Zodiac Academy 7: Heartless Sky

“So Nymphs can be…good?” Xavier questioned, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked to Darcy like she held the answer to that. But we’d all seen what we’d seen.

I hadn’t liked Diego much, but I’d come around to him a little when I’d had a glimpse of the shitty upbringing he’d had. It was difficult to let go of my inner instincts which were raging over what he could have done. He’d tried to drug the Vegas, even had drugged Tory and could have done fuck knows what to her if Darius hadn’t stepped in. He’d been planning on bringing them to his psychotic mother and uncle, so how could I forgive that?

He may have been threatened into it, but it still made my fangs prickle as I looked at the two girls who’d come into this world with too many enemies to count. Even one of their friends had been plotting against them.

“Good is a strong word,” Darius growled. “He fucked with the twins, and he could have killed them.” He gripped Tory’s hand, his knuckles turning white as he held onto her and smoke seeped between his teeth. “If I hadn’t intervened that night when he’d managed to drug Roxy in The Orb then she would be dead right now.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have been that shit faced that night. I can handle my damn drink,” Tory muttered. “But then I woke up in your room and I was more concerned about what I might have done with you than I was on figuring out why I’d been so wasted.”

“I should have questioned it more,” Darius sighed, his eyes flickering with fire.

“So should I,” Tory said. “But I just got caught up in all that shit between us and my nightmares-”

“Nightmares I gave you,” Darius replied, his brow pinching as he looked at her, his guilt over the way he’d treated her plain on his face as she raised her chin and looked right back at him, not giving him a free pass but not making any more of it either.

“Well, I don’t fear drowning anymore,” she replied, expelling a heavy breath. “My nightmares have a much clearer face these days. But I should have realised what Diego had done back then. Maybe things would have been different if I had.”

Darcy reached for her, shaking her head as she took her hand.

“He was forced into it,” Darcy said and I shifted in my seat as I looked at her. She was so fucking everything to me, and despite understanding that, all I could think about was her lying in a grave because of Diego and it awoke a monster in me, one more violent than any criminal I’d met in Darkmore.

Protectiveness was clawing at my chest and I was finding it very difficult to see beyond Diego putting that fucking knotroot in Darcy and her sister’s drinks. Even if he had been threatened. Even if I could understand why he’d done it. I was still pretty sure I would have murdered him if he was standing before me now for the threat he’d posed to my girl.

“You should know better than most what it’s like to do things you didn’t want to because you were threatened into them,” Tory said, arching a brow at Darius and he ran his tongue across his teeth.

“Touché,” he muttered and Seth, Caleb and Max all shared a look.

“I never liked his hat,” Seth said thoughtfully. “Now I get why. I must have been sensing its evilness.”

Caleb gave him a hollow look. “Bullshit, you didn’t sense shit.”

“I did!” Seth insisted. “That hat was always giving me the heebies.”

“I never even paid attention to the kid,” Max said with a frown. “If I had, maybe I might have gotten a good read on him. He just had a really forgettable face, you know? Like one minute he was there then it was like…I’d totally forgotten he even existed. Like even now, I can picture his hat so much clearer than his face. But also that could be because the hat is right there.” He pointed to the hat as he squinted in concentration like he was trying to remember what Diego had looked like.

“Maybe it was a Nymph power,” Seth suggested mysteriously. “Maybe he made us all forget he was there so he could try and probe us in the night.”

“You lot are always so busy playing kings of the world that I bet you couldn’t name ninety percent of the students you go to school with,” I said dryly and the Heirs considered that before conceding with a nod.

“Good point,” Seth said. “I once had a girl suck me off seven nights in a row. She had my name tattooed on the back of her neck, made me a mix tape with every single one of my favourite songs on it and I just called her Blowie the whole time because I couldn’t remember her name. To her face, guys. To her face.”

“That’s because you’re an asshole,” Caleb laughed.

“I’m no good with names,” Seth said innocently.

“Last night you listed every single one of the team players in the entire Solarian Pitball League and their star signs,” Max reminded him.

“Because you bet me ten auras I couldn’t do it,” Seth said with a shrug.

“So you can magically remember hundreds of names for ten auras?” Max questioned.

“I can do endless things for ten auras, Max,” Seth said with a cocky grin. “I could do a triple standing backflip with no air magic for ten auras.”

“Ha,” Max laughed, folding his arms. “Go on then.”

“We’re getting off topic,” I interjected in frustration before Seth could get up to try to prove himself. “The point is, we may have to acknowledge that Nymphs aren’t inherently evil.”

Darius scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’ve killed so many Nymphs, man.”

“We all have,” I said darkly.

“And they’ve all meant us harm,” Max said with a firm nod. “I can feel their intentions. We’ve never killed one that hasn’t meant to kill us. I’d have noticed if they had been forced into it.”

“Thank god,” Darcy whispered, rubbing her eyes and I realised she looked drained as hell. I hoped that hat hadn’t fucked with her because I’d personally go diving into it again to choke out Diego’s soul if it had. “But what are we supposed to do now? How does this change things?”

“Maybe it doesn’t,” Tory said. “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.”

“But if it’s the shadows that are corrupting them then doesn’t that suggest that they wouldn’t be inherently evil without the shadows?” Darius suggested and I shifted in my seat uncomfortably at that idea.

“Poor, poor Diego,” Geraldine sighed, hanging her head.

Silence fell between us as no one had a definitive answer to what we’d just witnessed. And as Darcy rubbed her eyes again and her face paled, I knew she needed to rest.

“I think I’m all hatted out,” she murmured and I leaned over to kiss her temple.

“You’re hatigued,” I joked and she chuckled at me, making my heart lift before her smile fell away again, her eyes darkening as her thoughts no doubt drifted back to Diego.

It wasn’t long before everyone started heading out the door, Xavier and the Heirs muttering about the Nymphs as Geraldine half tore Max’s shirt off of him to use it to wipe her damp eyes.

I stood and plucked the hat from the bed, stuffing it into my back pocket to make sure Blue didn’t get any ideas about putting it on again tonight. She was leaning on Tory, looking about ready to fall asleep and I could tell they wanted a moment together as they exchanged a twin look.

“I’ll catch you in a bit, baby,” Darius said as he noticed too, kissing Tory before heading to the door after the others, glancing back over his shoulder and catching my eye.

I took a step toward him on instinct but Seth’s hands latched around him from behind, yanking him out into the corridor so the door closed between us.

I ran my tongue over my lengthening fangs, the urge to cut the mutt down to size rising up in me. But then I looked at Blue again, seeing the exhaustion in her and I forgot about everything else but her. I shot to her side, eyeing her paling features a second before she stumbled into my chest like she was about to pass out. I caught hold of her waist in alarm, clutching her against me as I searched her expression.

“Oops,” she said through a yawn.

“What’s wrong?” I demanded as Tory took hold of her sister’s hand.

“Nothing, I’m just tired. It must have been the hat,” Darcy said, her voice weak and an echo of exhaustion in her deep green gaze.

“You look dead on your feet,” Tory said in concern, pulling Darcy towards the bed. “You should lie down.”

Darcy nodded, going willingly and crawling over the bed before curling up like a cat by the pillows. Her eyes fluttered closed as Tory lay beside her and dropped an arm around her sister.

Darcy smiled contentedly, her hand raising to rest on Tory’s arm and my fears washed away, knowing there was no place better for her than with her other half.

“I’ll let you get some rest,” I said and Darcy hummed her agreement as I walked to the door.

“Love you,” she whispered before I left and I glanced back at her, my world brightening at those two small words.

“I love you more, beautiful.” I stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind me and finding Darius playing around with the Heirs and Xavier, though it looked like Geraldine had taken off.

Caleb was zooming around them all in high speed circles while they did their best to try and land a punch on him, all of them chuckling like idiots. But as I watched, I found myself transfixed by their unbreakable bond with one another.

I was about to slip away, figuring I’d track down Noxy and see if he wanted to hang out for a bit when Seth caught sight of me and let out a bark of excitement.

“Lance, come play!” he called, but I just folded my arms in answer to that.

Caleb shot past Seth, slapping him hard enough to make his head wheel sideways and Xavier whinnied a laugh. Seth chased after him, trying to land a hit in retaliation but Caleb was moving like the wind and started slapping him with every circle he completed, riling Seth up into a frenzy as he tried harder to catch him, though he never resorted to using magic.

“Orion’s too boring to play,” Max said dismissively, a goading smile on his lips.

