Zodiac Academy 2: Ruthless Fae: An Academy Bully Romance (Supernatural Bullies and Beasts)

by Caroline Peckham

  I shoved back against his influence with all my might, channelling power into my veins and the strength of his hold started to recede. He chuckled, stepping away. “Who's next?”

  Diego folded his arms, glaring at Washer with a stay away expression but it didn't matter, Washer only had eyes for the muscular guy beside him, leaning in with a predatory grin.

  “God,” I whispered to Tory. “How does he get away with it?”

  “I heard he gets a lot of sway because of his Order,” Sofia breathed, leaning past Tory to speak to all of us. “He's allowed to use his powers on us because he needs emotions to regenerate.”

  “I guess so long as he doesn't actually screw a student that's alright then,” Tory said sardonically, pursing her lips. “I'd rather cut off my nose than lay a hand on him or any other teacher in this school for that matter.”

  “Even Orion?” I blurted before I could stop myself.

  Tory looked at me, her eyes widening in surprise. “Yes, especially Orion, Darcy. Are you serious?”

  “He's just got that you know...brooding thing going on.”

  “You mean the holier-than-thou assholeness factor?” she asked.

  “That's the one. I wouldn't actually go there. Obviously.” I blew out a laugh, turning to look at the notes on my Atlas to try and hide my blush.

  “Teachers wouldn't dare lay a hand on students really,” Sofia said quietly. “I read the rule book when I arrived here-”

  “Of course you did,” Diego chided and she threw him a mischievous grin before going on.

  “Any teacher who crossed that line wouldn’t just be fired, they'd be power-shamed by the Celestial Council. Stripped of their rank in the whole of Solaria. Can you imagine?” She shuddered and genuine goosebumps raised across her arms.

  “Maybe I can, I don't think we could sink much lower,” I said with a half shrug.

  Sofia shook her head seriously. “No, Darcy, it's worse than you think. The whole Fae world would turn their back on you.”

  “I'm kinda with Darcy here,” Tory piped up. “That sounds very familiar already.”

  Sofia shook her head again. “Trust me, if you were power-shamed, you wouldn't have a place in this school. You'd have to work your way up from the very bottom, try to earn respect back from even the weakest of Fae-”

  “So!” Washer called out to the room, stepping back to the centre of the round desk. “I want you to all pair up, use the notes on your Atlas to do a palm reading of each other's life lines. If you discover you are doomed to die tomorrow, please take your wailing into the hallway where I will come and comfort you.”

  I turned to Tory, finding the same disgusted expression on her face as was on mine. “I would rather die tomorrow than be comforted by Washer in the hallway.” I whispered and Tory released a bark of laughter that made Washer look our way hopefully again.

  We pointedly ignored him and Tory took my hand, starting to follow the line curving along the top part of my palm.

  While she worked, my eyes drifted across the room to the large mural on the opposite wall. The Zodiac constellations were painted beautifully in splashes of silver with swirling names marking each one. Pisces, Aries, Libra, Leo, Capricorn, Taurus. Straight lines linking each star highlighted the shapes they created between them. Whoever had done the mural was incredibly skilled and I wondered vaguely if Astrum had painted it himself. At that thought, my heart weighed heavier in my chest and I looked to Tory with a frown.

  “Do you think we'll ever work out what Astrum wanted us to know?”

  She kept her eyes on my palm but her brow furrowed deeply as she considered my words. “Probably not.”

  “Tory,” I pressed and she looked up with a teasing grin. “Maybe I should show the card to Orion. He might know what it means.”

  Tory considered that a moment then nodded. “I don't trust him exactly, but after he saved my ass from the Heirs, I've warmed up to him by one-percent.”

  “Okay, I’ll do it.”

  We studied the life lines a while longer and it seemed like Tory and I didn't have much to worry about in that department, although we had a worrying amount of 'potential deaths' which Washer pointed out could occur at any moment in time. Good to know.

  “Now, let's mix things up,” Washer said keenly. “You will re-pair then interpret your love lines.” He started directing people towards different seats and my heart sank dramatically when he paired me with Kylie.

