Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning: An Academy Bully Romance (Supernatural Bullies and Beasts)

by Caroline Peckham

  “We were having a really good time, we even kissed and then-”

  “You what?” Tory gasped.

  I growled as he continued to dominate her attention and lifted her wrist to my lips, pressing a kiss against her skin. Her heart beat a little harder and I smirked as I moved closer, kissing her neck instead.

  “Yeah she…” Hat Boy paused as I wrapped my arms around Tory’s waist and she put a half assed effort into batting me off. “Can we go somewhere to talk in private?”

  “Oh, ummm. Me and Caleb were kinda-”

  “Please, chica,” he begged and I moved behind Tory, dragging her body back to press against mine as I kept my arms around her.

  “I think she’s made her choice,” I growled, scowling at him. “Tory doesn’t wanna spend her evening with you any more than her sister did.”

  “Caleb,” she hissed but I ran my fingers down her sides and a laugh escaped her too.

  “Forget it. Eres una puta como tu hermana.” He turned and started walking away but I flicked my fingers at him, making the earth tremble beneath his feet so that he almost fell.

  Tory sucked in a breath in surprise but I ignored her. “I’m pretty sure you just called my date a whore,” I growled.

  He looked around at us again, his face paling but he didn’t deny it.

  Tory looked at her so-called friend for a long moment then just shook her head. “I just wanna enjoy the fair,” she said, glancing around at me. “Leave it.”

  Hat Boy looked between the two of us with anger swimming in his gaze but his power was so low he wasn’t even worth my time. “You heard her. Fuck off,” I snapped.

  He scurried away from us and I grinned as I tried to kiss her again but she pushed me off.

  “You’re such a dick,” she said halfheartedly.

  “Isn’t that why you like me?” I challenged.

  “No. I like you because you’re half decent in bed.”

  A shit eating grin bit at my cheeks at that comment. “I’ll work on convincing you of the other half tonight.” I promised, snatching her hand again so that we could get back to our date.

  “Not likely,” Tory muttered but she let me drag her on with a smile playing around her lips.

  We made it to the big, dark tower in the centre of the fair and Tory tipped her head back, looking up at the sign above the entrance which read House of Horrors.

  Her eyes lit with interest and I grinned at her as I headed towards the queue. Tory slowed down as we reached the back of it, but I tugged on her hand to keep her moving. I was a Celestial Heir; I didn’t queue.

  Tory gave me a look that said I was an entitled prick and I smirked, letting her know I agreed.

  We reached the front of the queue without anyone daring to voice a complaint and I pulled a few aura notes out of my pocket, pressing them into the hand of the guy running it.

  “Make sure we get the full experience,” I said to him in an undertone and he smiled knowingly, casting a look Tory’s way.

  She was paying more attention to the big fake spider hanging over the entrance than she was to us though so I wasn’t sure if she’d heard me. Either way, if she wanted to feel alive, I was gonna deliver.

  The guy handed over four bracelets and I slipped two over my wrists before turning and doing the same to Tory.

  “What’s this for?” she asked, eyeing the silver bangles.

  “They stop you from casting magic in case you panic,” I said. “It can get kinda intense in there and they don’t want anyone accidentally burning the place down.”

  “So we’re just leaving ourselves vulnerable?” she asked slowly.

  “Hardly,” I teased. “The bangles slip right back off again. They aren’t FIB manacles, just a backup in case of panic. But if you’re afraid...”

  Tory straightened her spine at that insinuation and shook her head, making her high ponytail swing back and forth.

  “I’m pretty sure you’re the one clinging onto my hand like the sky might come crashing down if you let go of me,” she countered.

  “Let’s see if you’re still feeling so brave on the other side,” I teased.

  The door opened for us and we stepped inside, walking over creaking floorboards as I released my grip on Tory’s hand and let her go ahead of me.