“Why would I play a game I could win in five seconds flat?” I responded and he sniggered.

“Prove it then,” Max encouraged and I almost stepped forward but then I glanced at Darius again.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but no words left his mouth and doubts crawled through me as I wondered if he wanted to spend some alone time with his friends. Maybe he felt too awkward telling me to fuck off. Maybe he couldn’t stand to be around the guy he’d been forced to spend the past few years with, who he’d cuddled in bed with night after night without him ever truly wanting that. Maybe I was always going to be a reminder of his father’s control over him, and we’d keep drifting apart until we were strangers.

The mere thought of that made my gut tug and I searched for the words that might make it right, but came up short. He’d been unwillingly bound to me for so many years, I had to give him the space he’d been denied without complaint. He deserved that much. Though being away from him was honestly starting to feel painful in a way that had nothing to do with magical bonds. I just fucking missed him.

Caleb yanked on Seth’s hair on his next circuit of the Heirs and Seth growled, lunging forward to catch him but colliding hard with Xavier instead. Glitter cascaded everywhere from Xavier’s hair as he was knocked to the ground and Caleb swept by again, slapping Seth in the face, his right cheek now a bright pink colour as Max roared a laugh.

“Come and catch me then, Cal!” Seth cried, leaping to his feet and running into Caleb’s room, slamming the door shut before Caleb could get through so he crashed into it instead.

Caleb swore then shoved into the room and Max and Xavier ran after them as Seth howled a challenge.

I was left alone with Darius in the corridor and the silence rang in my ears like a bell chiming out a death toll for our friendship.

I cleared my throat, taking a step backwards as he glanced after his friends, figuring I’d make this easier for him and get out of here.

“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.

My heart sank, because I knew what was coming. The apology, the acknowledgement that yes, we had been friends in some ways, but not like he was with the Heirs. He’d want space, time to get used to a life without our bond, but with those things would come distance. And I just didn’t know if we’d recover from it.

“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, my fear over the answer to that spinning a razor-sharp web inside my chest.

He shook his head, moving closer still and part of me – a really fucking big part – wanted to wrap my arms around him like the bond was still driving us together. It wasn’t some magical force guiding it this time though, it was the purest kind of friendship, and love for a man I had shared my hardest days with.

“Come on, Darius!” Max called from Caleb’s bedroom, but Darius didn’t turn his gaze from mine.

“They’re waiting for you,” I muttered, but Darius only stepped closer to me.

“I think I’m gonna take a nap,” he said, giving me a pointed look. Those words so damn familiar to me from all the years we’d been bonded, and they had always meant one thing before now.

“Oh yeah?” I questioned, frowning uncertainly at the implication in his words. Did he want what I think he wanted?

He nodded, stepping past me and heading toward his room further up the corridor. I watched him go and as he made it there, he looked back at me, inclining his head towards the door in an offering. A smile quirked up my lips that he immediately mirrored, and I started walking after him, quickening my pace as he pushed through the door and I followed.

He dropped onto the large bed at the heart of the room, scooping some gold jewellery off of his nightstand and starting to put on the large bangles, chunky necklaces and rings as I kicked my shoes off.

“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.

We eventually settled on laying side by side, our heads resting on the same pillow as the piece of my soul which had been missing finally settled back into place.

I could see the peace in his eyes as we looked at each other and happiness caressed my heart over having my friend back. Entirely on our own terms.

“Is this weird?” he asked.

“Definitely,” I confirmed. “Maybe we’ve both got a few pack animals in our ancestry.”

“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.”

“Maybe you could remind him of that, because dog boy seems to enjoy my company far too much for my liking,” I said with a grimace and Darius snorted, reaching out to tussle my hair.

“Maybe you should cut him some slack,” he suggested.

“Why?” I snarled instantly, my hackles rising. “He fucked with me and Darcy when we were hiding our relationship, he could have easily been the one to give us away. And even though I know it wasn’t him, I’m still not convinced he never would have outed us purely for his own sick amusement.”

“Yeah, he’s an asshole, but he wouldn’t have sold you out. He just likes playing god sometimes. He gets high on power, like pretty much all of our kind. And look, I’m not saying what he did is forgivable. But what he’s done since might be enough to make up for it.”

“And what’s that?” I demanded.

“You know all those photos and shit he sent you of him and Gw-” I bared my fangs at him and he changed direction mid-word, “-Darcy? They were a game to make you jealous so that you’d fight for her. He’s been boasting about it ever since you two made up. He thinks he can take all the credit for your entire ongoing relationship. I’m surprised he hasn’t told you himself yet.”

I narrowed my gaze, hunting for the lie, but it looked like Darius really believed that.

“Bullshit,” I hissed. “And even if that was true, you think I’d thank him for it? For fucking with my head, for making me think he – that he and her-” A snarl ripped from my throat as I was unable to contain the utter, murderous rage I felt over the mere idea of them together.

“Well, it worked, didn’t it?” Darius raised an eyebrow, the smirk on his lips telling me exactly whose side he was on.

“How long have you known about this?” I asked in a suspicious tone, my eyes sharpening on my best friend.

“Since you asked me to find out if there was anything going on between the two of them.” He shrugged innocently.

A beat of angry silence passed then I lunged at him and we fell into another furious fight for dominance. I used my Vampire strength to slam him down onto the mattress beneath me by the throat and he threw a punch into my ribs that forced the air from my lungs, a big ass smile still on his face.

“You asshole,” I snapped, but his smile broke into a laugh and I realised how fucking happy he was at long last. The strength went out of me and I let him go, falling back down beside him instead. “Fuck you,” I said lightly as he continued to laugh, and a grin tugged at my mouth which I gave up on trying to hold back.

My laughter joined his and I soaked in the peace in this room that seemed so impossibly unreal after all we’d been through. Hell, things might not have been perfect with Lionel still ruling the world and society falling apart piece by piece under his command, but in this haven beneath the ground I was in the company of my best friends in the world and the star damned love of my life, so I wasn’t gonna complain. I’d spent too long living in the shadows in my mind, and it was time I stepped into the sunlight for as long as I could.

“So you played me, huh?” I elbowed Darius as he rolled onto his side to look at me.

“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.”

“Well, I’m never gonna be in the mood to go mining for his heart of gold, Darius. I’ve got enough friends. Especially now I have you back,” I said stubbornly, unwilling to change my opinion on the mutt.

“You didn’t lose me,” he scoffed.

“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.” He pinched my cheek and I smacked his hand away, though I guessed he had a point.

My hand fell on something cool and hard on the bed and I looked down, finding the silver coin there which was concealing my father’s diary. It must have fallen out of my pocket, so I picked it up, examining it and pushing the concealment spell off of it so that the leatherbound book appeared in my hand.

“When’s the full moon?” I wondered aloud and Darius grabbed the golden clock off of his nightstand which had the moon phases curving along the bottom of the clock face.

“Tonight,” he said, looking to the diary. “You wanna read it again?”

“Yeah,” I said decisively. I’d been memorising the power words for the Imperial Star the last time I’d been able to read it, but there were plenty I still hadn’t committed to memory. I really had to start teaching them to the twins as soon as possible in case they ever got the chance to use it. We had to be ready – though I could tell by the look on Darius’s face that he wasn’t exactly happy about my new role as the Guild Master. And I didn’t wanna leave things unsaid between us even if he had claimed he didn’t want to fight over this before.

“So…are you still planning on challenging Lionel?” I asked and Darius nodded firmly, his eyes flaring with the passion of that task. The sole thing we’d been working towards year after year, and I was still firmly in his corner when it came to defeating his psychotic father. Only, I could see a different way to do it now.

“Of course,” he growled passionately, smoke seeping between his teeth. “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.”

“And what about the twins?” I asked in a growl and his eyes bored into mine as his jaw ticked.

“I’m Fae, Lance. What would you have me do? Bow down like some weakling after all my father has done to us?”

“Weakling?” I snarled. “Is that what you think of me?”

“So you’ve really bowed to them then?” he asked in shock like he didn’t already know. But what did he expect? I was the Master of the Zodiac Guild. I was in love with a Vega princess.

“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’m not saying we won’t give them the chance to learn those things, but the truth is, it would take years for them to fully grasp even half of what has been drummed into the other Heirs and I since we were born. I’m not thinking of the throne, or my own personal power, I’m thinking of Solaria. And returning our kingdom to the rule of the Vega line makes no sense if they’re not the best choice to lead our people to peace and prosperity. You know the plans the other Heirs and I have to make changes for the better in this kingdom. Would you have us throw away everything we’ve worked for our entire lives just because the line of succession states they should wear a pretty crown and we shouldn’t?”

