Zodiac Academy: The Awakening(69)

A few hands rose and he picked out a boy in the row behind us. “It tells you your nature.”

“Inaccurate,” Orion said. “Try again.”

“It er...” the boy glanced around for help but no one had any to offer. He cleared his throat then shrugged.

“Anyone?” Orion asked in annoyance.

“It influences your nature, sir?” Sofia offered.

“Correct,” he said brightly, moving to lean back against his desk. He pointed at the dark haired beauty Jillian who was always in Kylie’s shadow. “Miss Minor, what are the other three things that influence a Fae's nature?”

She turned the colour of a beetroot, looking to Kylie who sighed dramatically.

“Order,” Kylie offered for her.

“And?” Orion pressed.

“Er...genetics?” she guessed.

“Correct. And?” he demanded.

She fell quiet and an answer sprang into my mind, hovering on the tip of my tongue.

“Anyone?” Orion asked, gazing over us all in clear disappointment.

Oh what the hell?

“Life experience, sir?” I'd been through enough in my life to know exactly how shaped I'd been by everything I'd endured. If he disagreed that experiences didn't affect the way we were, then I was ready to dispute it. My hair was one example.

To most, blue meant cold or sad, the sea, the sky. To me, it was something else. And that reason was why I wore it in my hair. As a constant reminder of that meaning. Don’t. Forget.

“Correct,” Orion said, seeming surprised. He strode down the aisle, halting in front of my desk and I raked my eyes up his athletic body to his penetrating eyes. “Also known as?”

“Nurture,” I said, my tongue parched.

“Good. See me after class.” He marched away, leaving me in the wake of that A-bomb with my heart rattling in my chest.

Tory gave me an alarmed look and an ice-cold creature slithered up my spine.

Crap.





Tory waited until every last person had filed out of the classroom before she left me alone with Orion.

“I'll wait outside,” she whispered and I gave her a smile that I hoped soothed her worries as she headed through the door. But it didn't do much to soothe mine.

Orion was gazing at something on his Atlas, resting back in his chair as the door swung closed behind my sister.

I stood awkwardly, adjusting my satchel over my shoulder as I waited for him to explain why he'd kept me back.

“How's the Coercion shield coming?” he asked, not looking up from his Atlas.

“Better. I've been practicing with friends.”

He nodded, seeming satisfied with that. “You should be spending every free moment on it.” He swung around in his chair, snaring me in his onyx gaze. “It's imperative that you can throw off basic Coercion. Do you understand how vulnerable you are while you're unable to?”

I nodded, thinking of all the embarrassing times I’d succumbed to it in the past couple of days. My insides crumbled into dust at the memories.

“Yes, sir.” I surveyed him closely, wondering why he would try to help me out with this if he was plotting to kill Tory and I.

Could be a cover...but for who? There was no one in this room but me.

“Good.” His hard mask broke into a soft smile and I was completely taken aback by it. “So, I wanted to be clear about what it means to be my Source.”

“I don't want to be your Source,” I said immediately, my skin itching at the mere idea of it.

“Until you manage to stop me, I'm afraid that's not your decision.” He gave me a bemused look and I scowled at him, tempted to shout, is it just my magic you want or is it my life too?

Orion stood, moving around his desk to stand before me. I swallowed against the lump in my throat, gazing up at him and refusing to let him see my fear.

“You will tell me if any other Vampire bites you. That is non-negotiable, Miss Vega. I will make it known to the Academy that you're mine and that should save us any more incidents like today. I am not likely to be challenged by anyone except Caleb, but now that has been settled we should have no more issues. However, if another Vampire happens to take a liking to you ...you will tell me.”

He didn't Coerce me and I had to wonder why. Maybe he wanted me to agree to this on my own terms. And an internal battle took hold of me as I thought about what he was demanding. At least this would stop other Vampires taking a bite out of me in the corridors. But that was about the only plus side I could see.

“How often do you expect to feed from me?” I folded my arms and his brows lifted.

“Once or twice a week.” He shrugged. “But if I become drained then it may be more.”

I nodded stiffly, knowing I didn't have a choice anyway. I'd take the small benefit of not being bitten by other Vampires and in the meantime I'd work my ass off to harness my magic.

I lifted my chin and the air became thick between us. “One day, Professor, I'm going to be strong enough to fight you off.”

He took a measured breath and I felt like he was sucking something vital out of my body that I wasn’t sure I’d ever get back.

“I know,” he said, his eyes glittering. “But until that day, you're mine, Blue.”