  She didn’t hesitate and I followed her silhouette in the darkened space as creepy music came from speakers hidden somewhere. I resisted the urge to sharpen my eyesight with my Vampire gifts, letting the dark press in on me so that I could enjoy the House of Horrors the same way as her.

  As we headed down the long corridor, something brushed against my ankle and I almost flinched.

  Tory gasped, falling still a few paces in front of me before stumbling back a step and bumping into my chest.

  “There’s something in here,” she breathed, her heart beat spiking a little just as another small body scuttled over my sneaker.

  I only offered a dark laugh as I nudged her to get her moving again. The summoning room always gave me the creeps but I wasn’t going to let it show. I wanted to see how she coped when she realised we were surrounded by rats.

  Tory headed further into the dark space, her pace slower now as she tried to figure out what was going on and I followed a few steps behind.

  A high pitched squeak came from our right and she stilled. She was nearing the centre of the room now and any moment-

  Tory stepped forward and the panel beneath her feet flipped up, revealing the pale glow of a huge summoning crystal. The second it was revealed, the rats went wild, flooding towards it from everywhere, scampering over our feet, brushing against our legs, dropping down from the pipes and beams which ran along the ceiling.

  Tory screamed and started running, darting towards the doorway which fell open ahead of us, allowing red light to pour into the room.

  I chased after her, flinching as a rat fell onto my shoulder and dislodging it as we raced through to the red lit room.

  “Were those real rats?” Tory demanded, swiping at her body like they could still be crawling over her.

  I laughed as she shuddered in disgust. “Yeah, they summon them there, I hear they’re nice, clean rats though - no plague carriers.”

  She gaped at me like I was insane but before she could say anything else, the door to the rat room snapped shut and the floor beneath our feet began to tremble.

  Flames sprang to life beside us and Tory spun towards them in surprise. More fire licked along the ceiling then to our left, but this room didn’t seem to offer any fear for her and she just looked around at the magic curiously. After seeing her performance in her Fire Trial I wasn’t that surprised that she wasn’t afraid of the flames but as she stepped towards them with her hand held out, I quickly shot forward to stop her.

  “What are you doing?” I demanded, holding her back as her fingers danced close to the flames. We’d all seen them walk through fire like it was nothing during that trial but I’d assumed it was more to do with their magic than them actually being fire-proof. People weren’t just immune to burning.

  “I wanna know if I’ll burn with my magic blocked off,” she said, looking up at me with flames dancing in her eyes.

  “I don’t think that’s a good-”

  Tory yanked out of my grip and pushed her fist straight into the flames. After half a beat, a laugh fell from her lips and she looked up at me excitedly.

  “Maybe I’ll be an even bigger Dragon than Darius and I can beat the crap out of him with teeth and claws,” she joked.

  I couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of that. Darius already equalled his father’s size in Dragon form and they were the biggest of their kind recorded in a century. If her and her sister really were bigger than the Acruxes I didn’t think it would sit too well with them. It probably wouldn’t really be a good look for them either, especially as Lionel flaunted his Order form like it made him royalty of his own kind. I imagined his reputation might take a hit if the two Vegas turned out to be bigger badder beasts
than them. It would strengthen their claim to the throne too. It’d be better for all of us if they emerged as a common Order, preferably something non-threatening. But everything I knew about Tory Vega and her sister made me think that was a pointless hope.

  She pulled her hand back from the flames as more and more fires sprang to life all around us. The way on was up a winding staircase at the far end of the room and Tory jogged up it quickly. I could hear her heart pumping with the thrill of this place and I smiled to myself knowing I’d succeeded in giving her one of the things she’d requested at least.

  On the next floor the creepy music was louder and as the door closed behind us, the floor started to tip.

  Tory caught my arm, her fingers curling around my bicep and making heat wind through my body in response.

  The lights stuttered out and a creepy voice started singing a nursery rhyme.

  Tory released her grip on me and started forward, holding her arms out to the sides a little to balance herself as the floor continued to shift.

