Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,122

would always leave a scar. But now I had Tory back, I was going to make sure nothing ever happened to her again. And that she got what she deserved. A fucking happily ever after.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I whispered to Tory as our heads lay on one pillow, facing each other while Gabriel wrapped his arms around her from behind.

She shook her head, her eyes wet, but no more tears were falling. And knowing Tor, she wouldn’t let any more fall for Lionel Acrux after this.

“Not yet,” she breathed and I nodded.

“If there’s anything you need, tell me,” I said and a smile hooked up the corner of her mouth.

Gabriel propped his head up on a pillow behind her and grinned mischievously like he knew exactly what Tory was going to ask for.

“I want to go flying,” she said. “I want to fly with you and Gabriel somewhere far away from here.”

“Tonight,” Gabriel promised. “We can sneak off campus after classes and go together.”

I clutched Tory’s hand as my heart ached. “Anything else?”

“Coffee,” she half sniffed, half laughed and I grinned. “And some of Geraldine’s buttery bagels.”

“I’ll get her to bring some,” I said, returning her smile but Tory caught my hand before I got out of bed.

“And I want things to go back to normal. Don’t act like I’m made of glass. Promise?” she asked, the fire in her eyes saying she needed that more than anything else.

I nodded firmly, my heart squeezing with love for her. “I promise.”

I took out my Atlas, shooting Geraldine a message and she replied in half a second flat.

Geraldine:

My lady will have the butteriest of bagels brought to her door this very instant!

Gabriel sat up and Tory moved to sit beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Darius is bringing coffee,” Gabriel said and Tory sucked in a breath, but he went on before she could say anything. “Max has told him to stay outside. He won’t see you until you’re ready.”

She nodded, her eyes swimming with some dark emotion, but there was love there too. The black rings in her eyes were always evidence of that these days. The way they were bound was imperfect and cruel, but it was still a mark of how absolutely meant for each other they were. And I swore on all I was, I’d help them find a way to fix it.

“Tell me the future is good, Gabriel,” Tory whispered and I looked to him, needing to know that too.

Gabriel frowned thoughtfully, taking her hand and squeezing it. “The future can be good.”

It wasn’t a promise, but it was hope. And for now that was enough.

It wasn’t long before Geraldine arrived and I hurried downstairs to fetch the bagels from her. She’d brought an entire basket, fit to bursting with bagels, butter and a whole range of jellies, toast, pastries and juice.

She burst into tears as she saw me, placing the basket at my feet and dropping to her knees in the mud. “Tell me she’s well! Oh Darcy, I must hear that her spritely heart is beating and that her tongue is sharp and her wit is keen. Oh my lady, please tell me Tory is whole and sound and that the stars have gifted her with a thousand hopes and joys. Has she awoken with a sparkle in her eye and a spring in her step?” She clutched onto my legs, tipping her head back and baying like a hound.

I dropped down before her, hugging her tight as I felt her pain begin to split me apart again. “She’s going to be okay. It’ll take time, but she’s back, Geraldine. And she’s not going anywhere ever again. I’ll make sure of that.”

She sobbed against my shoulder for a few long minutes before finally pulling herself together and getting to her feet. “Well, we must have a stiff upper lip, hmm? Mustn’t let her see us blabbering like bandicoots with our faces as wet as fishes.”

I nodded, smiling at her as I picked up the basket of food. “Thanks for this.”

“You are most welcome, and if you need anything more, summon me. As your most faithful friend, I shall always, always come.” She turned and headed off into the trees and my gaze caught on Darius standing there with his shoulder pressed to a trunk, his eyes fixed on the window of Max’s room above us.

He had a thermos in his grip and as he looked to me, he frowned. “This