“I’m asking you to put your knowledge to use. Teach the Vegas so that they can sit on the throne, and sit at their side as their guidance on the Council.”

“The Heirs need the power to make real change in Solaria, they can’t be shackled in their decisions by the rule of a monarch. And no matter how well meaning the Vegas might be as queens, the fact is, they don’t know enough to make those decisions. They aren’t prepared to make the kinds of calls that will have to be made to force the change that needs to happen, and the Celestial Council can’t be forced into submission over decisions that will affect millions of lives by girls whose ignorance makes them incapable of understanding the issues fully,” he hissed determinedly, his eyes shifting to reptilian slits. “My father has taken the kingdom hostage, he has taken my entire life hostage, he took you hostage for years as well, not to mention what he did to Roxy. And I will make him pay for every single one of his crimes and take the throne from him so he will see that he created his own downfall in me.”

I reached out to rest a hand on his arm, understanding this need in him. I really fucking did, but the throne didn’t have to be the prize for his revenge plot. He could have all of that still and guide the Vegas, it was the better way.

“Is there something else to this?” I asked, frowning at him as his eyes burned with the intensity of his desire to end Lionel’s reign.

Darius cut his gaze away from mine, frowning slightly as he shook his head, seemingly frustrated with me because I didn’t share his opinion on the Vegas taking the crown. But yes, I knew what he was saying and yes, they absolutely needed further education to rule this kingdom properly, but it seemed to me that if the Heirs just found a way to reform the Celestial Council as it was intended, supporting the monarchy instead of resisting it, then maybe they could find a way to make it work that would be better for everyone.

“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.”

“You forget that your father was the one to teach you a lot of those lessons,” I murmured and he nodded his head in acceptance of that.

“I believe I have proved that I’m my own man now. I stand apart from his cruelty and have learned first-hand the damage that kind of leadership can cause. But if you truly believe that I am too like him to claim this place then say it,” he challenged and I shook my head in a clear denial of that.

“You have dark in you, Darius, but you are not your father. You know my faith in you has never wavered. I only want you to consider uniting to rule beneath the Vegas.”

“I know. But all the while I know they aren’t the better choice for Solaria, I can’t consider that as an option.”

I squeezed his arm where I still held him, letting him know I understood that even if I didn’t hold the same opinion. He released a slow breath in recognition of my feelings on the matter too.

He slowly reached up to grip my hand where it was pressed to his arm, giving me a nod that showed me this would not break us. We were divided but not apart. And I was relieved to find that nothing could shake the foundations of our friendship.

I sighed, resting my head on the pillow as he did the same, the familiar thump of his heartbeat reminding me of the countless naps we’d taken together. And as we lay there in silence, I could feel myself falling into the peace of sleep, and I let myself drift away with my brother at my side, realising that we were bonded regardless of Lionel’s power chaining us together. We would always have each other’s backs, and I knew now that nothing would ever change that.

***

“Ohmagod,” Darcy’s voice carried to me, but I couldn’t quite stir out of sleep to find her. “This is too cute.”

“Shh, you’ll wake them and I need to get a photo so that I can mock them tirelessly with it,” Tory whispered.

“They’re cuddling,” Darcy whisper-squealed and Tory shushed her again but started suppressing a laugh.

“It’s called a man hug,” Darius said, his voice gruff from sleep and I cracked my eyes open, finding we’d shifted close together and were tangled in a ridiculous cuddle.

“I guess old habits die hard,” I tried.

A whoosh of air made my eyes snap sideways and I found Darcy leaping toward me with a grin on her face. I was glad to see she was feeling better, the light in her eyes making a knot loosen in my chest.

I caught her before she collided with me, forcing her between Darius and I and drawing her flush against me as I shut my eyes again. Tory hit the bed next and Darius caught hold of her, shoving her in beside her sister and the two of us closed ranks so they were crushed between us.

Darcy wriggled to try and get free, but I held her tighter and tugged her ear between my teeth. “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 and I swear my cock tried to run and take shelter from this heartless dick hunter.

“Hey,” Darius barked as the two of them hooked their little fingers together to make the deal.

I grabbed Blue’s arm as Darius grabbed Tory’s, yanking their hands apart before they could doom our dicks for all the stars to see.

“Ooh! Are we having a cuddle party?!” Seth cried as the door flew open and he came bounding in like a puppy looking for its master.

“No,” I snapped a second before he dove onto the bed and started nuzzling everyone. Including me. Which was not going to go unpunished.

“Argh.” I fought to get him away from my face as he rubbed his head against mine, but before I could throw him across the room like a pitball destined for a pit, two more massive bodies slammed down on top of us and the girls squealed.

Max and Caleb laughed, squashing us between them as Seth howled his enjoyment.

“Giggle hug,” Max announced, pushing the feeling of amusement over all of us until we were all laughing. But I shoved my mental shields up to block him out and growled as Seth’s stubble scraped against my face.

I cursed as I held onto Darcy then yanked her out of the pile and pulled her off the bed, returning the diary to its coin appearance before pushing it into my pocket and glancing at the time.

“The full moon’s up,” I whispered to her as her laughter fell away. “Come outside with me.”

She smiled seductively and my hand closed around the drawstrings of her sweatpants, yanking her closer to me by them as dark thoughts entered my head. Me and her. Outside. Alone. No one would see us together, I’d make sure of that. And once I had her in my grasp, I’d build a wall of ice around us and keep her trapped there until I was buried inside her with her body wrapped around mine and a plea of mercy on her lips.

“The moon?” Seth leapt to his feet as Max stopped pushing amusement into everyone. “I want to see the moon – I’m coming!”

“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, pointing to the haze of smoke swirling up by the ceiling.

“I love it when he does that.” Tory kissed Darius and he immediately released a small plume of smoke against her lips as she grinned.

“No,” I said simply, grabbing Darcy, throwing her over my shoulder and shooting out the door at high speed.

I tore through the tunnels, making my way to the exit before planting Darcy down in front of me and smirking at her. She didn’t smile back, pursing her lips instead.

“That was rude,” she said but I stalked closer to her, pushing her hair over her shoulder and knotting my fingers in it.

“And?” I leaned in close, teasing her lower lip between my teeth, but she pressed a hand to my chest and stepped back.

“And you could try getting along with them,” she suggested.

I shot behind her, locking my hand over her throat and tilting her head sideways to expose her neck to my fangs.

“Mmm. Or I could drink your sunshine-sweet blood then find somewhere private to fuck you breathless.” My fangs hit a tight air shield over her skin and a growl left my throat. “Playing hard to get, Blue?”

My instincts rose as my hunger for her increased and I scored my thumb along the length of her neck as I hunted for weaknesses in her defences, but fuck she was getting good at her casts these days.

“Maybe I’ll give you a sip if you promise to play nice with the Heirs,” she offered with a teasing lilt to her voice. But if she thought she could play games with me and win, she was about to find out what it was like to go up against a man whose name was defined by the constellation of the Hunter.

“I don’t do nice,” I warned as I released her throat and started to circle her instead, my eyes narrowed on my beautiful, delicious looking prey. The game was too enticing to resist, and so long as she didn’t run and I didn’t chase, I wasn’t breaking the Vampire Code. I knew how to control myself, but I also knew how to work at the very edges of my leash too.

“You do with me,” she pointed out.

“Nice?” I laughed, showing enough teeth that she knew I was nothing but an animal right now. “Am I nice to you, Blue? Do I kiss you nicely? Do I fuck you nicely? Do I spank you nicely?” I slowed to a halt behind her, clasping a handful of her ass in my hand and leaning down to speak in her ear. “Or do I kiss you like our tongues are made of fire and ice? Do I fuck you like the world is ending and you’re the goddess of my salvation? Do I spank you hard enough for you to feel it everywhere? So you know exactly who owns you.”

She spun away from me, lust rising up from the seven sins in her eyes.

“I can’t be owned,” she said, a dare burning in her gaze like she wanted me to prove she could be.

“Well I can,” I said, hounding after as I tipped my head down, shadows sliding over me as I turned my back to the closest sconce. “I can be owned and shackled and made into a slave for you, beautiful. 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.”

