve never dick punched me then?”
“There’s no going back. You need to become a true Nymph. You need to let her influence in, then maybe you’ll become someone this family can be proud of.” I fell quiet, thinking on that. I
“I want you to shift your right hand into a probe, Diego,” Alejandro instructed casually, like we weren’t in some horror show murder shed and I managed to get to my feet and make it to the door, jiggling the handle only to find it locked tight.
I rarely used my air Element since I’d stolen it all those years ago, but Alejandro had forced me to practise with it to ensure I could fake my own Awakening. And as Professor Zenith called out for the air Element to arise, I cast air from my fingertips, making the grass rustle around me like it was for everyone else and I didn’t breathe again until she announced we were air Elementals without so much as a suspicious glance my way.
My uncle had told me she had been a Cerberus, so to recharge my magic I had to do what she had done and feast on Aconite – or as some called it, Wolfsbane. I’d heard it grew out here in the woods and now I could feel the well of my magic hollowing out, I needed to find some and recharge it fast.
This was different. I’d sat beside Darcy in class. She’d been nice to me. She even seemed to like me a little.
“Washer is a total perve,” Sofia whispered then giggled and the sound made a grin pull at my mouth. She was something else, this chica. She shone when she was happy, and even whinnied sometimes. I was fascinated with her and her Order and sometimes I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her.
“You killed the Vegas’ parents?” I rasped. “Yes,” Alejandro said with pride in his voice. “Thanks to Lionel Acrux.”
But what kind of friend was I? They’d hate me if they knew the truth. And now it had all come to nothing, because I couldn’t lie to the stars. They’d see me for what I was – if they’d even bother to judge me at all.
They’d been loyal to me and I would be loyal to them in return, even if it meant my uncle saw what I was. I had friends now. They’d help me. They’d accepted my connection to the shadows, so maybe they could accept that I was a Nymph too. Because I was done lying, done betraying them.
“You dare attack your princess?” the Shadow Princess snarled as she stood over me and I nodded, the answer to the stars’ question now so blindingly clear. I do dare. Because Fae face their fears. And I’m almost as afraid of you as I am afraid to die.
“I just wanted to be useful. Did I do okay? Was I good friend?” I asked as a tear rolled from my eye as I knew I’d never see Sofia again, or Tory, or Geraldine. The friends who had given me a life I had always dreamed of having. “You’re the best friend, Diego,” Darcy promised
I was forced out of the shadows of the hat, finding my face wet with tears as Orion pulled me onto his lap and I let myself cry against his shoulder at reliving that awful goodbye once more. Geraldine wailed behind me, sobbing Diego’s name as Orion stroked his hand up and down my back.
“The hat kid’s name was Diego? I swear it was Darnell,” Darius murmured to Tory and she punched him in the arm with a muttered curse about him being an asshole.
“Her life is marked,” I growled. “As is Alejandro’s.” “For our mother and father too,” Tory growled. “We’ll send them into death screaming for mercy, and tear our parents’ Elements free of their veins,” I hissed.
“Maybe Diego was different. The shadows were obviously trying to turn him evil and he had his hat to help fight against them. But I’ve never seen another Nymph wearing a hat, so it makes sense to think they’re all corrupted.”
“I’ll er…catch you later?” I said and Darius frowned, stepping toward me as I prepared to leave. I lingered there for a second, wanting to say so many things and yet finding my voice locked up in my throat. I turned to leave, but he spoke my name in a way that seemed laced with a thousand hopes and regrets. “Lance?” I turned back, my eyebrows rising as the space between us seemed to shrink a little. “Yeah?” “You know it wasn’t all fake, right?” he asked, his eyes burning with the flames of his Order.
“Yeah, I know,” I said on a sigh. “But I also know that I’m a reminder of your father’s chains now. So enjoy your freedom, Darius. Really. You deserve time with people whose company isn’t forced upon you. I swear I don’t begrudge you it.” Hurt flashed across his eyes as he took another step toward me. “Is that what you really think, brother?” “Don’t you?” I asked,
“Are you sure?” I asked and he nodded again, making my grin widen further before I dove onto the bed to join him. He lunged at me, trying to wrestle me into being the little spoon, but I didn’t have to do his damn bidding anymore so I fought back and the two of us wrestled like Wolf pups, starting to laugh as we threw a few playful punches too.
“Yeah, let’s go with that,” Darius said on a bark of laughter. “Don’t tell Seth that though,” I warned. “He’s been trying to force hugs on me and I refuse to give in.” “Ha, the day you cuddle Seth will be the day my father hands over the throne with a nice little bow on it.”
“Seth played you. I just let him,” he said innocently. “So are you gonna thank his ass or spank it?” “I’ll ram a fucking pineapple up it,” I muttered. “He’s a good guy,” Darius pushed and I tsked. “Alright, he’s a bit of a sadist, but he’s got a good heart. Better than most actually. It just doesn’t always seem that way.”
“I thought I did for a minute there,” I murmured. “You and the Heirs, I…I’ll never be that for you. But I’ll be here. Always. Whenever you need me.” He frowned. “I’ll always be here for you too, Lance. And you’re not that different from the Heirs, you know, you just dislike them too much to let yourself see it.” “They’re a bunch of entitled pricks,” I said dismissively, shaking my head. “So am I.” Darius grinned. “But you like me just fine.”
“As soon as Gabriel sees a chance to strike at him, I will challenge him and I will win.” “And you’ll take his throne?” I asked, an edge to my voice because I knew what that could lead to next. “The Heirs and I will figure it out from there,” he said, not meeting my gaze. “They’ll either challenge their parents or their parents will step aside and we’ll form a new Council. One that will succeed in bringing peace to Solaria.”
