Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,232

never be too careful about who I aired my opinions to.

The class broke out into chatter and I disbanded the silencing bubble around my friends.

Professor Nox tucked his Atlas into his back pocket and folded his arms. “Quiet,” he said in a commanding tone and everyone obeyed. “You heard the rules. All joy is cancelled tonight. Class dismissed.”

Everyone stood from their chairs and I shared a frown with Hadley who looked ready to go on a killing spree.

“It’s our freshman fucking year and we’ve literally had no fun,” Grayson grumbled.

“Capella twins, Mr Altair and Mr Acrux, stay behind please,” Professor Nox said sternly and I looked down at my half filled out Tarot worksheet on the desk. Shit.

Everyone headed through the exit, moaning about the giant dump that had just been taken all over Halloween.

“This year sucks.” Grayson kicked a chair. Nox arched an eyebrow at him and he whined like a dog.

“Take your anger out on someone else’s furniture, Grayson,” Nox warned and he folded his arms with a huff.

“You’re such a pup sometimes, Gray,” Athena teased.

“Shall I call your mommy up and tell her you wanna go home and suckle on her teats?” Hadley jibed and Grayson lunged at him with his teeth bared. Hadley shot calmly out of his way with his Vampire gifts, appearing behind Athena where she was sitting on her desk. He lunged forward with his fangs bared, excitement in his eyes, but slammed into a close-knit air shield she’d erected and stumbled away from her again with a curse.

“Not happening, Hadley,” she said lightly and he growled.

Professor Nox moved to shut the door and cast a silencing bubble around us, making me frown.

“What’s going on?” I asked in confusion.

“The stars have gifted me a vision about you four,” he said with a smirk.

Darius had told me this dude was trustworthy and I knew he was a friend of Lance’s, so I felt pretty certain that he was on our side. But it was still weird for a teacher to be all friendly and shit.

“What did you see?” Athena gasped, swinging her legs excitedly.

“That you will all be attending a party tonight after all.” Nox grinned conspiratorially.

“Fuck yes, where?” Grayson asked, bounding towards him, having no trust issues whatsoever.

“Do you know Geraldine Grus?” Nox asked.

“The crazy Ass lady?” Hadley balked and I stamped my foot at him.

“Don’t call her that,” I demanded and he raised his eyebrows at me in surprise.

I hadn’t been able to tell them my mom wasn’t actually dead and had taken refuge with Geraldine’s father. It was too risky letting anyone know about it, but I sure as shit wasn’t gonna stand for anyone badmouthing any of the Gruses. They’d taken my mom in and not once questioned her loyalty. I owed them everything for that. Besides, I knew crazy and it wasn’t them. It was my Uncle Benjamin who’d lost the plot when my father had banished him from the Dragon Guild after apparently losing over two hundred gold bars and three hundred bags of stardust in a game of Minojack. The guy had shown up at our door a bunch of times over the years, begging for forgiveness while jacked up on some sort of drugs, promising he could win my father the world if he just leant him a few auras.

“Woah, chill man,” Grayson said with a smirk.

“Geraldine is looking for recruits to a good cause,” Nox explained.

“I’m not becoming a part of her loony royalist society,” Hadley said coolly.

“You don’t have to. Her cause runs far deeper than that,” Nox explained then lowered his tone to a whisper. “A rebellion.”

My heart rate ticked up in excitement as I shared a look with my friends. “Like, against my father?”

“Exactly,” Nox said, his eyes glittering mischievously. “And as faculty I am absolutely not allowed to be involved. So of course, I have involved myself up to the neck and am working hard to see who may make suitable recruits.”

“Are our brothers in it?” Athena asked.

“Yes,” Nox said and I pursed my lips at not being included sooner. “They’re having a party tonight. Head to the northern door of the Pitball stadium at seven and tell Geraldine that Agent Foxy sent you.” He sighed as we laughed. “I didn’t pick it, Geraldine did. I tried to change fate before she decided but she’s a very stubborn girl.”

“Fuck yes,” Grayson whooped and Athena howled excitedly.

Hadley watched her with a hungry look as he shot to my side and I gave