Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,177

are in order, Storm Dragon," Lionel growled. "Though I hope you don't think that your arrangement with Juniper means your other children are exempt from my rule. If they Emerge as our kind then I'll be expecting them to join to the Guild."

Dante didn't even bother to suppress a growl as static electricity washed off of his skin and lifted my hair around my shoulders.

"Well, we're actually hoping for my Wolf blood to shine through. Let's not forget I'm only a Dragon because of a gift from the stars. I doubt I'll be passing on the Dragon gene," Dante said roughly.

"Who knows what ways the heavens work," Lionel disagreed. "My blood is as pure as it gets and yet my youngest was cursed to become a Pegasus. Perhaps the stars are righting that oversight by gifting you the genetics to produce an entire army of Storm Dragons to make up for his shortcomings."

"Yes, no doubt my life and Order were all planned out by the stars to suit your purposes, my king," Dante replied scathingly. "We all live to serve you after all, lucertola viscida."

Lionel tsked at his tone but made no further efforts to reprimand him.

"I expect another baby in Juniper's belly by the end of the year," he said. "She's here somewhere. I suggest you find her and put one in her before the night is over."

I stifled a gasp as he bound Dante with the Dark Coercion that would force him to cheat on his wife and Dante's eyes flared with the power of a storm as he glared at Lionel in outrage. A crash of thunder sounded overhead and as I looked out of the open wall of the pavilion, I could have sworn I spotted a huge, feathered wing crossing over the moon where it hung low in the sky.

I half expected Dante to lunge at Lionel and rip his throat out with the fury that was burning in his gaze as his posture locked tight and his muscles flexed within his expensive black suit, threatening to burst the seams of it.

He ground his jaw for several seconds and Lionel smirked at him like he was hoping he really would attack. I flexed my fingers, magic pooling to them while I readied myself to leap before my king if he needed defending, equally hating myself for doing it and unable to stop.

Dante growled and more static poured from him but instead of attacking, he turned to look at me and forced a smile. "Would you like to dance with me, bella?" he asked, offering me his hand and I raised an eyebrow in surprise at the sudden turn of events.

"I'm glad to see you're accepting of your task," Lionel said triumphantly looking like the cockiest, smuggest bastard I'd ever seen. "And yes, I think it might be for the best if my Guardian were to spend some time away from me so that I can speak with my subjects in private. Run along, Roxanya, dance, eat and just keep out of the way."

I agreed instantly, giving Dante my hand and letting him walk me over to the dance floor on the far side of the pavilion. Where his skin touched mine, electricity skittered against my palm and I shivered at the reminder of the torture I'd endured even though the voltage he was exuding now was nothing like the agony I'd received at Lionel's hand.

Luckily Vard wasn't here tonight either as no Cyclopses were invited so I was about as close to free as I ever got while back at the palace.

Dancers were taking their places on the floor, all of them dressed elegantly and looking supremely comfortable as someone called out to let us know this was going to be a foxtrot.

"Can I tell you a secret, bella?" Dante asked, lowering his voice conspiratorially and smirking at me like we were firm friends even though I didn't know him all that well.

“What?" I asked, keeping my tone flat.

"I don't know the steps to this dance," he whispered loudly and I had to fight a smile.

"Well then we may be in trouble, because I don't either," I admitted. "Perhaps it's better if we don't-"

"Nonsense." Dante tugged me into his strong arms and I had to fight a surprised laugh as my hand fell against his shoulder and his hand moved to hold my waist.

The music started playing and he swept me into the dance, whirling me around in circles, not seeming to give one shit