Seth wrapped his arms around Darius who growled in response. He didn’t appreciate us feeling sorry for him and I was pretty sure it would only be another moment before-
Darius shoved Seth off of him and he fell back onto the couch with a whine.
“I’m not a hugger, Seth,” Darius snapped. “How many goddamn times do I have to tell you?”
Seth whimpered again. “I know, I know. But you look like you need one and I’m sleeping on my own. My pack should be huddled all around me but I’m in that bed with no one to snuggle and I need to snuggle!”
Darius rolled his eyes and I snorted a laugh, slipping down beside Seth and pulling him under my arm. He released a groan that was damn near sexual as he folded his arms around me, nuzzling into my chest. The relief that poured from him coated the back of my tongue and my gut twisted as I felt a sharp twist of pain coming from him. He was hurting. This separation from his pack wasn’t healthy for him.
“Come and sleep here tonight,” I offered, needing to make him feel better. His pain hurt me too and I couldn’t just leave it alone. “You can be the big spoon.”
“Really?” Seth asked excitedly, peering up at me like I’d just promised him the moon. “You promise?”
“Fuck knows why, but yeah.” A smile tugged at my lips as I felt just how happy that made him and he swiped his tongue straight up my cheek.
Caleb laughed at us and my smile widened as I felt him pushing some of his anger aside in favour of amusement.
“If you’re starting on an orgy I might just wait outside until you’re done,” Orion’s voice came from the door and I twisted in my seat to look at him.
A torrent of relief and happiness spilled from Darius as his special buddy arrived and he strode straight across the room to meet him, pulling him into a tight embrace. They stayed locked together for several long seconds and Orion ran his hand up and down Darius’s back. The emotions coming from them were so strong that I could hardly feel the twist of jealousy I usually got when I saw them together.
The four of us were as close as four brothers but Darius had this special relationship with Orion that didn’t include us. It was kinda sad how it made me feel like a jealous little bitch but there it was. The one thing a Siren had to do was own their own emotions and I couldn’t really deny it. When Orion was around, Darius dropped us like sacks of shit. Okay, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration but it felt that way sometimes. And I knew neither of them had chosen to undergo the Guardian bond so I didn’t even have the right to feel the way I did. But I couldn’t help it. And neither could Cal and Seth.
Seth started howling loudly as Orion and Darius kept hold of each other.
“I thought you didn’t like hugging,” he growled when he couldn’t take it anymore.
Caleb laughed and I joined in as Darius finally stepped back.
“Well maybe I just don’t like hugging you,” he teased, pulling a pouch of stardust from his pocket.
A stab of hurt came from Seth and I frowned.
“Don’t be a dick, Darius,” I snapped, squeezing Seth tighter.
“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Darius muttered. “Come here then, puppy.”
Seth bounded out of the chair and leapt on Darius like he’d just declared his undying love for him instead of offering a consolation hug. He jumped into Darius’s arms and knocked him back onto the bed where they fell on top of Cal who got dragged into the hug too.
I laughed as the mood in the room switched dramatically and amusement, happiness and friendship filled the air. I got up and dove on top of them as well, earning myself more licks from Seth as he alternated between all of us.
“Come on, Orion,” Seth called excitedly. “You can join my honorary pack for the night.”
“Not a fucking chance,” Orion replied, folding his arms as he stayed well away from us where we were all tangled on the bed.
Darius laughed as he got up, offering me a hand to help me up too. Seth pinned Caleb down and licked him straight up the centre of his face and he spluttered as he shoved him off.
“We’re going to be late at this rate,” Orion said casually and we all looked at him in disbelief as we moved closer together.
Darius tossed the stardust over us and the next second we were floating through the stars, the room melting away from us as we shifted through the world in little less than the space between heartbeats.
My feet hit the ground and I looked around at the others as they appeared too.
Cameras started flashing instantly as the paparazzi spotted us and I heard my name mixed with the others’ as the reporters tried to snag our attention for a comment.
Orion darted away from us straight into the building as we turned and posed for a few photos to keep them happy.
“We don’t have any comments to make at this time,” Darius called and we headed into the Court of Solaria before they had much chance to protest.
The moment we walked through the huge rotating doors, my father’s P.A., Cressida, descended on us. Her platinum blonde braids were pulled back into a high ponytail and her full lips pressed into a thin line which was the only indication she gave of being irritated that we were late.
“Here you are!” she gushed. “They just brought the Nymph in. Your parents are already waiting in the interrogation room.”
We followed her further into the building, passing several security doors and more FIB agents in their black uniforms than usually filled the halls around here. I guessed it was a precaution with the war taking place but all the tension surrounding us made me uneasy.
We headed up a dark staircase and Cressida led us into an observation room beside a pane of one-way glass so that we’d be hidden from the Nymph. The interrogation room beyond the window was still empty, its white walls gleaming expectantly as it awaited the prisoner.
The Councillors looked up as we entered the room and we all moved forward to greet our parents.
Dad smiled widely as he saw me, his excitement infectious as he drew me into an embrace.
“Have you gotten taller?” he teased, straightening his spine as we stood eye to eye.
