Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,198

way out of the palace, but it still didn’t make me any less surprised to see him here. What the hell was going on?

Geraldine leapt up, lifting her chin and pointing at Orion. “Treacherous lech! Why are you here?” she demanded.

“Watch it, Grus,” Orion said in a low voice, his eyes moving over the rest of us and pausing on me.

“What’s going on?” I asked, stepping forward as worry hit me. Was it Tory? Darius?

“I need to talk to you. Alone,” he said, glancing at the others like he was hoping they’d all fuck off.

“No,” I said immediately. “Whatever it is, you can say it to all of us. We don’t keep secrets anymore.”

His jaw ticked and Max folded his arms beside me, saying he was going absolutely nowhere.

“She’s right, dude,” Caleb said. “Spit it out.”

“Or are you just here to try and convince Darcy to take you back? Because this dramatic declaration is pretty lame so far,” Seth threw in, making heat rise in my damn cheeks.

“Shut your mouth,” Orion snapped at him. “I’m here about the Imperial Star.”

“Did you find something in the diary?” I asked, my heart jack-hammering in my chest.

He nodded, his jaw grinding as he gazed at the others, then seemed to decide he had no choice but to trust them. “I know where it is. I need you and your sister’s rings. The ones your mother left for you. Darius is getting Tory’s.”

“What’s it for?” I asked in confusion.

“I think they’ll let us gain access to my father’s tomb,” Orion explained. “That’s where the Imperial Star is. But it’ll be dangerous-”

My heart jolted. “I’m coming with you,” I said firmly, no room for negotiation.

“No. Me and Darius can go,” he said. “No one else needs to put themselves at risk.”

“I’m coming whether you like it or not,” I growled and a crease formed between his eyes.

“Isn’t that what you said to me last night, babe?” Seth joked and I ignored him as Orion bared his fangs, but didn’t take his eyes off of me.

“It’s not safe,” he said firmly.

I stepped forward, lifting my chin as I gazed up at him. “I’m a Phoenix who can destroy Nymphs, who has four Elements, who’s fought the shadows and won. And I will not be told no by anyone, Lance Orion.”

His throat bobbed and a beat of silence passed before he snatched my hand, tugging me forward. “Fine, you can come.” He pulled me down the corridor into Darius’s room and kicked the door shut, which opened one second later as Geraldine threw it wide with the Heirs at her back.

Her chest was puffed out like a peacock and she had a look of war in her eyes. “You will not dismiss us, you vainglorious Vampire! Where my lady goes, I go. And though these men may seem tricksome and can be downright scallywags, they are also loyal and steadfast. If there is danger afoot, there is no better band of knights than these to follow one of the true queens into the night.”

“I’m not following anyone anywhere,” Max growled. “We’re going for the Imperial Star, that’s it.”

“To stop Lionel,” Caleb agreed.

“Yup,” Seth added and Orion growled, his hand still tight around my wrist.

I prised his fingers off, giving him a firm look as my flesh tingled from his touch. “It’s not up for debate.”

“Fuck, fine,” Orion hissed. “But you’ll all do exactly as I say because this place is protected by dark magic and the spells we’re gonna need aren’t in the damn curriculum.”

“You can’t boss us around anymore, sir,” Seth mocked. “You’re just a Power Shamed nobody. You’re lucky we’re even acknowledging your existence and you know it.”

Orion opened his mouth to snap at him again, but I got there first.

“Shut up, Seth. Do as he says. We’re not fucking this up. We need to get the Imperial Star,” I demanded and Seth growled at my tone, but didn’t bite back.

When I turned to Orion again, I swear he was smirking, but it was gone a split second later so I couldn’t be sure.

Orion gave me an intense look. “We won’t be able to wield it against Lionel.”

“What, why?” I asked, my heart sinking.

“It can only be used by a reigning sovereign,” he said and the others cursed.

“Well so long as Lionel doesn’t get it, it doesn’t matter,” I said firmly, though it was infuriating to know we were this close to so much power and it wouldn’t be able to help us.

Orion nodded then