Dark Fae (Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac Book 1)

by Caroline Peckham

  My insides were drowning in a torrent of pure need and I wouldn’t be able to come up for air until I’d claimed him for my own entirely.

  Raucous laughter sounded from the corridor and a spike of fear darted down my spine as I recognised the voice drawing closer to our door.

  “Dante,” I breathed, breaking our kiss.

  “What?” Gabriel growled, a frown spilling through the lust on his features.

  “In the corridor,” I explained, heat finding my cheeks as I realised he’d thought I was saying Dante’s name out of desire.

  “Oh,” he said, his gaze flipping to the door then back to me.

  A growl escaped him and he pressed forward, kissing me again and making my pulse race.

  My hands slid down the hard planes of his bare chest and a faint tingling buzzed beneath my palm as I swept it over the Libra tattoo which was etched above his heart.

  Gabriel drew back, looking down at his chest like he could feel it too. He met my eye and a question hung between us as my star sign continued to throb on his skin. Was there any chance his vision had been true? Was I looking at the man the stars had chosen for me?

  Dante’s voice sounded loudly right outside the door and Gabriel shot away from me with the swift speed of his Order.

  “I need to sleep on the roof to claim the power of the sunrise in the morning,” he said in a low voice as he made it to the window. I vaguely remembered learning that Harpies replenished their power from the rays of the rising sun, so I guessed that was what he needed to get his magic back.

  Gabriel hesitated with his hand on the window frame and I wondered if he was going to ask me to come with him. And why the hell I wanted that so much.

  “Gabriel,” I breathed, not even sure what I was going to say.

  His gaze pinned me in place but before I could get any more words out, the door swung open and Dante strolled into the room.

  Gabriel cast a glower his way then leapt out of the window.

  Dante raised his eyebrows and his gaze swerved to me. He took in the flushed appearance of my cheeks, my messy hair and swollen lips and his eyes narrowed slightly.

  “What did I just walk in on?” he asked slowly, his voice dark.

  “I’m out of power,” I replied, my gaze dropping from his eyes to his throat.

  “And you tried your luck with Gabriel?” Dante laughed and stalked towards me.

  “My Sources were nowhere to be seen,” I said innocently as my heart beat faster again.

  Some wild part of me was aching for him too and I couldn’t help but wonder if I was playing with fire by shifting my attention back and forth between all four Kings of this school. I wasn’t sure if my obsession with them stemmed from my desire to seek justice for Gareth or if I was just falling under their spells. No amount of attraction or chemistry would divert me from my goal though. I refused to be blinded by them no matter what happened. They were cruel and wicked beasts and I wasn’t going to lose my head over them. But I could look. And maybe touch...just a little.

  Dante kept coming for me, a smile playing around his lips as he bared his throat.

  My power was so empty that I didn’t even hesitate before shooting forward and biting into his neck.

  The power of a thunderstorm roared into my core and static energy raced across my flesh, lining my skin with goosebumps.

  I moaned in satisfaction as I drew his power into me and Dante pulled me closer, his strong arms encircling me.

  The door opened and closed again as Laini appeared and she tutted loudly, waiting for us to move out of the middle of the room so that she could get to her bed.

  I forced myself to draw back, my fangs retracting as I swallowed the last mouthful of Dante’s blood.

  His eyes were hooded, his hands lingering on my waist, but I forced myself to back up.

  I leapt up onto my bunk and turned my back on the room without saying a word.

  My heart was racing and I was more than a little drunk on Dante’s power.

  I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on with me. I needed to get close to the Kings, but I was beginning to worry that I was letting them get too close to me in return. And I couldn’t let that happen. Because if they started to see too much of me, they might figure out who I really was and why I was really here. And I could find myself at the mercy of my brother’s killer before I’d even figured out who he was.

  I trailed toward the Empyrean Fields for Combat Class, stretching my arms above my head as I made it to Voyant Sports Hall to get changed. I headed through to the men’s locker room, slinging my kit bag onto a bench at the heart of the space. There was no one there because I was late. Duh.