“You saw me a few days ago,” I replied, shaking my head at the tired joke.
Seth and Cal were both grinning at their moms as they greeted them too but Darius and Orion only exchanged a curt greeting with Lionel.
I extended my senses towards the Fire Councillor, wondering if I should be concerned for Darius tonight but I only detected the faintest hint of disappointment from his father. He was one of the strangest people I’d ever read. Whenever I got near him it was like he was void of emotion. A blank canvas. Either he kept himself in complete control or he was some kind of path. Sociopath, psychopath... both. I certainly didn’t envy Darius his life with him whatever he was.
My dad noticed my attention swivelling to my friend and his father and led me over to join them, picking up on my concern. I’d spoken to him about Lionel once but there was nothing he or the other Councillors could do about him. To challenge him would be to challenge the Celestial Council itself. And Solaria couldn’t afford the unrest that would cause, especially with the Nymphs circling ever closer and the Vega Heirs reappearing.
“Nice to see you, Professor Orion,” Dad said, offering his hand.
Orion shook it briefly, his emotions in control too, though his discomfort spilled out a little. He didn’t like being read by Sirens. But we were fairly used to that reaction.
“You too, Lord Rigel,” Orion agreed.
“I suppose you’ll have your hands full with the Lunar Eclipse on Monday,” Dad joked. “I wouldn’t fancy the challenge of trying to wrangle a school full of randy teenagers with the moon working against me!”
“Gah! Dad!” I complained, scrunching my face up in disgust.
“Oh come on,” Caleb’s mom, Melinda, piped up. “You boys are practically adults now. We all feel the urges of the moon when the Eclipse comes.”
Lionel laughed darkly, his gaze sweeping over Melinda
in her tight fitting dress as a hint of lust leaked from him.
Christ, I’m going to be sick.
“That we do,” Lionel agreed.
Caleb visibly shuddered. “No you don’t, Mom,” he snapped. “I don’t want to even hear a suggestion that you do!”
Melinda laughed. “Well you should. You’re Eclipse-conceived after all.”
“Fuck! Don’t tell me that!” Caleb covered his ears and the Councillors all laughed like it was hilarious.
“Actually, Cally, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this,” Melinda added. “Your father and I have decided it’s best you come home for the night on Monday. Vampires feel the bloodlust too keenly during the Eclipse and it’s not worth risking any...incidents.”
Seth snorted loudly and his Mom, Antonia, nudged him in a way that wasn’t really reprimanding but was obviously meant to be seen that way.
“I can control myself,” Caleb complained. “I don’t need to go home like a-”
“I’m sure Professor Orion can attest to the difficulty of controlling his nature during an Eclipse?” Melinda asked, casting her gaze on Orion so he was forced to respond.
“It can be...a challenge,” he agreed slowly.
“I bet it can,” Antonia murmured, running her eyes over him.
“Mom!” Seth barked. “The Eclipse isn’t for two days for the stars’ sake!”
“See, Cally? A challenge. Your own professor admits it. So you’re coming home to make sure you don’t kill anyone and cause a scandal.”
“But Mom-” Caleb began just as the door opened in the interrogation room.
We all looked around and silence descended like a cloud over all of us as the Nymph was dragged into the room.
My eyes widened as I took it in. I’d seen a few Nymphs in their true form before, but that had been in the midst of battle or after they were already dead. The nightmare before me sent ice sliding through my veins.
It was over a foot taller than the four FIB agents who dragged it into the room. Its skin was rough like the bark of a tree and thorny horns extended from its skull. Its eyes were black like the Shadow Realm it was born from and its face was a picture of horror.
The creature’s arms were bound behind its back with chains of fire but as it was thrown to the ground, it turned and my stomach clenched as I spotted the stumps where its fingers should have been. The wounds had been healed to stop any bleeding but the thought of what had been done to them made me clench my own hands into fists defensively.
Excitement built around me and the four Councillors filed from the room, leaving us to watch as they headed in to start the interrogation. Dad clapped me on the shoulder as he went, obviously noticing my concern and I gave him a tight smile as he headed off to join our enemy in that room.
The FIB agents left as our parents entered and the Nymph moved up onto its knees as it was surrounded.
Seth whimpered softly as his mom drew close to the creature, brushing his shoulder against mine for reassurance.
Dad had shed his suit jacket on the way into the room and he slowly rolled his sleeves back as Antonia stalked towards the Nymph first.
Lionel and Melinda stood back, watching as the Nymph raised its head to survey them with its black eyes.
“We need information which you have,” Seth’s mom said, stopping in front of it. “And we will get it from you before you die. It’s up to you how difficult that is.”
“The shadows will welcome me back for dying a warrior’s death,” the Nymph growled, its voice guttural and low. “I do not fear pain or death.”
Antonia flexed her hand and the Nymph was thrown back against the wall with a blast of air. Its head collided with the white tiles and blood splattered across them at the impact.
My father moved to her side and water shot from his palm, slamming into the creature before creating an orb around its head. The Nymph started thrashing as it fought for air and Dad’s jaw clenched as he held the magic in place until it started convulsing.