  Perfect.

  I grabbed my things, moving over to sit in Jillian's vacated chair as she headed over to take mine next to Tory. Kylie leaned away from me like I carried rabies, her upper lip curling back. Her hand shot into the air as she turned to Washer. “Sir! I'd like to re-pair with someone who isn't trying to steal my boyfriend's throne.”

  “Now now, do be civil, my dear.” He looked between us. “You make a lovely pair.” My insides churned as he surveyed us too long and I sensed Kylie recoiling from him too.

  “Total creep,” I whispered when he moved away, hoping to at least make it through the class without this being completely unbearable.

  She stared at me for a moment with a tight pout in place, then finally nodded. “Yeah, you got that right.” She snatched my hand, turning it over and studying the love line, her nails pinching my skin.

  The silence between us became so uncomfortable I simply had to break it. “So you're a Medusa-”

  “And?” she went on the defence and I sighed, giving up on this already.

  “And I've never seen a girl sprout snakes out of her head, that's all.”

  “Well I bet you wish you could so they could cover that ghastly bald patch,” she said promptly and I scowled darkly, pulling my hand out of her claws.

  “Why do you hate me so much?” I whisper-shouted, furious that she continued to treat me this way. Wasn't it enough that I'd had my hair sheared off by her heartless boyfriend? And she'd damn well filmed the whole thing.

  “You're a threat to Sethy's throne,” she said, her eyes flashing and her shoulders squaring.

  “I don't want his throne,” I said for what felt like the thousandth time since I'd arrived in Solaria.

  “Swap hands,” Washer called out and I took Kylie's hand. She reluctantly uncurled her fingers to let me see her palm, but I couldn't concentrate to try and do a reading.

  “I thought Fae fought their own fights,” I said, staring determinedly at her hand as angry energy burned through my veins.

  “I am fighting my own fight. I'm fighting to keep his eyes off of you,” she blurted, then froze as if she hadn't meant to say it.

  I looked up at her, shocked that she would still think Seth gave a damn about me. Or that he ever had. “He pretended to like me, he cut my hair off and you recorded it. How can you possibly think I'm a threat to you?”

  She blinked heavily and for a moment I thought she was going to cry. “Because you're beautiful and every time you're in a room he stares at you. And when you're not there he can't stop looking at that disgusting bracelet of hair he made. He wants you to bow to him, but given half a chance he'd have it both ways and have you under his arm too,” she said nearly all of it through her teeth and turned bright red as she did so. Tears splashed down her cheeks and I was left in complete and utter shock as she sprang from her seat and ran from the room.

  I suddenly noticed how close Washer was standing and felt his power radiating through the air. He'd fed on her pain, her sadness, and drawn it all out for me to hear and him to feast on. Was everyone in this school just hunting for their next goddamn piece of meat?

  He hounded after her toward the door and it only took half a second longer for Jillian to sprint after them, calling her name.

  My mind reeled from what she'd said and I had to conclude that she was completely deluded.

  “Ha! Posted. Kylie's gonna flip.” Tyler started laughing as he finished posting something on FaeBook. A tell-tale ping told me I'd been tagged and I took in a breath to ready myself for an impending ea
rthquake as I tapped on the notification on my screen.

  Tyler Corbin: Just witnessed a Major Meltdown after Washer sucked out two truths and a lie from @Kylie Major's mouth.

  Truth: @Darcy Vega makes @Seth Capella drool

  Truth: We've all seen him sniff the bracelet (no one blames you, bro)

  Lie: He wouldn't actually have a Vega Twin under his arm, but he might take one under his sheets once or twice.

  #majorfail #suckedbyasiren #majorenvy

  “Bastard,” I breathed as laughter rang out around the room. I looked up to find Tyler smirking at me while pretending to casually massage out a kink in his shoulder.

  Fury crashed through my chest in a wave. “Seth Capella does not-” Ding!

  I glanced down at my screen, discovering that Seth had replied to Tyler's post. And that was saying something as the Heirs rarely ever replied to anyone's posts.