  I opened my locker, stripping down and changing into my Combat kit; black sweatpants and a shirt with the Aurora Academy crest on the breast. I stuffed my bag into the locker then reached into the pocket with a smile pulling at my lips.

  While the cat’s away…

  I pulled out my skeleton key which could unlock any door in this entire school, lockers included. It was made from actual bone and was enchanted with the kind of dark magic I’d be locked up in prison for if it was ever discovered. It had been passed down to me from my great grandpa and was the most prized possession I owned.

  I moved strategically along the aisles, opening lockers and checking coat pockets, skimming off a few aura notes here and there. The best thieves didn’t draw attention to themselves. And in this school, I couldn’t rock the boat. So I took a little, never enough to get noticed. That wasn’t the only reason I was searching bags though. There was something specific I was looking for. Something that would get me in serious shit if it ever got linked back to me. And I knew for a fact someone in my class had taken it. But so far, I was yet to find it.

  When I’d hunted every locker and come up empty handed – apart from the wedge of cash now stashed in my bag - I headed to Dante’s locker and smirked as I pulled it open. I wouldn’t steal from my friend, but I did like to fuck with him.

  I rummaged through his bag, finding his Atlas and chuckling as I opened up FaeBook. I left him a status with a grin on my face. He’d know I’d done it, but we always ribbed on each other. He’d go full Storm Dragon when he saw it then be laughing about it by dinner. That was how we rolled.

  Dante Oscura: The stars are not in my favour today. First I shit my pants in front of Professor Mars (like legit down the leg) and THEN while cleaning it up, I managed to flick it into my eye – and mouth! Cures for pink eye needed.

  I barked a laugh, stuffing his Atlas away as the pings of comments came ringing in like music to my ears. I shut the locker and turned back to mine on the opposite side of the room to put my key back away, but my gaze snagged on a piece of paper on the floor. I frowned, cursing as I headed over to it, realising I must have knocked it out of someone’s locker. It was fucking amateur. My parents would be pissed as hell.

  I scooped it up with a sigh, turning it over and stilling as I gazed across it. In the top corner the initials E.C had been scrawled and a weird ass list followed beneath it.

  Alternates between Lunar/Oscura breakfast times. Route: Vega Dorms > Devil’s Hill > Acrux Courtyard > Cafaeteria

  Girl’s bathroom. Altair Halls before lunch.

  L/T Devil’s Hill.

  Kipling Emporium. Orange soda.

  W/E stays on campus. Library pm (Sundays after dark)

  What the hell was this? I was half tempted to leave it on the floor but my eyes trailed over those initials again. E.C.

  I reread the list and my heart beat harder as I put two and two together. I heard someone coming and hurried to my locker, opening it and shoving the page into my bag.

  “Night!” Professor Mars barked as he strode into the locker room. “Detention! You’ve missed nearly half my lesson you little shit.”

  “It’s my Order, sir,” I said, shutting my locker and turning to him with a shrug. “I can’t be blamed.”

  “Yeah, well my Order makes me wanna rip your head off w
ith my bare hands, but actions have consequences. Detention. Thursday. If you’re late I’ll extend it to the end of the month. Now get to class.”

  I sighed, heading past him onto the field. I glanced over my shoulder but he wasn’t following me so I upped my pace to a jog, diving on Dante. He’d been paired with Eugene Dipper who’d been knocked on his ass so hard that it didn’t look like he was getting up any time soon.

  Dante clapped my shoulder and I steered him away from the possibly dead Dipper on the floor. He groaned as we went so my conscience was clear. “How’s it going, man? Get that shit out of your eye?” I taunted and he frowned at me like I’d lost my mind.

  “What?”

  “Ah nothing.” I hid a grin.

  Dante was staring at something and I lifted my chin to figure out what. Elise was battling with a Mindy, looking like a warrior as she flipped through the air with her Vampire speed and blasted Mindy to the ground. I grinned stupidly, moving forward but found Dante doing the same.

  We caught each other’s eye and both frowned.

  “You still taking her to the ball?” Dante asked, not bothering to hide his irritation about that.