Her ass hit the door that led to the farmhouse and I rested my hand above her head, caging her there as I tasted my lower lip, wishing it was hers. Her gaze was hooded and her chest was rising and falling with her quickening breaths, but I wanted her breathing even faster and gasping my name like it could deliver her redemption. Having to stay away from her in front of the rebels was exhausting, and with Seth sharing our room it was rare to get her alone. But now I had her, I didn’t plan on letting her go until dawn.

“Let’s go outside,” I said, my voice nothing but sex as my eyes fell to that perfect mouth which I was about to do unspeakable things to.

“I love the moon and the moon loves me,” Seth sang somewhere behind us and I could have put my fist through the wall there and then. Was there no privacy in this fucking place? “Oh hey moon friends, shall we go see the moon together? Everyone else will be here soon. They said something about giving you two space, but I was like ‘why did they invite us along if they need space?’”

“We didn’t invite you along,” I said irritably.

“That’s a weird thing to say to your moon friend, moon friend,” Seth said, a teasing smirk on his face.

Darcy leaned sideways to look past me, but I didn’t move even when she pressed a hand to my chest to try and make me.

“We’re not moon friends,” I gritted out.

“Well, that seems like an awfully moon friend thing to say, Lance,” Seth said lightly. I was sure he was trying to wind me up and by the stars was it working.

“Stop saying moon friends,” I snarled.

“What’s a moon friend?” Darcy asked curiously.

“It’s not a thing,” I growled.

“Er, it absolutely is a thing. And I’d know, as I’ve been to the moon,” Seth said cockily.

“Really?” I deadpanned, rounding on him. “I hadn’t heard.”

“Yeah, I went last summer. Cal got me a ticket. And while I was there, there was this really good-looking crater which whispered my name and-”

“I know,” I snapped, not wanting to hear this fucking story for the thousandth time.

“But you said-” he started.

“I was being sarcastic,” I hissed and he barked a laugh.

“Oh Lance, you are so jealous of me going to the moon. Shit, they wouldn’t let a Power Shamed Fae on the moon, would they? Or maybe they would but then they’d leave you there so you wouldn’t make people uncomfortable here on earth anymore…” he said thoughtfully and my scowl deepened. “Nah, they wouldn’t disrespect the moon like that actually.”

Darcy caught my hand, tugging me through the door before I decided to break the mutt’s neck.

As he followed us, I tried to figure out if it was worth turning back and waiting another whole month for the full moon to rise again so that we could do this without Seth. But dammit, I couldn’t come up with a good enough reason to do that.

The feel of the magical protection spells trickled over me as we stepped out of the clock that concealed the entrance to The Burrows then we headed to the door of the farmhouse.

I tried to pointedly ignore Seth as he rehashed more of his stories from the moon, but it was impossible. The only thing stopping me from shutting him up for good was Darcy’s hand squeezing mine and the looks she kept throwing me that said killing the Wolf would not go down well.

As we made it outside and the guards appeared ahead of us, I tugged my hand from Darcy’s and dropped back a few steps behind the two of them while she threw me a frown over her shoulder. Get used to it, beautiful. I’m not bringing you down with me.

“Princess Darcy. My name is Barney Von Bonderville, and I am at your service. Please, let me walk you away from that Power Shamed vermin.” The nearest guard bowed his head before throwing me a sickened look.

Anger poisoned my blood but I fell back a little more, hugging the shadows in front of the farmhouse as Seth and Darcy moved into the glow of the guards’ Faelights. I despised having to keep myself in check every time someone threw insults my way, but if I went around breaking the bones of everyone who spoke about me like that, the whole rebellion would be in peril.

“He’s not vermin,” Darcy snarled at him and he bowed lower. I fucking adored her for standing up for me like that, but I really had to get her to stop. They were going to start questioning her sanity if she kept it up.

“Forgive me. How can I assist you?” Barney asked.

“Just make sure we’re not disturbed,” she said sharply and the guards all moved back as she swept past them, glancing over her shoulder when she realised I wasn’t right behind her.

Her eyes found mine immediately even though I was sure I could barely be seen here in the dark, but Blue always had a way of seeking me out.

“Lance, walk beside me,” she commanded, her chin high and far be it from me to ignore an order from my queen. I shot to her side, walking with her across the thick snow, though my heightened hearing didn’t miss the muttered words between the guards, and I suddenly questioned my choice to move so close to her while we were still in sight. If they told the rest of the rebels and people got wind of us being a couple, Darcy could lose their support, and I couldn’t bear to be responsible for that.

“Why does she keep that washout felon around?” Barney Von fucking Dickweed said.

“He must be of some use to her, but let’s hope that doesn’t last much longer.”

“Yeah, she’ll discard him soon enough. Then he’ll melt into the background of society where he belongs.”

My spine prickled at those words, the urge in me to fight back and show them the measure of my strength surging up in me like a tsunami. I’d technically been stripped of that right. I wasn’t allowed to challenge a Fae to a fight because of my status and though I didn’t give a shit about breaking the law, I didn’t think those assholes would be beyond having me locked up for it. Darcy and Tory may have held the power around here, but it was too deeply ingrained in our kind to let go of my shaming after it had been made so public, so official.

Even if the Vegas could one day take the throne and pardon me of my crimes, the damage was already done. I would never be seen as worthy for a Vega Princess. But all the while she wanted me, I’d keep coming to her in secret, keep offering all of myself for as long as she’d have me. But deep down, I knew that if she eventually took a seat on the throne beside her sister, she would have to think of heirs to that throne. And a Power Shamed Fae could not provide legitimate ones. No Fae in this land would acknowledge them as such even if Darcy ordered it, it was our way. So who was I to take that away from her? To place that burden on her children? I’d never seen myself as a father, but with her, well, anything was possible with her.

My gaze locked on Seth over the top of Darcy’s head as we walked across the snow, following a Faelight that Darcy had cast as we headed towards the boundary.

“Darius had something interesting to say about you, mutt,” I said and he looked to me with intrigue.

“Was it about the nipple thing? Because I can teach it to you if you both want to try it?” he asked excitedly.

“Ew.” Darcy wrinkled her nose at him. “What nipple thing?”

“Do not answer that,” I growled as Seth opened his mouth. I had zero desire to hear about him and the weird sex shit he got up to in his free time.

“So what was it then?” Seth asked, looking even more curious.

“Apparently you’ve been goading me, making me jealous when it came to Darcy so I’d try and get her back.” I fixed him with a sharp glare and a smile broke across his face as Blue looked to him for an answer to that too.

Seth pushed a hand into his long dark hair, smirking like an asshole. “I can’t confirm or deny my secret mastermind plans.”

“Well let’s put it this way. Either you sent me photos of yourself with her just to try and piss me off, or you really did try to get with her and you’re currently walking your final steps towards your bloody grave.” I smiled like a demon, locking an arm around Darcy’s waist and pulling her against me as we moved out of sight of the guards.

“Seth?” she pushed as he glanced between us, mulling over his answer.

“Okay, the truth is, I played you like a horny little piano who hadn’t had her keys touched for a decade,” Seth said, his smile wide and cocky and punchable.

“Are you kidding me?” Darcy growled, fire sparking in her hair as she tried to lurch toward him, but I kept hold of her, my sights fixed on the Wolf who had messed with us in every way he could think up.

“Why?” I asked in a measured tone, deciding how I was going to approach this. I could be a reasonable kind of guy. If the definition of reasonable was stringing this Heir up in a tree and beating him like a pinata until his guts bled out.

“Don’t be angry,” he begged with a whine in his throat, looking at Darcy more than me. “I know how protective assholes work. Lance was getting all gives-upsy because he thought it was the right thing to do. He’s a noble assbag, you see? So I had to give him a nudge by making him think I’d spread you out in my bed and fucked you raw like a good little Beta.”

My fangs lengthened at the mere idea of that and I shot toward him, slamming into an air shield the same moment a violent earthquake knocked me to the ground.

“See?” Seth said innocently, giving Darcy the big eyes. “He’s so easily riled up. He’s like a gorilla-sized chihuahua.”

I snarled, slamming my hand to his air shield and freezing it solid before throwing my fist against it hard enough to shatter a hole in it. He yelped as I grabbed his ankle and froze that too, his legs going as stiff as boards under my power before he toppled forward, smashing through the ice and landing on top of me.

“Stop it,” Darcy gasped, rolling Seth off of me so he hit the floor on his back, his legs still frozen together and as rigid as a ruler.

I got to my feet, dusting the snow off my ass as Seth used air magic to rise onto his feet like some kind of awkward scarecrow.

