Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,51

does by the way. I’m still pissed he hurt my little sister. Kick him in the dick for me, okay?”

I chuckled as I headed to the window, pushing it open and feeling him drop the silencing bubble.

“Can you see a dick kick in his future?” I asked with a grin.

“Definitely,” he said with a smirk.

“Love you, Gabriel,” I told him, then dove out of the window, the rush of falling making my stomach spin before my wings burst from my back and I soared along, climbing toward the sky and taking a direct route to Aer Tower in the distance. I got stopped and searched by a bitchy K.U.N.T. of a Harpy when I flew too close to a Manticore, but she let me go with a warning. And I may have not so accidentally started a tiny fire in her hair which wouldn’t take root until I was far away and unable to be held responsible.

I made it to my window, landing on the slim ledge before pushing open the tall pane that swung sideways to let me in. I dropped into my room, my flaming wings fizzling away behind me with a lasting crackle.

My covers were suddenly thrown back and Geraldine sat bolt upright from under them.

“My lady!” she cried. “I have been most sneaksome indeed to get in here. That wayward white Wolf let me in and snuck me upstairs under an illusion spell which disguised me as one of his pack. It was quite the thrill ride.”

I grinned as I rushed over to her, pulling her into a hug as she stood up and I noticed a bag on the bed.

“What’s that?” I asked.

She wheeled around, snatching it up and clutching it against her chest. “It is a gift from your most charming and devilishly handsome brother. He set me on this mission, a task I took as seriously as a cucumber on a bed of flotsam.”

“What kind of gift?” I frowned and she handed me the bag with the brightest smile in the world.

I opened it, finding a blue maxi dress inside the same colour as my hair and a velvet box sitting on top of it. I took the box out and flipped it open, gasping almost as dramatically as Geraldine did when I found a silver bracelet inside with a Gemini charm on it.

“I have strict instructions to not allow you to wear anything else but these items, excluding bloomers and shoes of course.” She laughed and I did too as she grabbed the bracelet and clasped it onto my wrist. I touched the pendant, turning it between my fingers with a smile pulling at my mouth.

I grabbed my Atlas, but before I could shoot him a text, one came from him.

Gabriel:

You’re welcome.

I shook my head with a grin. Damn sight seeing bastard.

Geraldine helped me do my makeup and practically forced the dress over my head when I said it was overkill for a trip to freaking prison.

“You will wear it and have that buffoon of a Vampire see how perfectly perfect you are without him. He shall feast on his feelings and his heart shall die a thousand deaths when he sees you dressed up fit for a dinner with the stars.”

“I don’t want his heart to die a thousand deaths, maybe just like, one death,” I reasoned, eyeing myself in the mirror. This is definitely too much.

“Nonsense,” she chastised.

I turned to face her as she finished arranging my hair over my shoulders. “I’m serious, Geraldine. I’m just going to break off the star vow. In and out. Five minutes.”

Her eyes glittered with tears and her lower lip wobbled. “Oh fudge fancies on a Thursday, I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.” She dabbed at her eyes and waved me off when I tried to comfort her.

“Is it the dress?” I frowned down at it. “It’s too much isn’t it?”

“No, it’s not the dress, it’s forbidden love, doomed to never be. Honey pots in a haystack, as angry as I am at that pest of a professor, it still breaks my heart.”

“It shouldn’t. I’m over it.” I pushed down the sharp lump in my throat, moving to my closet and grabbing out a leather coat before shrugging it on. Geraldine shrieked, ripping it from my shoulders before I could do it up.

“No coat. You have your Phoenix to keep you warm!” She pushed me toward the door, twisting the key in the lock and shoving me out of it. “Now go, the dashing