Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,73

that I ducked. But he came at me like a savage once more, twisting around behind me and leaping onto my back. His teeth sank into my shoulder and I snarled as I flipped him over so he hit the ground beneath me with a thwack.

“I can bite too, honey pie,” he said through bloody teeth, his eyes wild. “I’ll bite deep and make you hurt so bad you’ll scream for your momma.”

“Unlikely.” I glanced over my shoulder, spotting Poltergeist high-tailing it out the door. I checked my list as Sin scrambled to his feet.

Take it like a Fae.

I prayed those words didn’t have anything to do with the pack orgy Gabriel had set me up for, but then Sin’s fist slammed into my face and I stumbled back, tasting blood. He laughed wildly then slapped me on the shoulder as I cursed.

“Have a good evening, bestie.” He sauntered off as I rubbed my jaw, stretching it out. Bestie?

I headed out the door and made my way down to the library, stepping through the frosted doors. The sound of Ethan’s pack howling, groaning and gasping carried from the back of the room and I guessed they’d made a start without me. I read the final item on the list as I turned down an aisle, wondering what the hell Gabriel expected to achieve by all this.

Shoelaces.

I looked up as I tucked the list away, my eyes falling to Gustard who was with some of his gang, all of them crowding around someone further down the aisle. I scowled as I realised they were shoving Poltergeist between them and laughing.

“Does picking on an old man make you feel strong, assholes?” I asked.

Gustard turned his head, sneering then striding toward me as his little gang of shits immediately jumped up at his back.

“Not that it’s your business, but something precious has been stolen from me. A blade of fortune grass,” Gustard purred, my gaze travelling over the spider tattoo on the side of his face. He smoothed down his immaculate jumpsuit, regarding me as I gave him an icy look.

“I d-don’t have it,” Poltergeist stammered.

“There you go, he doesn’t have it. So I’m sure you fine, upstanding Fae will let him go now,” I said dryly then moved to step past Gustard, but a big dude with a large gut pressed a hand to my chest to stop me. His uniform marked him as a Minotaur and his cowish face confirmed it as he snorted angrily.

“Get your hand off of me,” I demanded calmly, my skin prickling under his touch.

“Or what?” he laughed, the rest of the group swarming around, closing in on me on all sides while a big girl with buck teeth held onto Poltergeist.

My jaw tightened as I glared at Gustard, ignoring his pets. “I challenge you to fight me like Fae.”

Gustard laughed and the rest of his crew did the same. “Do you hear that boys? The big bad Vampire wants to fight me like Fae.” He moved forward, smiling at me cruelly. “We’re not Fae anymore though. Didn’t you get the memo? We’re animals. And animals do what they have to to survive.”

“What do you want?” I snapped.

“Well some little thief has stolen my fortune grass and come to think of it, you seem just the type of sneak who would do it,” Gustard growled.

“I don’t have shit,” I said dismissively.

The Minotaur pulled my arms behind my back and a Lion Shifter moved forward to pat me down. I huffed out a breath impatiently then my heart lurched as the Lion pulled the pair of pube scissors out of my pocket, waving them victoriously.

“Carrying weapons are we, Vampire?” Gustard sneered, then nodded to the Minotaur who locked me in a choke hold as another two assholes lunged forward to keep me still. “Teach him a lesson, Angus.”

My heart leapt as the Lion jumped up and down with the scissors, eyeing my face greedily. My gaze dropped to his feet, his shoelaces hanging open and I guessed Noxy really was saving my ass today. The Lion lunged toward me and I stamped down on his laces, making him fly at me with a yelp of surprise. His aim was thrown off and the Minotaur screamed, releasing me and knocking the others flying as I stumbled away. I darted through a gap in their ranks, glancing back to see the Minotaur falling to his knees, grasping at the scissors sticking out of his throat.

Gustard took his leave, jogging away