Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,231

form. I kicked him away with my hooves and he shifted too, tearing through his pants and landing on four powerful silver legs.

He came at me with his head low and his horn glinting sharply. I swung my head toward him and our horns collided with a sharp ringing noise. I wanted to snap this asshole’s horn right off and beat him down until he submitted to me. Nothing was going to stop me this time.

I reared up, trying to kick him but he reared up too, his hooves cracking against mine.

Sofia whinnied excitedly nearby, clapping as she bounced on the balls of her feet. Tyler’s hoof smashed into my shoulder and I neighed in fury, returning a hard kick to his chest.

“Alright now, off into the sky!” Clip-Clop called, running forward and smacking my flank.

I reared up again in anger but he stared me down with a look that said he was gonna throw us into detention if we didn’t obey. He went to slap Tyler’s ass too, but he galloped away, neighing a command for the rest of the herd to follow. I galloped behind him and Sofia soon caught up with me in her sparkly pink form, her nose in line with mine as we chased Tyler.

I had to let him go, hating that this fight was over. But the war had only just begun.

Sofia whinnied and nuzzled her face against mine for a moment before charging ahead to run at Tyler’s side. Mixed messages was definitely her middle name. But apparently the sparkling shower of gemstones which had fallen from my junk didn’t mean it was game over for us just yet. So I had to take it as a win.

***

I sat in Tarot with Hadley on my right and Grayson on my left. It was one of the few classes where we weren’t divided up into our Orders, and Professor Nox conveniently foresaw anyone’s death in the stars if a single K.U.N.T. made any kind of fuss about it.

I’d finally mastered a silencing bubble thanks to Darius mentoring me on it, so me and the guys could talk undisturbed within it as we read the cards for each other. Athena sat with Ellis across the room, looking bored as hell by whatever Max’s sister was saying, occasionally throwing us wistful glances. The four of us had become really tight recently, meeting at the caves every lunchtime and evening, our hideout now filled with all kinds of shit we’d stolen from around campus. Grayson and Athena had even managed to get a few beds down there, sneaking them out of Aer Tower in the night with their air magic and stowing them in the caves.

Despite my attempts with her, Ellis didn’t ever seem inclined to hang out with us, and we’d pretty much accepted that she wasn’t interested in being our friend. Or maybe she was just too afraid of Lionel’s Orderist law to thwart it. Occasionally she tried to draw me into a conversation about how great my father was and I fed her a few bullshit lies that implied I agreed before making a hasty exit. She’d probably be joining up to the K.U.N.T. one of these days.

Grayson elbowed me in the ribs as he took his Atlas out. “That witch has banned Halloween, I fucking knew it,” he growled, showing me the announcement on the screen and I realised most people in class were checking their Atlases. Even Gabriel Nox was looking at his with a scowl that could have broken glass.

All students are reminded that social events are restricted to Orders and parties are forbidden to no more than three students at a time. Halloween is a sacred occasion intended for remembering the passing of the dead. Ensure you spend your evening respecting those lost. Costumes are strictly banned. Any student seen dressing up or pretending to be anything other than their blood born Order will face severe consequences.

Have a wonderful day.

Glory to the star-chosen King.

Principal Elaine Nova.

A bunch of students looked my way, some of their expressions hateful, others fearful, some adoring. I despised being Lionel’s little prince. I wished I could make a stand and tell the world I wanted nothing to do with him and publicly reject everything he stood for. But that would be the same as placing a noose around my neck and jumping off a bridge. I didn’t wanna die. And at least I had Sofia and the other spares to confide in. But I could