  “Yep,” I said simply. “She’s mine, dude. Let it go. There’s plenty more hot chicks in the sea.”

  “Not like her,” he grunted and I silently agreed with that. Elise was so beyond Mindy status she was practically an anti-Mindy. And it reminded me of what Gareth had said to me once.

  “Do you ever think you might want a girl who doesn’t fall at your feet the second you look at her?”

  I hadn’t understood that before, I was kinda getting it now though.

  The thought of Gareth sent my gut spiralling and I turned to Dante, raising my hands to fight him and distract myself at the same time. The night of the Solarid Meteor Shower still haunted me. I’d thought I could handle it. But it clung to me every day.

  I cast fire in my palms just as Professor Mars reappeared from the locker rooms probably post shit. He knelt down beside Eugene, healing him with an impatient look on his face.

  “St-storm...Dragon,” Eugene groaned.

  “Yes yes, he’s quite a bit stronger than you, kiddo.” Mars clapped him on the shoulder. “Up you get.”

  Electrical energy crackled along Dante’s body, a grin playing around his mouth. I was just about to blast my friend to the ground when, Mars called, “SWAP PAIRS!”

  “But we just paired, sir,” I complained, fire burning in my palms ready to unleash on Dante.

  Mars shot me a glare that warned of those extra detentions and I turned to Dante to share my rage, but found him gone. He was striding toward Elise with intention and I spotted Ryder marching toward her from the other side. Mars clearly wasn’t bothering to decide who we were going to match with today and fuck if I was going to get stuck with Eugene.

  I glared after Dante, knowing I wouldn’t catch him, instead cupping my hands around my mouth and shouting. “Elise! Wanna pair with me?”

  She glanced my way, seeming relieved as she hurried out of the gap Ryder and Dante had been closing, zipping to my side in a blur. Dante looked back over his shoulder in outrage and Elise saluted him. My brows pinched together at the sight, fiercely reminded of Gareth.

  She turned to me with a smile which fell away as soon as she saw my expression. “What?”

  “You just…reminded me of someone for a sec.” I ran a hand down the back of my neck, suddenly too hot.

  She looked at me for a long moment then shrugged. “Who?”

  “Just an old friend,” I muttered. “Come on let’s fight, little monster.”

  “What no stupid pun? No ‘you’re gonna go down hard and fast, Elise’.” She did a stupid impression of my voice, drawing a small smile from me, but I schooled it again, shaking my head.

  She nudged my foot with her toe, tilting her head to one side and giving me the cutest damn expression I’d ever seen on a girl. Or maybe I was just a little bit smitten.

  “Nope,” I persisted, happy that I was finally getting a reaction out of her for once.

  She prodded me in the chest next and I battled my grin, keeping my face flat which she seemed to take as a challenge. She threw out her palms, uprooting me with a whip of air which I didn’t even bother to try and shield myself from. I landed on my back at her feet, my lips firmly pressed together.

  She dropped down to her knees, pushing her hands under my arms and starting to tickle me. I burst out laughing, losing my cool entirely as she continued her assault. I didn’t fight her off though. This was the most attention she’d given me since we’d kissed. Even when she took her tickly damn fingers to my sides and I convulsed beneath her, I didn’t cave and touch her back.

  She knelt over me, pinning my wrists into the grass and I had to admit I really liked being at her mercy.

  “Fight back,” she purred and I shook my head with a teasing grin.

  “If this is what losing to you is like, I might have to do it more often.” She lay flat on me and her tits pressed into my chest, making my grin widen. A veil of lilac hair fell around us and I was so tempted to grab hold of her that it nearly gave me an eye twitch. Elise clearly liked doing things on her terms though and all the while I wasn’t touching her, she was still here.

  “Are you looking forward to the ball next week, little monster?” I whispered just for her ears.

  She shrugged and I chuckled.

  “Do you have a dress yet?” I asked and something cracked in her gaze.

  “Oh um…no.” She chewed her lip.

  “Tick tock.” I grinned. “If you don’t hurry you’ll have to go naked.”