  A panel slid open to our left and Tory flinched as a woman dressed like an old maid leaned out, throwing a gust of air magic at us as she shrieked threateningly.

  We were knocked back against the opposite wall which instantly spun around, flinging us into a dark space. Tory caught my hand again as she almost fell and I smiled when she didn’t release me.

  Another panel slid open and the maid appeared again, striking us with air magic as she screamed curses our way.

  We were knocked into the path of a guy dressed like a servant who cast more magic at us, knocking us through another hidden door. Then another.

  Tory let out a little shriek of surprise each time one of them appeared again, half laughing as we were knocked back and forth and tightening her grip on my hand so that she didn’t lose me.

  I held her firmly, laughing too as I let myself forget all about her Order and her claim, my inheritance and Solaria as a whole. For a little while I wasn’t going to worry about any of it. I’d asked her after the Nymph attack to draw a line between our personal relationship and our political one and I was going to stick to my own word on that. When I was with her like this, I wasn’t going to think about any of that other stuff, I was going to just stay in the moment.

  We were knocked through a final door so hard that we fell to the ground, hitting soft mats which were there for that very reason.

  Tory fell on top of me and she laughed, leaning down and pressing her lips to mine way too briefly. I tried to catch her hand as she pushed away from me but she danced aside, skipping ahead as she started climbing the next set of stairs.

  A roar echoed from somewhere above us and Tory paused for half a second before hurrying on.

  I chased after her, meaning to claim a proper kiss but she made it to the room above before I could.

  A steady drip, drip, drip sounded from somewhere in the dark and I hesitated, wondering if she really wanted to face the water horror or if I should just run her through it with my Vampire speed.

  But I got the impression Tory Vega didn’t want her hand held to get her through anything. Every day she was proving herself to be Fae through and through and I was pretty sure she’d rise to this challenge just like everything else.

  Soft splashes sounded as we walked out into the room over the thin puddle of water which lined the floor.

  “Caleb?” Tory breathed in the dark and I shifted closer to her.

  “Yeah?”

  “These sneakers are new, I don’t want them to-”

  The floor fell away beneath us before she could finish that thought and a flood of water fell over us. Tory screamed as she plummeted down the slide and I laughed, my voice echoing around us as we shot down so fast that it felt like I’d left my stomach in the room above.

  We skidded out into a dark room at the bottom and Tory got to her feet, offering me a hand to pull me up just as three guys in black cloaks with their hoods drawn up stepped from the shadows.

  They raised their palms at us, chanting in deep voices as they advanced and Tory shrieked again, backing up and tugging me with her. Her heart was pounding and her eyes were alight with exhilaration as she let herself fall into the fear of the place.

  She tugged on my arm, yanking me towards the elevator which stood open on the far side of the room as the guys in the cloaks drew all of the water back out of our clothes and hair with their magic.

  As soon as they’d done it, they ran at us and Tory yelled out as she dragged me into the elevator, slamming her thumb on the single button in the dimly lit cube again and again.

  The doors slid shut just before they reached it and she sagged back against the wall as the elevator began to ascend, biting her lip in amusement.

  I caught her waist and pulled her closer to me just as the lights flickered overhead. Her hands fisted in the material of my jacket as the elevator came to a halt and the lights died all together.

  Half a heartbeat passed before the whole thing plummeted towards the ground way too fast and she screamed as she clung to me for dear life.

  I tightened my hold on her, adrenaline rocketing through my limbs as we fell. The elevator slowed before it could hit the ground and Tory laughed nervously as the lights flickered back on and it began to climb again.

  “Having fun?” I asked her, as she pressed her face against my chest.

  “Hell yes, but this place is insane.”

  The doors opened again behind us as we reached the top floor and she stepped out of my arms as she looked along the corridor which spread away from us.

  Tory glanced at me hesitantly for a moment before moving out.

  I fell into step beside her as she looked back and forth, trying to figure out what would happen next.

