Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,75

world would fall under the rule of a fierce and cruel Acrux and there was no other path, no possible way to change it. Solaria would descend into chaos, the Orders would be divided, those of weaker power eradicated in time. Every Fae would be watched and controlled. Our children and our children’s children would die if they ever fought back.”

“Get to the point, Jasper,” I snarled and he nodded quickly.

“We consulted with the stars and the shadows alike,” he breathed. “And one answer came to us. The single path, the only hope.”

“Which was?” I pushed.

“The Vega Twins. If they could be saved and the Imperial Star could be returned to them, there was a chance that they might succeed against the monster who sought to take their throne,” he whispered. “But the price was high,” he half choked out. “The King and Queen would fall, and the last of the Zodiac Guild had to give their lives for a new prophesy to arise.”

His hand trembled around my arm, but his eyes were full of hope.

“Tell me what I have to do,” I begged, certain he held all the answers we’d been looking for for months.

“I’m afraid this is the end of my journey,” he whispered, smiling strangely at me. “As one can vow on the stars, one can also vow on the shadows. Kraveen, your father and I did just that. A promise to die.”

“What are you talking about? Please, you need to tell me everything you know, you must have some idea where the Imperial Star could be hidden,” I demanded, but he shook his head, still smiling that strange smile.

“The stars showed us each our true paths, the last steps they wanted us each to take before their debt must be paid. My task led me here to Darkmore to wait for Azriel’s son, to tell him everything so long as he was pure of heart. And now I know that you are, I am left with my final duty to the Guild.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention as an intense energy seemed to surround us. It felt as though the stars themselves were turning their gaze to watch us and my lungs started to labour.

“The stars whispered a single word to me, a word I have held in me all these years, waiting for you. And now I know why,” Jasper breathed.

I swallowed what felt like a razor blade in my throat, clinging onto this guy who could change everything.

“What’s the word?” I demanded, hunting his eyes as if I could read it from them.

He leaned closer again, whispering it to me in a slow and measured breath. “Ankaa.”

My lips parted as I recognised that word. “That’s-”

“The brightest star in the Phoenix constellation,” he answered for me, smiling even wider. He pressed a hand to my cheek, his eyes brimming with tears. “You look like him, dear boy. It is good to see one last familiar face.”

He groaned suddenly and the scent of blood hit my senses though my Vampire was locked down deep inside me. I gasped as he stumbled away, a shank held in his grip as he stabbed at his gut again and again.

“Stop!” I cried, lurching forward to grab him as he started to fall. I caught him before he hit the ground, but he didn’t seem to see me, his eyes looking somewhere through me and his lips parting like he was gazing at something beautiful beyond me.

“Wait!” I begged, then turned my head. “Help! I need a guard! Someone help!”

Jasper fell still in my arms and I stared at his peaceful expression in disbelief as the sound of footsteps came from both ends of the aisle.

I was pulled away from him and I fell back on my ass, staring at Jasper as my mind reeled from all he’d told me.

There was one thing that kept ringing in my head like a bell chiming on repeat. I had the password to open the diary, I was certain of it. My father had known this moment would come. And now his secrets were just waiting for me to discover. It didn’t matter that Jasper didn’t know where the Imperial Star was, because my father surely had.

***

After a round of Cyclops interrogation, it was confirmed that I had nothing to do with Jasper’s death. And thanks to the guards leaving me in isolation all night while they waited for the Cyclops to arrive at the prison for his