My eyes watered as they spoke their vows to one another, the purity of their smiles and honesty of their love shining so brightly that it was impossible to look away from it as they chose one another and bound

The words fell from my lips in a rush which left me aching with grief as they escaped me. Because I may have been terrified to lose Roxy when I'd made that deal, I may have been more than willing to trade my life for hers because of how strongly I felt for her. But I hadn't yet experienced what truly getting to love her and be loved by her would feel like. And this bliss which I had stolen for us was rushing to an inevitable end that would only cause her more pain. The one thing I'd swom never to do again. "I traded my life for theirs. I get one year to prove to her that I can give

"Yeah, she'll discard him soon enough. Then he'll melt into the background of society where he belongs." My spine prickled at those words, the urge in me to fight back and show them the measure of my strength surging up in me like a tsunami. I'd technically been stripped of that right. I wasn't allowed to challenge a Fae to a fight because of my status and though I didn't give a shit about breaking the law, I didn't think those assholes would be beyond having me locked up for it. Darcy and Tory may have held the power around here, but it was too deeply ingrained in our kind to let go of my shaming after it had been made so public, so official.

"The Heirs need the power to make real change in Solaria, they can't be shackled in their decisions by the rule of a monarch. And no mater how well meaning the Vegas might be as queens, the fact is, they don't know enough to make those decisions. They aren't prepared to make the kinds of calls that will have to be made to force the change that needs to happen, and the Celestial Council can't be forced into submission over decisions that will affect millions of lives by girls whose ignorance makes them incapable of understanding the issues fully," he hissed determinedly, his eyes shifting to reptilian slits.

Yeah, I know," I said on a sigh. "ButI also know that I'm a reminder of your father's chains now. So enjoy your freedom, Darius. Really. You deserve time with people whose company isn't forced upon you. I swear I don't begrudge you it." Hurt flashed across his eyes as he took another step toward me. Is that what you really think, brother?" "Don't you?" I asked, my fear over the answer to that spinning a razor- sharp web inside my chest.

I shot to her side, eyeing her paling features a second before she stumbled into my chest like she was about to pass out. I caught hold of her waist in alarm, clutching her against me as I searched her expression. "Oops," she said through a yawn. "What's Wrong?" I demanded as Tory took hold of her sister's hand. "Nothing, I'm just tired. It must have been the hat," Darcy said, her veak and an echo of exhaustion in her deep green gaze. "You look dead on your feet," Tory said in concern, pulling Darcy

"Just hold on," she begged. "There must be something I can do." I shook mny head slightly, understanding what the stars were asking of me now. I had to face my fear, and this was it. I just hoped there was something waiting for me in death beyond darkness, I hoped there was a place for me among the stars. "I just wanted to be useful. Did I do okay? Was I good friend?" I asked as a tear rolled from my eye as I knew I'd never see Sofia again, or Tory, or

"What does a Fae do when their back is against the wall, son of the shadow born?" "They fight," I said softly, knowing that was the answer but still knowing I wasn't one of them. "What does a Fae do with their heart?"" the stars asked and I frowned at that question, thinking on it. "They love," I decided. "And what will a Fae do to be worthy of their place in Solaria ?" I frowned, the answer coming to me easily and falling from my lips. "Anything." "You have passed our tests." The stars released me from their grip and I could hardly believe that I was being let go, that I was deemed worthy to stay at Zodiac Academy. It made no sense, and yet it was the best thing I had ever experienced. And for a moment, I could almost feel what it was like to be Fae.

I wondered if this would be it for me, a void where no stars existed, no powerful beings bothering to turn their gaze on someone as worthless as me. But then a whisper filled my head which sounded like it was woven from the fabric of the universe itself. "Imposter," it breathed. "We see you, son of the shadow born. And it is time to face The Reckoning."

I could feel Diego's panic wrapping around me from that night and I didn't know what to think as I was cast forward into the future. I started to see moments blurring together, Diego leting the Nymphs onto campus the day they'd attacked at the Pitball pitch, him tossing the vile of knotroot out the window into the bushes at the base of Aer Tower to hide it from the FIB raids, his anger as Orion had broken the box gifted to him by his grandmother, his embarrassment as Orion had exposed his secret crush on Sofia to the agents around him. I saw the night he let his uncle onto campus and I fought with him in the astronomy tower,

"What do you mean?" I asked, looking to her and her eyes dripped over "He's old enough to know," Alejandro said as he shared a look with his "He worked at the palace when we killed the royals," Mamá said with a "You...what?" I breathed, sure they were just messing with me. me in disdain. sister. twisted smile on her lips that made my stomach knot with dread. "Where do you think I got all of my power, idiota?" Alejandro smirked, playing with flames in his palms and making my throat tighten. "I'm the strongest Nymph in Solaria." "That's because you didn't share," Mamá sniped at him. "Though the queen tasted oh so sweet when she died. I can't say I'd have wanted to miss that." She grinned evilly and I found my feet unable to move any further as I stared at them, realising what they were saying. "You killed the Vegas' parents?" I rasped. "Yes," Alejandro said with pride in his voice. "Thanks to Lionel Acrux.

