Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,341

the shadows settled inside her, claiming her body, her soul. Lavinia took control of Clara as the wounds across her body healed, her features twisting as they lost the gentleness of my sister and took on the ferociousness of a Nymph Princess.

She scrambled to her feet and rushed toward the portal, but it closed up before she made it and Lavinia released an inhuman shriek that echoed through my skull. Then she fell to the ground, lapping at the blood that lay there like a monster until my stomach turned and my chest hollowed out.

I was released from the vision and a noise of grief left me as the weight of the truth fell over me.

“I was dead the moment she found me,” Clara whispered in my ear and I felt the brush of her thumb against my hand, her fingers still clutching mine. “My soul is trapped, unable to join the stars. And if you don’t destroy her, I’ll never be free. Please, Lance. Please do this for me.”

Her hand was torn from mine and Lavinia snarled, sending the shadows crashing into me and I was thrown to the floor. I cast air beneath me to right myself and hit the ground running, cutting a path deeper into the dark as my mind whirled and a terrible decision was laid at my feet.

“I’ve seen what she’ll do,” Clara gasped like she was in pain.

“Shut up!” Lavinia screamed.

“I’ve seen her plans,” Clara called in a tight voice. “You must destroy her before she completes the curse.”

“There’s still time?” I gasped in hope.

“Enough!” Lavinia roared and I felt her anger sparking through the atmosphere.

My foot caught on a soft body and I hit the ground, scrambling back toward her, my heart thundering as I sliced the sword through the air to clear away the dark. Darcy lay there with her eyes closed, her expression peaceful, and her skin warm.

“Thank the stars,” I said heavily, hearing her heartbeat pounding solidly in my ears.

I was about to pull her into my arms when the shadows drew away and I found myself looking up at Lavinia, scowling down at us with her upper lip peeled back. The fire ruby necklace that belonged to Tory shone around her neck, looking starkly red against her near translucent skin.

I pushed to my feet with fury in my heart, placing myself in front of Darcy as I held the sword higher and gritted my jaw.

“Stay still,” Lavinia growled, wetting her lips. “You didn’t give me enough blood.” She rushed at me and I held the blade steady as my pulse thundered in my ears.

I planted my feet, refusing to let her get close to Darcy, protectiveness driving my actions as she came for me. I was about to strike her with the blade, but then I thought of my sister, playing with me in the garden as a kid, laughing and joking. We’d loved each other with every piece of ourselves. We were inseparable. Lionel had ripped us apart, but even if just a part of her was left in this body, how could I hurt her?

Lavinia collided with me, knocking me back a step and her hands clawed at me.

I snarled, trying to shove her away as her fangs sliced into my arm as she bit me savagely, tearing open my flesh so hot blood ran across the skin.

“Lance – now – do it now!” Clara screamed in a pained and desperate voice and my heart broke apart, cleaving down the middle.

My hands trembled around the hilt of the sword and her eyes met mine as she managed to lurch away from me. I could see her fighting to hold onto herself as Lavinia battled to regain control. I had seconds to act. Seconds to strike her, seconds to free my sister, to save Blue.

“I’m sorry.” I swung the blade up, making the decision with a suffocating pain in my chest as I drove it into her gut. I tore through flesh and bone and shadow as I impaled her on it and Lavinia and Clara screamed as one.

The shadows wrapped around me, clutching my throat, my chest, my stomach and forcing the air out of me as they tried to kill me, crushing me like a rat in the grip of a python. But I didn’t let go of the sword, driving it deeper with a shout of utter fury and grief.

Phoenix fire suddenly flared around me, burning back the shadows as Darcy’s power aided me