Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,45

hand and tugged me on toward the Heirs’ couch. I was extra surprised when Max held onto Geraldine too and she didn’t pull away, letting him guide her that way as well. Maybe we all just needed each other a little more today.

I dropped down between Seth and Geraldine, while Max sat on her other side and Darius and Caleb perched on the couch arms. My gaze hooked on Tory who was sitting with Mildred near the front of the room and I hated that I couldn’t just go over there, slap that moustached bitch and take my sister back to where she belonged. I mean, I could, I just didn’t think it was worth the detention or the fight with my sister over it. Sigh.

Seth’s hand stayed wrapped around mine even when I tried to pull it free but as I opened my mouth to rebuke him, Nova spoke, her voice carrying across the room.

“A new king has risen to the throne, and now we have entered another era. One which will make right the wrongs of old and will see us grow into the Fae we were always meant to become.” A few of the staff clapped, plenty did not.

I noticed Gabriel was sitting rigidly in his seat, his hands balled on the table in front of him as he stared coolly at Nova’s back. Washer was on his right, shaking his head and muttering under his breath to Gabriel and the way my brother nodded said they were in agreement on something for once.

I shared a look with Seth as my stomach knotted.

Nova went on, “King Acrux has decreed a new law this morning and sent a personal letter to me which outlined the law as it will apply to you all here at Zodiac Academy.”

My heart thumped unevenly and I stopped fighting Seth’s grip on my hand, squeezing it back.

A ripple of chatter ran through the air which Nova hushed instantly. “As of today, Orders shall no longer fraternise, socialise or cross-breed with one another unless given express permission from the King himself.”

The air thickened and it became harder to breathe as shouts of anger broke out around me.

“No way!” Max barked.

“This is an outrage!” Geraldine gasped. “You cannot divide us like colours on an abacus!”

“Sit down!” Nova commanded, raising her hands threateningly and a bunch of the H.O.R.E.S suddenly stood up to join her side. Tory was among them and shadows coiled out from her hands, making a bunch of people scatter from the front rows. “King Acrux has asked me to appoint loyal members of the student body to ensure the law is abided to. Those chosen will have leeway with the law and will be allowed to mix with other Orders so long as it is in the interest of the King. Teachers will also be allowed to spend short periods of time with students who need extra attention, so long as their discussions are focused solely on academic topics. They will be permitted to run classes and detentions as normal providing they abide by the new code of conduct emailed to them by me this morning.”

No. Fuck no. We couldn’t let this happen.

I got to my feet as Seth and the rest of the Heirs rose too. My hand fell free of Seth’s as we braced for a fight and I realised the A.S.S. were all rushing toward me and Geraldine to back us up.

“We won’t stand for it,” Caleb snarled, his shoulder pressing to mine as a deep growl left Darius beyond him.

“It is the law, Mr Altair,” Nova said cuttingly.

A mini tornado twisted in my left hand and flames curled around my right as I bared my teeth at Nova, hatred pouring through me.

“Lionel Acrux will never be my king,” I spat.

“You will all sit down or there will be dire consequences,” Nova warned and Tory moved forward, raising her hands so smoke blasted out from them.

I gasped, casting an air shield and it combined with Seth and Max’s as our magic slid smoothly together. I braced as the shadows impacted with the shield and everyone behind us was protected from the blast as it crashed over the dome like a spill of oil.

The strength of her dark power made me grit my teeth and I forced more of my magic into the shield, losing sight of everything around us as shadows consumed the world beyond it. Screams rang out and adrenaline surged through my veins.

The pressure suddenly eased and