“Well, that’s thanks for you. If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t even be back together.” He rocked back and forth as the air magic kept him upright, his frozen boots just touching the ground.

“If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t have gone through hell thinking you were gonna tell people about us,” I snapped.

“I was never going to do that.” He rolled his eyes and folded his arms, rocking side to side and back and forth. “You’re so dramatic, Lance.”

“Oh I’m dramatic?” I scoffed. “Everything about your ridiculous plan was dramatic.”

“Which is why we’ll make such good friends when you stop holding onto these silly grudges. You know what people say about grudges? It’s like taking killblaze and expecting your enemy to get high and kill themselves. But I’m never going to get high and kill myself, Lance. I’m going to be here always, as your friend. Just give into it, bro. It’s inevitable. Like you and Darcy were inevitable.”

“That’s kinda cute,” Darcy said, looking to me with her eyelashes fluttering.

“No.” I pointed at her. “Don’t you fall for that shit. He acts like he’s a puppy when he wants something, but he’s still the savage Wolf who cut your hair off, Blue. I’m never going to forget what it felt like finding you on the floor in the wake of his cruelty.”

“Come on, I’ve done way worse than that to my friends and they still love me. I once locked Max in a room full of Manticore farts for three hours – and let me tell you, it was some chore getting those Manticore farts in there. At least Darcy could grow her hair back with a simple potion, Max still has Manticore fart flashbacks to this day. He can’t even be near a Manticore without feeling queasy. 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 me an asshole, but I think it made them bloom.”

“I mean, I’m never gonna thank you for that, but I think you fucked yourselves over.” Darcy shrugged. “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.”

“We’ll see,” Darcy tossed back and I frowned at the way they were looking at each other, seeing their friendship properly for the first time since I’d come back into Darcy’s life. And shit, it looked familiar. Like the sort of bond I felt with Gabriel.

My gaze slid onto Seth as I chewed the inside of my cheek, knowing I was never going to like this guy, but perhaps I could be civil for now. For Blue’s sake.

I flicked my fingers, melting the ice binding his legs together and his eyebrows arched as he lowered himself to the ground and shook them out to get the feeling back in them.

“Did we just become true moon friends?” he asked with hope shining in his eyes.

“Absolutely not.” I turned my back on him, heading away across the snow and looking up at the moon as I slid the coin from my pocket and let it expand back into my father’s diary.

A whinny caught my ear and I spotted Xavier flying up above us, circling in the sparse clouds that hung like cotton wool in the dark sky. A smile twitched the corner of my lips up as he did a cartwheel then a barrel roll through the air, lilac glitter catching the light of the moon as it cascaded from his mane through the air.

I stuck two fingers in my mouth, whistling to get his attention and he neighed in greeting as he sailed down towards the ground and landed lightly before me. I reached out to rub his nose and he snorted happily before he trotted into my personal space and dropped his chin over my shoulder in a horsey hug.

“Hey Xavier.” I patted his shoulder, noting the Pegobag on his back and as he shifted into his Fae form, he slid it off and grabbed some clothes out of it, pulling on sweatpants and a shirt as he shivered in the cold.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked as Darcy and Seth joined us. I held up the diary and he released a little snort of curiosity. “Can I join you?”

“Sure, so long as you give me some blood.” I grinned and he sighed, his shoulders dropping.

“Fine, but don’t tell anyone about me being a you-know-what,” he said under his breath.

“Alright, man,” I agreed. “But I mean, everyone knows.”

“Yeah, eveeeeryone,” Seth jumped in. “I told eight people just this afternoon and they’re talkers, Xavier, real talkers. I’d say they told at least another three people each so that’s…” He started counting his fingers and Darcy smacked his hands back down to stop him.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she said and Xavier looked to her with hope in his eyes.

“Really?” he glanced at me then back to her. “Are you still one?” he whispered hopefully and I roared a laugh.

“Oh, um…” she said, biting her lip before breaking a laugh too, her eyes meeting mine as I gave her a filthy smile.

“Alright, I get it,” Xavier muttered, his ears pinking as he pursed his lips at us.

Seth started laughing too which made it immediately not funny anymore as he caught my gaze and nodded along. My smile stuttered out as I glowered at him instead, catching hold of Blue’s arm and tugging her against me.

“Darcy’s legs are more spreadable than peanut butter when it comes to you, amiright Lance?” Seth waggled his eyebrows at me, and I bared my fangs at him in response.

“Shut it, Seth,” Darcy growled and for a moment she went feral in my arms as she swiped at him like an angry tiger.

I looked down at her in surprise, finding her features twisted in a snarl and I smirked at my pocket sized monster as I held onto her. Though maybe I should have let her go full savage on the mutt.

“Woah there, babe, do you want me to shift so you can chase my furry tail?” Seth wiggled his ass at her as she swiped at him again and I figured fuck it and released her. She leapt on him with a growl and I folded my arms as I watched her go wild, blasting him to the ground with a gust of air that made him yelp like a pup. He used a vine to uproot her and she slammed down onto her back in the snow before he leapt on her with a yip of excitement, smooshing a whole fistful of snow into her face.

“Hey,” I barked as Xavier stared on in surprise, but my girl immediately gathered a large ball of snow with her magic, suspending it over him for one second before dropping it onto his head like a hat and shaping it into a cock with a laugh, constructing a pair of balls over his face too.

His muffled cry came from within the snow as he rolled off of her and clawed at the snow cock to break it away from his face.

I grinned at his panicked struggle, leaning down to help Darcy to her feet and placing a kiss against her cool cheek.

“Nicely done,” I said, unable to help praising her like we were in a lesson back at Zodiac. I was half tempted to give her some House points for that cast too.

She stumbled against me for a second, blinking hard and I frowned as I ran my fingers through her hair to dislodge the snow clinging to it.

“Are you okay?” Xavier asked, stepping closer under Darcy’s Faelight which was still hovering above us, flickering a little as if her magic was waning.

“She’s a monster,” Seth lamented as he got to his feet, gasping down air before grinning like a maniac. “It’s fucking awesome.”

Darcy smiled and my concern ebbed away as heat rose from her skin and steam coiled up around her hair to melt the last of the snow from her body.

A blur and a whoosh caught my attention, my head snapping around a second before Caleb arrived with Darius on his back and Max and Tory balancing precariously on each of his outstretched arms.

“Told you I could carry you all at once,” Caleb said with a cocky grin as he placed them all down on their feet.

“You nearly broke my leg when you hit that wall, dude,” Tory said as she set a fire burning in her hands to warm them up.

“Keyword nearly,” Caleb said and Seth chuckled.

Darius punched Caleb in the kidney with a challenging grin. “You break her leg, I’ll break your pretty face.”

“You always were so jealous of my pretty face. Any excuse to get rid of the competition, right Darius?” Caleb taunted and Darius shoved him, but Caleb’s light-footedness meant he just danced around him and took to Seth’s side.

“Gerry said she’s gonna come meet us,” Max said as he looked down at his Atlas, his eyes glittering hopefully as he glanced over his shoulder like she might appear at any moment.

“When are you going to ask her out, man?” Caleb asked.

“I’ve asked her out fifty times,” Max said in anguish. “She just starts calling me a silly seabass or some shit and then descends into some sort of sea language I just don’t get, but it makes me so damn hard I can’t even concentrate anymore.”

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 idea, thanks all the same though, man,” Max said casually and I clenched my jaw.

“Don’t be an asshole,” Darius growled, but I didn’t give a fuck. I’d lose about as much sleep over the Heirs disliking me as I would if I’d taken ten sleeping drafts and laid down on a fluffy little cloud.

“Maybe you should try the Capella smoulduction,” Seth suggested.

“And what the fuck is that?” Max asked, narrowing his eyes at him.

“I’d bet both of my hands he just made it up,” I said.

“No way, it’s my power move,” Seth insisted. “Half smoulder, half seduction. C’mere, Cal, lemme show them how it works.” He tugged on Caleb’s shirt, dragging him into his personal space and everyone watched them with rapt attention.

“What are you doing?” Caleb muttered under his breath.

“You’ll see,” Seth said, leaning close so they were nose to nose then dropping his gaze to Caleb’s mouth. Seth wet his lips, desire pooling in his eyes as his hand ran down the plane of Caleb’s chest, his gaze never faltering from his friend’s.

I suddenly felt like I was watching something private and glanced at Darcy as her eyes darted between the two of them with intrigue.