“I knelt for Darcy in the arena,” I admitted, staring him straight in the eye. “She is my queen, whether that be by the choice of the stars or a fate carved by my own hand. I was always meant to kneel for her.” “And Roxy is my queen too. But she is not Solaria’s,” Darius said, raising his chin, stubbornness filling his expression and my jaw tightened as I felt us standing on two sides of an uncrossable chasm. “Rule with them,” I pleaded.
“This isn’t some fairy tale where the lost princesses show up and magically make everything better in the world, Lance,” he replied. “Think of it logically. Even now, they know barely anything of our world. They couldn’t pinpoint most Solarian cities on a map. They don’t know the laws of old, they don’t know the intricacies of the Orders’ needs, they don’t have a lifetime of knowledge that a ruler requires to rule well. Like me and the Heirs do.” “So teach them,” I demanded. “I’ll teach them too. Between you and I, we could prepare them for that role.”
“I can’t bow to them, Lance. Not while I know they aren’t the better choice for our kingdom. It’s not about vanity or ego or any of that crap. Hell, there’s a good chance I won’t even survive this war to see how this plays out. But in the event of my death, I want Xavier to take my place, not the Vegas, because he also understands everything required to rule which they just don’t.”
Yikes
“Stay,” I commanded. “Was that an order?” She jabbed an elbow back into my chest and I grinned as her laughter filled up the room. “Do you need another dick punch, Lance?” Tory asked and I opened my eyes again, scruffing her hair and messing it up royally as Darius held her down so she couldn’t escape. “Nooo, don’t dick punch him. You’ll break it and I need it,” Darcy complained, making me chuckle darkly. “How about if I break it, you can break Darius’s in return,” Tory offered conversationally
Omg I love the twins and their boys so muuch
Max and Caleb laughed, squashing us between them as Seth howled his enjoyment. “Giggle hug,” Max announced,
“Yeah, I could use some fresh air too,” Max agreed. Fuck no. “Same, this room smells like a bonfire. Darius has been sleep smoking again,” Caleb said,
But I’m not the kind who does as he’s told. I’m the kind who seeks out the secret desires in your eyes and feeds them to you piece by piece. I’m your most corrupt wants brought to life and it’s my fucking calling to sate you, Blue.”
“Why does she keep that washout felon around?” Barney Von fucking Dickweed said.
Tf
And you sped up that whole hair growth process anyway, didn’t you, Professor Professional?” He gave me a pointed look. “Darcy told me you helped her get her hands on that potion. That wasn’t very Fae of you, sir, was it? You go all mortal for this girl, and I get it now. She’s your moon flower. Rare, with muscular petals and curly golden hair you just wanna grip in your fist while you make him - her smile-” “What are you talking about?” I balked. “The point is, she’s special.” He looked at Darcy with a doggish grin. “She and Tory are something else. And all the shit we did to them? Well, call
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“We told you we never wanted the throne, but then you pushed and pushed us and made us want it more than you can even imagine.” “You would’ve wanted it anyway eventually,” he said, a challenge in his eyes now. “But I like a little competition, babe, I’ll be more than happy to beat your ass when it comes to it.”
Tory and Darcy shared a twin look then started laughing. “What?” Max demanded. “Do you two know something about this fish language that I don’t?” “No idea, dude,” Tory said through a grin. “It’s fucking hilarious though.” “She seems to like fish, so I think it’s affectionate,” Darcy offered thoughtfully and Max’s face brightened at that. “I know she wants me, I just don’t know if she wants me, wants me, you know?” Max sighed. “You could try asking her?” I suggested. “Yeah, taking advice from a guy who fucked a student, went to prison for it and is now Power Shamed doesn’t seem like the best
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Tory and Darcy repeated each word as I spoke it, though it was clear the Heirs were memorising them too as time went on, their faces full of concentration. And I hoped that didn’t mean they were getting ideas about using the star if they ever claimed the throne. It was meant for the Vegas, and I could feel the Zodiac Guild brand itching beneath the skin of my forearm at the idea of someone else wielding its power.
“Six were found and six were lost. These are the stones of the original twelve. All must be united to restore balance to the kingdom and reform the Zodiac Guild. Find the six we recovered within the Chalice of Flames.”
Ego meum sanguinem confirmo in Vega regali acie. “I pledge my blood to the Vega royal line,” I translated.
“These aren’t yours, they belong to the Guild,” Tory said with a grin. “So unless you wanna sign up, you can’t play with them.” “Never,” Darius hissed. I rolled the light green gemstone over in my hand next. “That’s Peridot for-” “Leo,” Darius finished in a snarl. “My star sign. My gemstone. Mine.” “Calm down, bro,” Xavier tried, but Darius was in a Dragon treasure frenzy, his eyes flashing gold and smoke spilling from his mouth.
“Hm…gemstones like that are very rare. There must be some record of them,” I said thoughtfully. “But unfortunately, the book I need to tell us more is in my office back at Zodiac Academy. I have a tome called Stones of the Sky that lists all known powerful stones in Solaria dating back over two thousand years.”
“Seems like a load of old traditional bullshit to me. And it’s not like the Vegas are gonna rule anymore anyway.” Tory swung a punch into his arm. “You sure about that, big man?” He grinned in reply, letting water slip between his fingers in a challenge as he faced her. “We can find out here and now if you’re looking to get your ass beat?” he offered and the look in Tory’s eyes said she was damn tempted by that. “Lance’s dad wouldn’t have gone to all this effort to make sure he knew about this stuff if it wasn’t important,” Darcy said,