  “Or in my sweats,” she teased.

  “Mmm tell me more,” I played along.

  “They’re gonna be so baggy.”

  “Fuuuck,” I groaned, pretending to get off on it. “More.”

  “They’ll be grey…stained with ketchup and so, so-“ She dipped her head, her mouth mere centimetres from mine. “Threadbare.”

  “Mr Night, Miss Callisto, are we at a sex party?” Mars roared and Elise rolled her eyes, rising to her feet and offering me a hand. I let her pull me up and she realised a second too late she’d done something for me.

  “Thanks Mindy,” I said under my breath and she punched my arm.

  Ryder and Dante were giving us glares which could have burned the school to the ground. And I gave how many shits? Not one.

  “Fight properly or I will re-pair you!” Mars demanded and we both nodded, stepping away from each other and sharing an eye-fuck which resounded right through to my dick.

  “Okay, little monster, I’m gonna go easy on-”

  She blasted me with a shot of air which sent me flying across the field and I took out three of our classmates. I started laughing as two Mindys ran to help me up and I pressed my knee to a guy’s chest beneath me, causing him to squeak in pain.

  “Oh, hi Eugene,” I said brightly and he groaned as I jumped off of him.

  I charged away, casting fire in my hands and creating a huge wall before her as a distraction.

  While she battled to suck the air from the fire flaring from the ground, I charged around the side of it and hooked my arm around her waist. She laughed as I dragged her back against me, shifting toward the wall of fire so she had nowhere to run.

  “I win,” I growled.

  “We’re mid-game, Leo.” She rammed her elbow into my gut and I wheezed as she darted away from me with her Vampire speed. She kicked me in the ass and I lurched toward my own fire, extinguishing it before I burnt my eyebrows off.

  I turned to her with a wide smile, opening my arms and feigning surrender. “Let’s call it a truce. We can seal it with a kiss?”

  She walked closer, batting her lashes and I smiled as she approached, her hips swaying and her hair blowing in the breeze. She looked like the result of an assassin mating with a bunny rabbit. It was so fucking hot.

  She reached up, tangling her hand in my hair, but I was just baiting her, waiting
for my chance to strike. I was too irresistible for my own damn good, and Elise was finally giving in to my Lion aura.

  I grabbed her wrist, hooking my leg around the back of hers to drop her to the ground, but her knee came up between my legs so fast, I wasn’t fucking prepared.

  “Mon-ster,” I croaked as I dropped to the ground, cupping my manhood as tears pinched my eyes.

  “Very good, Miss Callisto,” Mars called to her as Dante’s laughter crashed against my ears. “Ten rank points to you.”

  Elise dropped to her knees before me, her hand slipping down under mine to rub my junk. It was the bitterest, sweetest thing I’d ever experienced and made me choke on my own tongue.

  “Poor baby,” she purred, mischief in her eyes. With the way we were angled toward each other, I didn’t think anyone could see what she was doing, but fuck if I cared anyway.

  She laughed cheekily, standing up and I stared after her, lost for words. What the fuck just happened? Did I just enjoy getting kicked in the nuts?

  It was so on between us. Sure, maybe I was gonna be beaten to a pulp by that chick, but I reckoned I was gonna get laid soon too. So I was definitely game.

  I couldn’t wait for the night of the ball. Me and her. One on one. Without Dante and Ryder trying to make my head explode with their glares. Yep. It was gonna be the best night ever for more reasons than one. Because I had something planned which Elise was never gonna see coming.

  I headed out of my dorm and down to Devil’s Hill with my mind on the Black Card. It was infuriating. I couldn’t get close to any of them and I’d had to stop trying because it was obvious my attempts hadn’t gone unnoticed.

  I’d gone back down to check out the room with the altar where I’d watched Daniel being initiated and searched it thoroughly, but there was nothing there. Just an empty stone chamber with dust in the corners. It looked like there wasn't anything special about it when it wasn’t in use. I hadn’t sensed any lingering magic or found any more marks scrawled on the walls. Nothing that related to anything in Gareth’s journal. It was just another dead end.