Caleb’s hand fell to Seth’s waist for the briefest second, almost like he was going to tug him closer before he shoved him back a step and carved that same hand through his hair, laughing a little.

“Fuck off, man, that shit might work on your pack, but not me,” he said dismissively and I swear Seth let out a small whine.

What the hell was that about? Oh right, I don’t give a fuck.

“Shall we do the book thingy now?” Darcy suggested excitedly, looking up at me and everyone’s attention followed.

“Wait for me, dear Burrow buddies!” Geraldine’s voice sounded across the snow as she came gliding towards us upon a sheet of ice she’d cast beneath her feet, sliding gracefully to a halt beside Max, her light brown hair fluttering around her shoulders in the breeze.

I twirled my finger through the air and a wall of ice shot up surrounding us to give us some privacy. Darius cast a fire burning on the ground between us and the place immediately warmed, though I kept the ice hard and compact around our group so it didn’t melt.

Caleb started making mossy seats around the place and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Did he have to make everywhere into a damn palace for himself?

I took a seat all the same and opened my father’s diary on my lap as the rays of the moon fell over us from above.

We sat there for over an hour as I listed out all the power words for the Imperial Star and Geraldine made note of the things it could do on a piece of star damned papyrus she’d cast with her earth magic, using a pen made of bark and some organic ink she’d conjured too.

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.

I reached the final empty page of the diary and I ran my thumb over the blank paper, trying to feel out any lasting sensation of my father there, sad that this was the end of his notes for me.

Geraldine rolled up the papyrus and cast a strong wooden case for it before sliding it inside and sealing it up tight.

“Righty-ho, that was a true and wonderous night. But my cockles are tired and I must say fair the well so that I might go and tend my Lady Petunia before the night is out.”

“Why can’t I tend your Petunia?” Max pouted and Geraldine smacked him around the head with the wooden case.

“Because you are fiddlesome flatfish, that’s why Maxy boy. Perhaps if you gave more thought to your nolly then you could water my lawn until the day is done.” She walked up to the ice wall, carving a door in it and stepping out into the night.

“What’s a nolly?” Max muttered, a hopeless frown pulling at his brow but no one had an answer for him.

“Is that a star sign?” Darcy asked suddenly as she leaned close to me and the scent of strawberries carried from her like the sweetest temptation.

“Hm?” I asked, too distracted by her full lips and large eyes to do anything but stare at her. She tapped the page my thumb was still on and I looked down, finding two small Gemini symbols had appeared at the top of the paper.

“What the fuck…” I breathed.

She brushed her finger over one of the symbols, a light suddenly burning from within it. “Holy shit. Tory, get over here,” she urged.

Tory moved to my other side and Darcy guided her hand down onto the other symbol, making it illuminate too and suddenly light spilled out all across the otherwise blank page, revealing star sign after star sign, all of them forming a zodiac ring surrounding the image of a rising sun.

The details were beautiful, delicate lines joining the signs together and hand drawn images of the constellations surrounding the circle. Beyond them were drawings of precious gemstones which were linked to each of the star signs. I’d taught classes on this, how these gemstones could enhance the gifts of each sign when used in various magical practices, but something about these specific stones gave a ring of power to the image which made the hairs along the back of my neck stand to attention.

A handwritten note was revealed below it from my father and my gut tugged at finding another connection to him, feeling him so close in that moment that it was like he was looking over my shoulder.

“What is it?” Darius asked and I read the words aloud as everyone perked up to listen.

“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.”

“What does that mean?” Tory asked curiously as I cut my thumb open on my fang and reached into the air before me, carving my fingers through the moonlight and summoning the chalice to my fingertips. I drew it from the very atmosphere and the others watched in awe as the beautiful silver cup caught the light of the moon.

Latin words inscribed on its side in beautiful calligraphy captured my attention.

Ego meum sanguinem confirmo in Vega regali acie.

“I pledge my blood to the Vega royal line,” I translated.

My father had spoken of these words earlier in his diary; when it was time to initiate new members to the Guild, they had to speak them, and I had to admit it gave me a thrill to think of reforming it.

I examined the warm metal carefully, hunting for any sign of gemstones inlaid within its gleaming surface, but there was nothing there.

Darcy took the cup from my hand, tipping it over to look at the bottom and suddenly six beautiful gemstones cascaded out of the cup onto the snow at my feet.

“Ooh, so shiny,” she breathed, leaning down to pick up a fat diamond as Darius let out a growl of possessiveness, rushing forward to gather up some of the others as he knelt in the snow.

“Those are not yours, Darius.” Tory grabbed them from him, but he had that wild glint in his eyes which he always got around treasure, trying to prise them back out of her fingers.

“I’ll look after them,” he said firmly. “Give them to me.”

Xavier whinnied a laugh as Darius tried to get the diamond from Darcy’s fist and I swooped down to take hold of it myself, holding it above his head to examine it in the firelight.

“The diamond is aligned with Aries,” I said as Darius tried to grab it from me.

I tossed it into the air, making him drop the others as he tried to catch it and I plucked those up from the snow as he fell on the diamond.

“Moonstone for Gemini,” I said, running my thumb over the beautiful opalescent rock in my palm. All of them were the same oval shape and size, as wide as my thumb and perfectly smooth. I could feel the weight of the power in these stones, all of them more pristine than any I had ever seen.

“What’s this one?” Darcy asked as she pointed to a dark red stone and Xavier, Seth, Caleb and Max all stood up to get a better look.

“Ruby for Cancer,” I said as Darius rounded on me again, his eyes locking on the gems in my palm.

“Give them to me,” he commanded, but the Heirs caught hold of his shoulders to keep him back, his fist still locked tight around the diamond.

“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.

Tory handed me the one she’d managed to get hold of the final of the six, and Darcy’s eyes lit up at the sight of the incredible blue sapphire.

“This is for Virgo,” I said, the light of the moon making the gem glitter beautifully.

“I’ll keep them safe,” Darius insisted.

“Can I see the diamond?” Tory asked, holding out her hand but Darius’s fist only tightened around it.

The Heirs wrestled him down onto his back and Seth sat on his chest while Caleb used his Vampire strength to prise his fingers apart.

“No!” Darius snarled as Max snagged it and tossed it to me.

“Bad Dragon,” Tory teased but Darius just fought harder to escape the others who were having a whole lot of trouble restraining him.

I slid all six of them back into the chalice and guided the cup back into the moonlight, the whole thing disappearing just before a Dragon collided with me.

I fell off my seat, hitting my back on the ground as Darius clawed at my hands in desperation.

“Bring them back,” he ordered, his eyes bright gold and narrowed to slits.

“Nah, I’m good.” I smiled mockingly and he growled deep in his chest in frustration. “But let me know if you change your mind on becoming a Guild member. I’m gonna be recruiting soon. Maybe I could make you the keeper of the stones if you do.”

“Asshole,” he muttered as he got up, but I could see the tension leaving his posture now that the gemstones were out of sight.

I pushed myself upright, picking up the diary which was on Darcy’s lap and finding the page blank again where the zodiac circle had been.

“I guess we need to find the rest of these…”

“And how are we gonna do that?” Tory questioned with a frown.

“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.”

“Of course you do,” Darcy said with a teasing smile and I grinned at her.

“Well it’s no good to us there,” Caleb sighed. “How are we gonna get it?”

“I’ll ask Gabriel in the morning,” I said. “Maybe there’s another version we can get hold of…though that was a particularly rare edition my father gave me. If he wanted me to find these stones, maybe there was a reason he gave me that book.”

“Do you really think we need some random gems? What’s the Guild good for anyway?” Max asked. “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, drawing everyone’s attention back to the matter at hand and I nodded my agreement.

“Fine, we’ll find the mystical rocks or whatever. But right now, I’m sleepy,” Seth said through a yawn.

“Here.” Xavier stepped toward me suddenly, slitting his thumb open with a blade of ice in his palm. “You need the blood for the elixir, right?” he mumbled and I smiled in thanks, creating a small vile of ice in my palm and collecting what I needed from him before sealing it over and putting it in my pocket.

I melted the wall of ice around us and we started heading back to The Burrows as I fell into contemplative silence over how I might get hold of that book. It wasn’t like we could go marching back onto campus to get it. It was about the most dangerous place for us in Solaria right now short of the false king’s throne room.

I fell to the back of the group as the guards greeted us, keeping enough of a distance from the twins that I didn’t cast any kind of shame on them with my presence. The guards glanced at me all the same, their noses wrinkling and more quiet words passing between them as they cut me down to size.