I brought up my uncle's number, forwarding him the video and leaning back against the wall as I waited for a reply. It came a minute later as he called me, and I answered in a whisper. "Hello." "Good work, Diego. You are proving of some use at last," he growled. "I need you to use the amuletI gave you tonight. Place it in the ground at the eastern fence and meet me there when I message you." "Okay, what are you going to do?" I asked, fear lacing my words at the idea of my uncle coming here, but the line went dead. I sighed, pushing my Atlas back into my pocket and adjusting my hat over

I ordered the shots at the bar, glancing over at Professor Orion as he cosied up to some woman opposite him. He seemed distracted by something as the shots were laid before me and I slid the vile of powdered knotroot from inside my jacket, quickly sprinkling some of it into two of the drinks. My throat nearly closed up as I shoved it back into my pocket, throwing Orion a fearful glance, but finding him staring across the room. And asI followed his gaze to Darcy Vega, I grimaced and gathered up the drinks. I may have loved living among the Fae but there was one kind I didn't like at all, and it was the Vampires. They used others as blood bags, stealing what they needed, and in all honesty, it reminded me of my own kind. I'd seen what Nymphs could do, and ifI could trade away that part of me to be any kind of Fae, I would. I felt sick, but all I could think about was Alejandro guting me if! didn't pull this off and the fear of that was enough to make me stay on this

"If the Vegas are discovered and brought to the academy, I must get close to them and find a way to deliver them to you and Mamá," How was I ever going to pull this off? "And if you fail to do so?" Alejandro prompted with a dark look that made me feel miniscule. "You'll kill me," I rasped. "Yes. Slowly, " he said the word like he was devouring it. I'd seen the monstrous things this man was capable of over the years and I never wanted to be at his mercy. "And no one will miss you,

I resisted for as long as I could but then a strange whispering started up in my head, the soft caress of a woman's voice. Take it, Diego. The Fae have wronged you. Take it and join us." There was something so alluring about the voice that I couldn't help but listen to it. My probes sank into the muscle of her heart andI gasped as magic rushed up my arm, pouring into me in wave after wave. I trembled at the feel of it tumbling into my veins and winding around my own heart, burying in deep and taking root there. For a second I forgot all else as I drowned in the amazing feeling of all that power filling me up, but as the rush of it settled within me, my eyes

Would the stars like me if I was Fae? Would I get to walk along the streets in the daylight instead of having to hide away all the time? Suddenlya strong hand latched around the back of my neck, yanking me to my feet while another snatched the little Pegasus from my fingers. I was thrown against the wall and I stared at my Uncle Alejandro

"It's time to know the truth, amigas." He pulled us into the web and I braced myself for what was going to happen as I fell deep into the past, drawn into a long lost memory as my eyes opened and by instinct I knew whose memory this was. It was Diego's.

You did what?" Tory snapped. Please tell me a knickie and a knackie isn't what I think it is," I murmured. You really must take better care of your delicates, girls. G-strings and thongs can get a teeny weenie bit frayed if they aren't rubbed down regularly with a good soap. I use a gentle foamy white soap that I make myself, I'l give you a sample sometime. I call it Washer's essence." He winked. What the fuck are you saying?" Darius growled, smoke pluming between his teeth and I grabbed Orion's arm to stop him from getting out of his seat

"Lance Orion is not a criminal!" Everyone in the room winced. Oh shit, I did not need to shout while the voicey spell thing was on me. "Darcy, stop," Orion commanded, but I ignored him. I cleared my throat and the sound of that echoed painfully around the room while Hamish started retching in the corner at the mere mention of my boyfriend's name. And I was so fucking done with it. "He lied to the court to protect me because he knew I'd lose my place at Zodiac Academy. So stop treating him like he's a monster. He didn't hurt me or abuse me or cast any kind of spell on me." I looked down at Orion, but he didn't smile, he reached for me frantically, trying to pull me off the table. "Please, Blue," he begged. I danced out of his way. He deserved the world to recognise who he was, see the sacrifices he'd made for Darius, for me.

Darcy blew out a breath, making a lock of deep blue hair flutter before her and she sighed. "The Shadow Princess tried to place a curse on me during the battle."

Don't touch me," I snarled, jerking back and feeling the fire race up my arms to coat my body, coming to my aid the way it couldn't that night. My back hit the wall and I was vaguely aware of someone calling my name but all I could feel was the heat of the fire magic which raged against my skin while my Phoenix was buried away and pain of a knife sliding between my ribs. A hand locked around my throat, taking the burns from my fire as he continued to shout my name and suddenly the sound of a door bursting open crashed through the screaming in my skull. Except it wasn't in my skull and as I peeled my eyes open, I found myself curled up in a ball on the floor with Darius leaning over me, his eyes blazing with concern.

That doesn't make it any easier on you," he insisted. I know what they did to you. I know how the idea of anyone else getting into your head must make you feel." “You can talk to me about it," Darius insisted, his hand curling around my cheek as my breaths came faster and I closed my eyes as I tried to fight off the memories. But they wouldn't leave me be. And suddenly it didn't feel like his hand was on my cheek, it felt like Lionel's as he'd forced my gaze up

"I'm gonna play gay chícken with him." "Gay chicken?" I frowned. "Yeah, because Cal is competitive, see? He can't ever bear to lose. So I'll just dare him to go gay for me and he won't be able to back down on the dare because he'd have to admit defeat by doing so. Then he'll go full gay and we'll get gayer and gayer together until one day we're married and it's ten

A wet splatter hit my face once more as I found him staring at the roof above us and a curse spilled from my lips as I spotted a body hanging from the rafters. Or what remained of a body anyway. And as I squinted, using my heightened vision to see through the darkness, I spotted the body parts of other victims, whole pieces of them strewn everywhere. Blood and gore filled the space above our heads and the wide open mouth