  Seth Capella: FUN game. Let's flip it around and play two lies and one truth @Tyler Corbin.

  Your mom was the best lay of my life.

  Your dad was the second.

  Your face is going through a brick wall the next time I see you.

  (hint: both of your parents suck in bed).

  My heart pounded out of tune as I sensed the anger behind his words. Tyler turned as white as a sheet as he placed his Atlas down on the desk and stared at it without blinking.

  When class was finally dismissed, I was more than glad to make my escape from the room and head back to Aer Tower. The day was finally over and I fully intended on doing nothing but lazing in my room all evening with my friends and practising some Elemental magic.

  As we walked along the circular path around The Orb, a notification pinged on my Atlas. I was half tempted to ignore it, sure it would be nothing but another FaeBook post designed to ruin my day. But curiosity got the better of me and I took it out, finding an official message waiting for me.

  Your Liaison has been rescheduled for 7pm tonight with Professor Orion.

  A small smile crept onto my face and I hid it quickly before the others could see, rearranging my features into disappointment. “Looks like I can't hang out all night. Orion's rescheduled my Liaison.”

  “You can show him the card,” Tory reminded me. “Maybe he'll know something.”

  “Are you sure that's a good idea?” Diego asked uncertainly.

  “He helped them before,” Sofia said. “Besides, the worst he could do is dismiss it and then you're in the same position anyway.”

  “I suppose that's true,” Diego said with a shrug, shifting toward Sofia and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him, turning a pastel shade of pink as he ruffled her hair. The two of them hadn't defined things since the formal and I wondered if Diego was ever going to pluck up the courage to officially ask her out.

  Tory looped around them to my side, rolling her eyes at their backs. The sun was already low on the horizon and bathing the campus in a dim amber hue. My horoscope had said today was going to be the start of a deep, undying love and I had the feeling it had meant my love for this Academy. It might have been filled with cut-throat Fae and have danger lurking around every corner, but it was also the most wonderful, spell-binding place I'd ever been. And it was starting to feel like home.

  ***

  Seven pm and Orion was predictably late. I'd even dragged my heels on the way to his office to account for it, but he still hadn't arrived.

  I sighed, on the verge of giving up as another few minutes ticked by. The hole I'd cut through his door was now fixed and I wondered if the desk was intact too. I wasn't looking forward to my Saturday detention this weekend. Whatever way Orion disciplined students, I imagined it was no fun at all. Didn't he once say corporal punishment is totally legal here? Holy shit, I hope it's not that...

  It was almost half past when I gave up, heading back through the corridors of Jupiter Hall with a frown etched into my features. Astrum's card was burning a hole in my pocket and I so longed to ask Orion about it. Amongst other things. And okay, maybe I'd been half a percent eager to see him. I didn't know what it was that drew me to him. He was obviously good looking. Like slap-you-in-the-face hot. He was also a mega asshole most of the time. But those two things tended to be a dangerous combination and I was definitely a sucker for it.

  I headed out of the building, following the curving pathway around The Orb, the fresh night air brushing against my skin. I wandered along, soaking in the quiet as I wondered whether the others would still be hanging out in Diego's room like they had been when I left.

  “Look who it isn't,” Seth's voice hit my ears.

  My blood ran cold as I spotted him with Kylie and a group of his wolf pack standing under the light of a lantern. On the floor between them was Tyler Corbin with a bloody face, his nose skewed to one side and his hand raised as he tried to hold off the junior who was cupping flames in his hand.

  I halted in my tracks, feeling like a deer in headlights as they spread out across the pathway to stop me from advancing.

  Seth moved to the head of the group with a smirk wrapped around his beautiful features. “It isn't the queen of Solaria. It isn't the object of my affections and it isn't a girl with blue hair.”

  Kylie puffed up her chest at his words and I scowled, my eyes falling on Tyler. He might have brought this on himself but I still pitied him; he was a warthog about to be ripped into by a pack of lions.

  “Leave him alone,” I told Seth, my hands beginning to shake as fear took a violent hold of me.

