Zodiac Academy 9: Restless Stars

“It was too damn easy to fall in love with you when I already loved everything about you, Cal,” I said, my voice rough with those words which had tortured me for so long.

my pulse rioted. He was dressed in a pale blue shirt and black jeans, his golden curls pushed back, styled just so, like he hadn’t put any effort in at all. It was only that I knew him so well that I was sure that hair had taken him plenty of time in the mirror.

Words failed me. Me. The most wordsy of wordsmiths. So I just extended my hand in an offering, hoping he’d take it.

Caleb was the Fae who had given me the moon, so I planned on giving him the sky.

“Never better, bootiful – bewtiful – bluetiful,” he laughed, staggering sideways and crashing into Darius.

“Awoooo.” Tory raised her hands in the air, cupping Darius’s cheeks. “Look, it’s a full moon.”

“Your dead dad has been giving my dead mom the eyes apparently,” Max muttered icily, glaring at Orion as if it was his fault.

“Really?” Orion asked curiously, but Max’s eyes simmered with anger.

“She’s waiting for my dad,” Max growled. “Tell your dead father to back the fuck up.”

“Sure, I’ll just light a scented candle and whisper my wishes into the flames as soon as I locate my aromatherapy set,” Orion deadpanned, and Max’s scowl grew.

“Well you’d better do something about it,” he muttered.

“It looks like you have a fan club,” I said, laughing as I showed him the artwork. “There you are in a barn lounging on a haybale - with your dick out. Oh and there you are climbing an apple tree – with your dick out. And, oh look, this one has immortalised that time you rode bareback on a horse through that cornfield. With your dick out.”

Orion gave me that stern teacher look like I was somehow responsible for the porno art, and I only laughed harder.

“Blue.”

“I’m fine,” I said, wanting to mean that so damn much.

“Don’t lie to me,” he warned.

“I’ll be fine,” I corrected. “Eventually. When the memories don’t feel so fresh. Besides, it’s not me who went through it. You’re the one who had to face that torture.”

“And I would go through it a thousand times over so long as it kept you safe,” he said powerfully, lifting my hand and kissing the inside of my wrist. “It won’t haunt me, Blue.”

“Darcy will be moving in with me anyway,” Orion announced. “So keep your room, Seth. Thanks though, Geraldine.”

I glanced up at him with a grin. “Was that you asking me to live with you?”

His lips twisted up at the corner, his dimple puncturing his right cheek. “You in, beautiful?”

“I’m in.”

“I’m glad you’re okay,” I said to him. “You’re the greatest treasure here, you know. When that arrow hit you-”

“I think I might have to get that tattooed on me somewhere,” Lance taunted. “‘Darius’s greatest treasure’ would look great across my chest.”

“Fuck you.” I dipped my fingers into his pocket, taking the Guild Stone and sliding it right back into my own pocket instead.

“Fuck you harder – I know you like it rough.”

We both laughed,

My fingers tightened around the precious turquoise stone, and I had to fight against the urge to move my arm behind my back for good measure.

“Later,” I said.

“Now,” he countered.

I pursed my lips, holding my fist out to him, but my fingers stayed curled around it. “I can keep it safe until-”

“Bad Dragon.” Lance shot me in the ass with a whip of air magic and used his fucking Vampire speed to snatch the stone from my fist while I was distracted.