Zodiac Academy: The Awakening(88)

“We’re not going anywhere alone with you,” Darcy replied bitterly.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Orion snapped, stepping forward like he intended to grab her arm. I moved to intercept him and Caleb joined me too.

“You don’t fucking touch her again,” I growled.

Orion narrowed his eyes at me, looking like he was going to object again but he hesitated as he glanced at Darcy.

“Bastard,” she hissed, looking woozy.

“Come on, girls. The bus is gonna leave soon,” Caleb said, tugging me after him but I dug my heels in, waiting for Darcy.

My sister moved first and I threw Orion one more filthy look before heading after her down the street. Caleb kept his arm around my shoulders as he led the way and I hurried to keep up in my towering heels which I was beginning to daydream about taking off.

There were two buses parked up by the side of the street and a huge crowd of students waiting to get on. I moved to join the back of the queue but Caleb rolled his eyes, guiding us past all of the people who had gotten there first and climbing the steps onto the closest bus.

Max and Seth were sitting in the back row and Caleb told three other kids to get off and wait for the next bus so that we could join them.

I almost wanted to protest his rudeness but my bed was calling to me and I just wanted to escape the madness in this town.

The bus rumbled to life as the doors shut with a hiss and we started off down the road. My brain was still fuzzy with alcohol and I leaned my head back as I closed my eyes, waiting for the journey to be over.

Caleb drew me against him but I shrugged him off, the moment of madness where I’d almost forgotten what he was had been well and truly left behind with the sight of all that blood.

I tried to relax and enjoy the ride back to the Academy but as the bus bumped over a pothole I realised one person had never reappeared amongst all the mayhem. And the last person to see him was now covered in blood and had been discovered at the scene of a crime.

So where was Darius Acrux?





I WOKE TO a war drum in my head and a desert in my mouth.

The hangover from hell begins...

I groaned, rolling over and praying I wasn't about to find an Heir in my bed. It wasn't really my style but after the vat of alcohol I’d consumed last night, anything was possible.

There was no one there.

A sigh of relief preceded a wave of anxiety.

I replayed the events of last night, trying to fit everything into place like a puzzle with missing pieces.

I remembered the creepy alley, the bar, the dancing – oh God the dancing – then Geraldine -

“Shit!” I sat bolt upright, my hand flying up to my throat where Orion's teeth had dug into me and taken nearly every ounce of magic I had.

Geraldine had been hurt and Orion...he'd been covered in blood and completely drained of power.

I got up, pushing a hand into my tangled mane of hair, trying to pull it out of the nest it was determined to stay in. Strands of blue hovered over my face and I knew I resembled the undead even before I caught sight of myself in the bathroom mirror. Mascara and eyeliner were smudged under my eyes but I'd managed to put on the top half of my pyjamas before passing out which I was counting as a win.

I stepped into the shower, letting it run cold to help realign my thoughts.

Orion had been talking about killing someone.

Then Geraldine had shown up hurt and he'd been the first on the scene. It was too damn suspicious.

I had to speak with her. I had to know for sure. But why he'd attack her, I couldn't figure out.

I left my hair to air dry as it hung wet around my shoulders then pulled on a black sweater and jeans. I put on some thongs, my feet aching too much to bear being confined to any shoes.

I pulled the door open and my heart lurched as I came face to face with Seth, his fist raised to knock.

He looked disgustingly good for someone who'd been out as late as me last night. The flashbacks hit me in a wave. Me and him dancing. My ass grinding up against his...oh dear god.

“Morning, babe.” He smirked, his eyes shining with all of the memories which were currently haunting me.

“Hey,” I said tersely, tucking a damp lock behind my ear.

“Let me help you with that.” He raised a hand and hot air pushed into my hair, wrapping around it until it was perfectly dry.

He stepped forward, pressing his nose into it with a sigh. “Cherry, my favourite. Speaking of cherries, has yours been popped yet?” He threw a suspicious glance into my room and I jammed my shoulder against the door to keep him out of my private space.

“That's none of your business.” And it was especially none of his business that it was popped last year by a guy named Austin who'd been the perfect gentleman for three months up until the point he'd gotten what he wanted. And that was the not-so-funny punchline of my relationship history. The mere memory of the horrible day he’d dumped me bordered on the edges of my mind and I blocked it out as hard as I could.

“Can I make it my business?” he purred, wrapping his large hand around my back and yanking me into his chest.

“What the hell are you doing?” I pressed him back as my fragile hangover heart had a meltdown.

“I thought we were cool now...you know, after you sucked on my lower lip then whispered dirty things in my ear.”

“I don't recall any whispering.” I blushed because I did recall the other part. Vividly. And as I gazed at his mouth, heat coiled in my stomach.