  “He got what he asked for,” Seth snarled. “Just like you did, Vega.” His eyes were two frozen lakes and I fought the urge to back up as he took another step toward me.

  “Hey wolves?” he called to his pack, jerking his head to beckon them forward.

  Kylie stepped aside to let them pass and the group closed in around Seth, nuzzling his arms, his neck. He smiled hungrily at me, pawing at the backs of his friends. “Who wants to go hunting?”

  Fear raced through me as the wolves started howling to the sky, cupping their hands around their mouths. Seth stalked forward and in an act of fury, I raised my hands and drew magic to my palms. Fire flickered and I threw all of my energy into it, casting it out of me in a ferocious wave. It tumbled out of control, a huge flame bursting toward them as if it was fuelled by gasoline.

  Seth threw up his arms and a glimmering blue shield arced around him and his friends, dissolving the fire as it touched it. I lost sight of them all behind a sheet of smoke, my pounding heart crashing against my ribcage.

  A piercing howl tore through the air and Seth's huge white form burst out of the smoke, making me scream in alarm. I fled. It was the only logical thing to do. I wasn't trained. I couldn't fight so many at once, but could I outpace a damn Werewolf?

  No chance!

  I veered sharply right, the snap of jaws sounding dangerously close to my ear. I sprinted toward the nearest building, half falling into Venus Library and running down the first aisle.

  The doors banged open behind me and I cursed as the sound of heavy paws bounded through the cavernous room.

  “Mr Capella!” the librarian shrieked. “Take your games outside, there are ancient texts in here that don't need your drool all over them. If you're looking for the Vega girl, she went that way. But please continue your hunt in Fae forms.”

  I mentally called the librarian a million names under the sun as I hurried to the back of the library. Continue your hunt? You bitch!

  An emergency exit glowed up ahead and hope beamed through me as I ran toward it, pushing the bar.

  An alarm bell rang out and panic tore through me as howls cut the air to shreds.

  “In Fae form!” the librarian begged but the rush of paws was all I needed to hear to know they weren't obeying.

  I ran out onto the grass, turning left and tearing along into the shadows, half blind as I raced for the cover of the next building. I ran my hand along the back wall of Mars Laboratories, desperately searching for a way
in.

  “Awoooo! Get her Sethy!” Kylie's voice sailed after me followed by her laughter and I had the feeling she was riding one of the wolves.

  My hand scraped nothing but stone and I picked up my pace again, though every second I wasted brought me closer to being caught.

  Come on, there must be a way in. Please please.

  I wasn't fast enough. And there was no way in. Nowhere to run.

  A hand shot out of nowhere and dragged me through a door just up ahead of me. I was plunged into absolute darkness and a scream bit at my throat just before a palm slammed down over my mouth. I was dragged against a hard body as the door clicked quietly closed, my back to their front.

  The scent of cinnamon stoked a fire in my belly and I stiffened as I realised who had come to my aid.

  “Absolutely silent,” he breathed in my ear and I nodded against his hand.

  “Look over there,” Kylie's voice was muffled beyond the door and my mouth dried up.

  I recoiled against Orion, barely breathing as I waited for that door to be found. For the wolves to tear me from his arms and rip me apart. Professor or not, he surely couldn't take on a whole wolf pack if they were determined to sink their teeth into me.

  The sound of heavy paws padded loudly beyond the building and my heart beat like a rabbit's in a cage, so loud I feared they'd hear it. Orion probably could with his enhanced senses. But the wolves hadn't found me yet, so that had to be a good thing.

  My skin prickled with heat where the press of his chest and stomach met my back. I shut my eyes, willing my thoughts onto why I was hiding and nothing else.

  “She's not here,” Kylie sighed in frustration. “Try down near Jupiter Hall.” The sounds of the pack headed away and the breath fell out of my lungs in a shuddering tumble as Orion removed his palm from my mouth.

  The muscles in my legs twitched as I prepared to move but Orion's hand suddenly sailed around my waist and stopped me from stepping forward. My heart beat a forbidden tune and I stilled entirely, frozen in place.