I’d known being Power Shamed would suck, but this was even worse than I’d imagined. It was like I had a constant brand on my forehead marking me as infectious, and I didn’t know how I was going to stand a lifetime of it. Especially as all I had wanted for so long was to claim Darcy publicly as mine, but now I was forced to keep that secret all over again. It was insufferable, and I knew she wasn’t happy about it either. There just wasn’t another option.

When we returned to the tunnels and made it back to the royal quarters, Darcy looked back to find me, a need blazing in her eyes that I wanted to fulfil.

The others said goodnight as she dropped behind them and by the time she reached my side, we were alone and the air was thick with want.

“Stop keeping your distance from me around the rebels,” she said, a crease forming between her eyes as I cocked my head to one side.

“It’s for the best, beautiful,” I replied as I glanced over my shoulder to make sure no one was there watching us.

She caught my hand, towing me into the royal quarters and down the side passage that led to the private bathhouses before drawing me to a halt.

“What have I told you about making decisions that are for my best interest?” she said sternly as the darkness swallowed us up, the flicker of firelight from the sconce at the far end of the tunnel only just about reaching us.

“I’m Power Shamed, Blue, I don’t think you’re understanding the magnitude of what that means,” I said seriously.

“And I don’t think you’re understanding the fact that I don’t care what it means. I’ll fight to make everyone see how worthy you are. I’ll make them all forget this stupid title placed upon you,” she said fiercely and I fucking loved her for that.

“It’s not that simple.” I toyed with a lock of her hair, loving the way the dark blue colour glittered deeply in the firelight.

Lust was making my thoughts hazy as I stared at this captivating being before me, wanting her in every way, always.

“Yes, it is,” she insisted. “You’re my equal. The man I’m in love with. And I won’t let you keep acting like you’re some lesser Fae now. In fact, I want to prove how much I think of you…”

She ran her hand down my chest, sucking her lower lip before slowly sinking down to her knees on the hard stone floor, making my pulse go through the fucking roof.

“No. Get up, Blue,” I growled, leaning down to pull her up but she knocked my hands away, a dangerous fire flaring in her eyes.

“I will kneel for you as you would kneel for me. You’re my king and I’ll rub my knees raw for you until you’re sated,” she said powerfully and I was suddenly so hard for her I could barely stand it.

She squeezed my cock through my sweatpants, her eyes on mine as I rested one hand on the wall behind her and gave in to her desires. I was only fucking Fae after all and with those words on her lips and the way her large green eyes were drinking me in, I was undone. Totally, fucking shattered into broken glass for her.

She tugged my pants down, freeing the full length of me and leaning forward to run her tongue up the underside of my cock. I groaned with the need for more as she teased me with that weaponised tongue, up and down before taking me into her hand and sucking the tip of my twitching head between her lips.

“Blue,” I sighed, my free hand falling to her hair as she took me in deeper, her mouth hot, wet and perfect around me as she started to pump the base of my cock.

I swore as she flicked her tongue over the head of my length in a way that had me groaning and wanting to stay in this moment for as long as I could.

“So fucking beautiful,” I growled, my breaths coming heavier as her hand glided up and down my shaft in firm, tight strokes that were begging me to fall apart for her already. “Look at me, Blue.”

Her eyes flicked up to meet mine and I braced myself more forcefully on the wall as she ruled me with that single look. Her lips were reddened and glistening as my fingers pushed through her hair and I took over from her, driving my hips forward to fuck that perfect mouth.

My fangs snapped out as she took me deeper and deeper into her throat, moaning like she loved every second of pleasing me, and that sound alone sent another rush of blood to my cock as I fought off the inevitable release she was demanding of me.

Her eyes remained on mine, the flames of her Order burning at the edges of them as her tongue glided along the underside of my cock once more.

My muscles grew taut and a lock of hair fell into my eyes as I stared down at her, transfixed by this creature who owned me right down to the worthless dust that made up my soul.

Her hand slid around to squeeze my ass, her nails biting into my flesh as her eyes blazed with a command for me to come. And I was too far fucking gone to even try and hold off any longer.

I thrust deep into her mouth, holding her where I wanted her as I finished with a growl, pleasure ripping through me like an earthquake.

She swallowed every drop of me and licked and sucked her way along my cock as I shuddered through the aftershock of my absolute ruin.

Then I dragged her to her feet, pushed her against the wall and sank my tongue between those gifted lips, tasting myself on her and getting high on having her do that to me. She was everything. The brightest fucking star that existed in the universe and for some unknown reason she wanted me.

I tugged my sweatpants up with one hand, kissing her deep and slow, my hand still locked tight in her hair as her hot tongue chased mine and a soft moan spilled from her mouth into my own.

“You have me leashed and collared, Darcy Vega. I’ll always be close by, watching you from the dark for as long as you’ll have me there.” I kissed the corner of her mouth, my fangs grazing her lip as the hunger in me grew sharper.

She raised her hand, casting a razor blade of ice between her fingers and slicing it down her thumb. I fell on it ravenously, sucking her thumb into my mouth as she watched me with hooded eyes, the taste of her blood like ecstasy on my tongue.

“You are meant for the sunlight, Lance Orion. So you’ll stand with me in it or else we’ll stay in the dark together,” she said hotly and I met her gaze, the taste of that very sunlight she spoke of on my tongue now. She was my destiny, and there was no two ways about that. I would follow her so far into the light that I’d go blind, or so deep into the dark that I’d be lost forever.

“Is that an order, my queen?” I asked, a taunt in my voice as I slid my hand into her sweatpants, finding her pussy soaking and bare for me.

Before she could answer that, I drove two fingers inside her and she tipped her head back with a moan that made me grow hard again already. And I knew I’d spend every hour left of this night either inside her or tasting her, because she didn’t get to make me come without me returning the favour tenfold.

“Yes,” she gasped breathlessly as I fucked her with my hand and watched her crumble for me. “That’s a goddamn order, my king.”

***

“Do the angry words of the day, sir!” Seth cried as he bounced up and down in his seat. “It’s not the same without the angry words of the day.”

I looked around the classroom Caleb, Seth and the twins had created for our daily lessons in a cavern off of the royal quarters.

There were other classrooms set up in the main part of The Burrows for other young Fae who were living here to use for their education too, but this class was special. For one, it was mine, and secondly, it had a very small circle of students who I was determined to educate to the best of my ability with every spare hour we could find. Washer was teaching classes of his own, and there were volunteers among the rebels too to ensure none of the youth were missing out on their education, but I didn’t let him interfere with this group unless they specifically needed water Elemental training. 

Though it had been constructed hastily, the classroom was a stunning example of the power of earth magic. Each desk had been personally made for the Fae who used it, their names and Elements engraved into the petrified grey wood that had been grown into shape and then hardened to stone. The walls were tall and a domed roof hung far above our heads, a silvery pool of water suspended there with pale Faelights hanging inside it to give the illusion of sunlight in our underground hideaway.

The dirt walls had been coated with pale grey tiles, each decorated with little zodiac symbols or carvings of Fae in various Order forms. There was a space at the back of the room for physical lessons and an arena that had been cordoned off with vines which sat within a magical shield to keep any wayward magic contained within it.

There was also a glittering pool of water in one corner and a roaring fire which sat behind my desk as well as a flourishing green area full of flowers for earth lessons, and lastly a corner filled with windmills and ribbons that spun in a magical breeze.

This wasn’t the only part of The Burrows that was getting a makeover either, with so many Elemental trapped underground with little to do with their time, the place was becoming an underground palace which the Heirs seemed to feel much more at home in.

Caleb and Tory had taken charge of the last few supply runs and now everyone in our group was dressed like fucking kings and queens. I wasn’t exactly complaining either. Darcy had put in an order with them for skimpy underwear which I enjoyed peeling off with my teeth or ripping to shreds whenever I got the opportunity. She held a mini funeral for the remnants of them most mornings with a tiny pout on her face, tossing the bits in the trash, but I wasn’t going to mourn the fuckers when I enjoyed destroying them so much.

I glanced through my notes for today’s class. I was teaching them everything I knew, ensuring none of them missed out on their education while we were stuck down here in The Burrows waiting for a chance to attack Lionel.

Between teaching classes of his own, Gabriel spent time in the amplifying chamber we’d worked together to build, trying to see paths forward not only to get to Lionel, but to find the gemstones my father had wanted me to acquire. But with each passing week, we were all going a little bit more insane over waiting for opportunities.