The water cascaded to the floor before the creature could lose consciousness and Antonia started weaving air through her fingers again.
“Tell us where your forces are massing,” she demanded.
The Nymph glared up at her and took in a deep breath, a loud rattle filling the air.
I sucked in a sharp breath as Antonia and my dad dropped to their knees under the influence of the creature’s power.
Seth caught my arm, a howl leaving his lips as he cried out to his mother.
Melinda and Lionel staggered as its power hit them too but Lionel snarled as he stepped forward.
Cries went up from the corridor as FIB agents called out for backup and the five of us moved so close to the glass that we were practically pressed against it.
“Tell us!” Lionel yelled, a roar escaping him as he managed to run at the Nymph despite the heavy rattle of its power filling the room.
My own knees were growing weak as it wielded its dark magic and my dad clutched his chest like he could hardly breathe.
Smoke slid between Lionel’s lips as he called on the Dragon beneath his flesh for power and threw his fist into the Nymph’s face.
Blood flew and he yelled out as he hit it again, his powerful frame brimming with rage as he threw his fists like hammers into the Nymph’s face.
On the fourth blow, the rattle was cut off and the Nymph was knocked to the ground.
Lionel didn’t stop. He was screaming at it, demanding the information he wanted while kicking and punching, more and more blood spilling over the white tiles as he lost control.
Dad got to his feet, drawing Antonia back instead of moving towards Darius’s father.
“Lionel, stop!” Melinda demanded but he just kept kicking and kicking until the Nymph wasn’t moving at all.
Silence fell heavily among everyone and I dragged in a long breath.
“He just...killed it,” Caleb breathed, a frown gripping his features. “Now we won’t get any information from it.”
“It was too powerful,” I growled. “Even without its probes it just disabled some of the most powerful Fae in Solaria.” I knew we needed the information that creature had held, but I couldn’t get the image of my dad on his knees out of my mind. I was glad it was dead.
“That monster never would have talked,” Seth said in a low voice. “The only thing they deserve is death.”
“Well, it makes a change to see him turning that rage on someone who deserves it for once,” Orion muttered.
“Kinda looked like he went easy on it to me,” Darius replied darkly.
I turned to look at him with a frown, wondering if he’d really had to endure that level of anger at his father’s hands. One look at his face gave me my answer and I shifted uncomfortably as I gazed back into the room where blood was steadily spreading across the ground.
I reached out with my power, pushing through the glass and focusing on Lionel Acrux. His face was fixed in a mask of anger and disappointment but as I pressed a little harder with my power, I found the truth of what he was feeling beneath the mask.
Joy. Exhilaration. Relief.
And that might have been the most terrifying thing I’d experienced all night.
We stood in the caves where we had our Earth Elemental lessons with the rest of the freshmen while we waited for the final trial to begin.
This one was different than the others. The stands were outside the caves and we were alone down here while Professor Rockford and the other assessors stood waiting to start the trial.
I stepped from foot to foot as nervous energy ticked through me. This was it, the final trial.
“When we make it through The Reckoning we need a night out,” I said to Darcy as we waited for the last of the students to arrive.
“Hell yes. Dancing and drinking and no Heirs. We should go to Tucana again, or maybe somewhere even further away.”
“We could get out of the Academy for a whole weekend?” I suggested with a grin. “Hit up our
stipend for a five star stay in some fancy hotel and a night drinking champagne.”
“Yes please,” Darcy said enthusiastically.
We were both going to the Fairy Fair tonight but it wouldn’t really be the same kind of celebration as we could have after The Reckoning. Besides, Darcy was going with Diego and Caleb had sent me message after message until I’d finally agreed to let him take me. It wasn’t a date though. I was seventy eight percent certain of that. More like a chance to hook up somewhere new. I guessed I’d find out tonight either way.
“The aim of this task is simple,” Rockford called in her small voice and I turned my attention her way. “Escape the caves before the time runs out. There are various routes through them and you need to find one that leads above ground...and make sure you don’t get eaten.”
“Eaten?” I asked, in confusion. “What do you-”
A klaxon sounded and the students all raced forward as one. I caught Darcy’s eye and we started running too, caught up in the flood of bodies.
The tunnel curved downhill ahead of us before forking in two directions. The freshmen parted like a tide crashing against a rock, half going each way. We ran left, not really making the choice beyond the fact that we were already to that side of the crowd.
The tunnel curved before splitting again and again, the students around us spilling in different directions while we made snap decisions and hoped for the best.
The further we went, the darker it got. Faeworms and precious metals glimmered on the black walls but it was hard to make out much else.
“How are we supposed to find a way out of here when every tunnel leads down?” Darcy hissed and I chewed my lip, unsure how to answer her. She was right, but how long could that go on for? Surely they’d head up again eventually? What the hell kind of challenge would this be if it was impossible?
“Hold on,” I said, catching her arm and pulling her to a halt. “Maybe we should try to be smarter about this. Surely we have to use earth magic to escape this place, it can’t just be about running blind.”
Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning: An Academy Bully Romance (Supernatural Bullies and Beasts) Page 40