  A prickle of anticipation slid down my spine as I heard the hidden door behind us easing open but Tory didn’t notice it.

  I fought the urge to look back as two large sets of feet padded into the space behind us.

  We made it several more steps before a low growl sounded and Tory whirled around to look at the two Manticores at our backs.

  “Holy shit,” she breathed, her eyes widening at the beasts who looked like lions with giant leathery wings and scorpion stingers for tails.

  The Manticores let out huge roars and leapt at us. Tory screamed, snatching my hand as she started running and we raced away from them down the corridor to the opening at the far end which showed the star speckled sky outside.

  Two sets of huge paws thundered after us as we ran as fast as she could go and I looked back over my shoulder just as the first Manticore pounced.

  His teeth clamped down on a mouthful of Tory’s leather jacket and she shrieked as he lifted her clean off of the ground, taking off and shooting out of the opening in front of us. Half a second later, the second Manticore caught me and I whooped excitedly as I was lifted off of my feet and we shot out of the building up towards the sky.

  I caught sight of Tory for a moment as the beast flew higher and higher and then all of a sudden, it released me.

  I yelled out as I fell and Tory’s screams came from somewhere close as she plummeted towards the ground too.

  The wind whipped around me, my stomach lurched and the ground rushed ever closer.

  At the last second, a cushion of air wrapped around me, folding me into it before I could hit the concrete and go splat.

  We hung suspended for a moment, hearts racing as we looked at each other, grinning like a couple of kids.

  The magic released us, flipping us around so that our feet hit the ground and Tory leapt on me a second later.

  I laughed as I caught her and she wrapped her arms and legs around me, kissing me so hard it was almost punishing. Her hands fisted in my hair and her ankles locked tight behind my back as her tongue brushed against mine in a way that made me hard almost instantly.

  “Fuck, Tory, I can’t get enough of you,” I murmured against her lips and she laughed just as I shoved her back against the wall of the Hous
e of Horrors.

  My hands moved beneath her jacket, skimming her perfect tits over the material of that tiny crop top as I ached to rip it off of her right there.

  “Ah, Mr Altair?” a nervous voice came from beside us and I pulled away from Tory with a growl of irritation.

  The guy running the House of Horrors flinched at my expression but he barrelled on all the same.

  “It’s just that the next participants in the House of Horrors will be falling right on top of your heads any moment if you don’t vacate the area,” he said anxiously, glancing up at the sky.

  Tory laughed as she unhooked her legs from my waist and pulled me away from the wall even though I had half a mind to order him to shut the whole attraction down until we were done here.

  She pulled the magic-restricting bangles off of her wrists and tossed them in a bucket by the entrance and I followed her lead as she dragged me out of the attraction and back into the mayhem of the fair.

  “What do you want to do now?” I asked her as she looked up at me with bright eyes, her heart pounding and cheeks flushed.

  I was half hoping she’d say she just wanted to leave and head back to my room or maybe even just find some quiet corner around here to have her way with me but of course she didn’t.

  “Everything,” she replied with a grin. “I want to do it all.”

  “I’ll do whatever makes you happy,” I replied, throwing my arm over her shoulders as I led her towards the next ride. And the strangest thing was, I was pretty sure that was the truth.

  Lance:

  I’ll make it worth your while if you pass The Reckoning today.

  #motivation #seemeafterclass

  Darcy:

  I can’t believe you just hashtagged me!

  Lance:

  I can’t believe you’re not in my bed right now.

  #missyourpeach

  Darcy:

  I also can’t believe you just admitted you want me to pass The Reckoning.

  Lance:

  It’s complicated.

  You got that right.

  I snorted a laugh, tucking my Atlas in my bag as I headed out of the door. The Reckoning was held in The Howling Meadow at dawn and as usual I had no idea what to expect. The one thing I was glad of though, was that after this morning, it would be over. And though I was nervous as hell, we’d done well in the trials and I just had to hope we could succeed at this final challenge.