Being stuck down here was suffocating, no matter how much work was going in to making the place look beautiful and if it wasn’t for Gabriel’s constant assurance that venturing out of here to fight Lionel would end in our destruction, I was sure we all would have done it already.

“For the hundredth time, it is not a real classroom and you do not have to call me sir,” I said in exasperation, pressing my fingers into my eyes for a moment.

Tory was sitting on Darius’s desk with his hand inching higher and higher up her skirt as she stroked his hair while Max, Xavier and Caleb were throwing an ice ball between them at the back of the class. Darcy was chewing on a pencil, eye-fucking me to no end which was distracting as hell while Seth kept talking incessantly and asking questions that had nothing to do with the lesson. Geraldine was the only one paying rapt attention, sitting with her back ramrod straight and her Atlas in hand as she listened.

“Right, that’s enough!” I barked and they all stilled.

I hadn’t wanted to do this. I’d been trying to teach them without going full professor, that part of my life well and truly in the past. But this was getting ridiculous.

“Miss Vega, get your ass in your own seat.” I sent a blast of air at Tory, sending her flying down into the chair beside Darius, making her lips pop open in surprise. “Rigel, Acrux and Altair, if you throw one more fucking ice ball in my classroom, I will blast you through the wall and you can forget about coming back here to learn a single thing.” I caught their ice ball with a whip of air, sending it flying into the door so it smashed into a thousand pieces, and the three of them slowly sank down into their seats in shock.

“What would happen if a Fae with a big Order form swallowed three people then shifted back into their Fae form? Do you think they’d die? I think they might die,” Seth mused aloud. “Actually, I know some annoying people we could send as bait to Lionel, then when he eats them, we could shoot an Order Suppressant dart up his ass and bang. Dead Dragon. Annoying people eaten. Win – win.”

“Capella, if you ask another pointless question this lesson, I will force feed you three people in your Werewolf form and we’ll put your theory to the test,” I snarled, stealing the air from his lungs as he opened his mouth to respond.

“So hot,” Darcy said under her breath as she watched me, shifting in her seat as desire filled her eyes.

“Miss Vega, if you keep looking at me like that, I will bring you up here, bend you over my desk and spank you in front of everyone. Is that what you want?” I demanded, trying to ignore the way my cock was twitching for her.

She considered that for a second then glanced at her sister and shook her head, her cheeks pinking as she sat back in her seat and withdrew the pencil from her lips.

Silence fell and I looked around the quiet classroom with my eyebrows arching. Well holy fucking shit, I guess that did it.

I turned to the chalkboard that had been made for me by Geraldine, writing across it in bold, capitalised letters before striking a fierce underline beneath it.

YOU CANNOT DEFEAT LIONEL ACRUX IF YOU CAN’T EVEN DO BASIC FUCKING SPELLS.

I twisted around to glare at them all and Geraldine started jotting down what I’d written.

“You’ve already lost a bunch of time to Highspell’s bullshit classes, are you going to waste any more of it?” I demanded and they all shook their heads at me like obedient little mice. Perfect. “Right then.” I turned back to the board, writing today’s objective there. “Aura detection is imperative when facing your enemies. It can be very subtle, and in the current circumstances, considering the murders that have happened down in this place, it is more important than ever that we be vigilant. Auras can give away a Fae’s true intentions.”

“I’m a Siren, though. I can detect people’s emotions easily, I don’t need aura training,” Max said dismissively and Geraldine twisted around in her seat.

“Auras are different to emotions, you stagnant stingray,” she said and he pouted.

“Correct,” I agreed. “You may be able to detect emotion, Rigel, but if your enemies have strong emotional shields from you or if they are simply enjoying doing bad deeds, how will you be able to detect them any clearer than someone enjoying their dinner? Auras are more effective in reading a person’s intentions. It is a more subtle, and far more difficult skill to perfect, yet it can give a more accurate read on someone’s character.”

“If you’re so good at it, then why haven’t you found the murderer yet, sir?” Caleb asked, his eyes shooting over to Seth beside him who was fighting to feed himself air through the block I’d cast on his throat.

He was half keeled over the table and I flicked my fingers to release him from choking so he started gasping down air.

“There’s hundreds of people in The Burrows and most of them want absolutely nothing to do with me, Altair,” I gritted out. “If I can train you all in this well, then perhaps one of you will have more success than me in finding the culprit.”

They finally all gave me their full attention as I started explaining the intricacies of detecting auras. But before I could get them trying it out on each other, the door burst open and Hamish walked in with a handkerchief held to his mouth.

“Lance Orion, I need to speak with y-” He retched into the handkerchief and I released a weary sigh. “You,” he forced out, then waved his hand, clearly casting an illusion over me as my face dropped into a scowl.

“Why did you make him look like a lamp?” Darcy growled as Hamish moved toward me through the room.

“It’s just a Milly-modicom easier to address an inanimate object than him, my lady,” Hamish gushed.

“I find I can get used to it if I focus on a point just over his shoulder, Papa,” Geraldine said while my hands curled into fists.

“What do you want, Hamish?” I growled and he reared over, clutching his stomach as he retched, making irritation flare through me.

The Heirs cracked up as Hamish dabbed the corners of his mouth with his handkerchief like a little bit of vomit had come up that time.

“Sorry, it’s the shame, you see?” Hamish muttered. “It’s quite potent.”

“Well let’s have this conversation at double the speed then, yeah?” I pushed, wanting this over with as Hamish nodded, apparently unable to look at me even in lamp form, the bulb flickering as I spoke.

“We need to discuss you being the Master of the Zodiac Guild.” He dry retched several times before he was able to continue. “I am here to offer myself in substitution for that role. It will cause quite the hullabaloo and billabalong if we ask our most loyal royalists to join the Guild under the management of a Power Sha-” He retched. “A Power Sha-” He retched again and I carved a hand down my face in exasperation.

“Enough, Hamish,” I said. “My position isn’t one just chosen by me, it was by my father and the stars too. I can’t do what you’re asking of me. Destiny decided this. I can’t change it.”

“He’s the rightful Guild Master anyway,” Darcy said firmly and Hamish looked at her as he wiped a line of sweat from his brow.

“But what will become of the gallant Guild? How will it ever be reformed? No one will sign up to it under the rule of a shamed Sharleen,” he said in horror, then fell to his knees and gripped Darcy’s hand. “Please, my lady, think of the children.”

“What children? And Orion is the right person for the job, it was his fate. Why can’t you all let go of this stupid Power Shamed crap?” she demanded and Hamish buckled forward, retching like a cat with a hairball lodged firmly in its throat, his back arching and bowing as he heaved up nothing but air and the Heirs burst out laughing.

“Oh sweet, sensitive daddipops.” Geraldine jumped from her seat, helping him upright and he swayed a little as she guided him to the door. “We shall overcome this titanic task. There must be a way to see past his…shame,” she whispered the last word and Hamish battled with another retch as she led him out the door.

I folded my arms, flicking my fingers to dispel the illusion he’d put on me while a gnawing sensation in my gut told me maybe Hamish was right. No one was ever going to respect me as the Guild Master. How was I supposed rebuild it when most of the people in this place wouldn’t even look at me?

The Guild elixir would be ready tonight and I didn’t even have a single member in mind to initiate, because the Heirs certainly weren’t going to pledge themselves to the Vegas and between Geraldine and her father, I wasn’t sure they could bear to join up while I was in charge either.

Fuck.

I met Blue’s gaze and she calmed some of my worries with that single look. Her belief in me was iron clad, but that didn’t change the truth of the situation. I’d lost the respect of nearly every Fae in Solaria, so how was I supposed to resurrect an ancient royal society for the Vegas?

Maybe Hamish was right, maybe it would be better if I was able to pass on the baton. But I was bound to this role now, there was nothing I could do about it. And as I brushed my fingers over my inner forearm where the Guild mark was hidden, I couldn’t help but feel protective of the role anyway.

My father had wanted this for me, the twins’ mother had seen me standing in this place, but had I taken a wrong turn on the path of fate somewhere? Had they not foreseen me becoming Power Shamed in all of this? Or had they always expected me to pass on the role to someone more worthy?

I turned back to the board, writing out a few notes on auras as chatter broke out among everyone. My heart sank into the depths of my chest because I couldn’t help but feel like I was letting Blue and her sister down, and worst of all, it made me fear I really was as useless as the world now believed I was.