Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning
The Reckoning: Chapter 11

ORION ARRIVED AT CARDINAL Magic with bags under his eyes and a pale look that said he was running low on magic. He shot toward me in a blur and two thoughts collided in my head. One: that I kind of wanted to give him the energy he needed and two: that I was Fae and I needed to start fighting back.

He dragged me out of my seat and my heart stuttered as I made my decision and slammed the heel of my palm into his chin to throw his bite off.

Tory whooped and Orion laughed as he locked his arm around my waist, tugging me close. Adrenaline scored through my blood as I flexed my fingers to cast fire but he snatched my wrist at speed, sinking his fangs into my skin, his venom immobilising my magic in an instant. Damn.

His heated mouth on my flesh and the way I was pressed right into the arc of his body sent electricity skittering through my veins. A noise left my lips that was bordering on sexual and I was just glad the whole class were still chattering loud enough not to hear it. My free hand lay flat against his chest and the solid thumping of his heartbeat drummed against my palm.

He didn’t take as much magic as I expected, extracting his fangs and brushing his thumb over the wound to heal it. Without a word, he sped away from me toward the head of the classroom, stripping off his suit jacket and tossing it over the back of his desk chair. I sank back into my seat, my emotions all over the place as I came down from the high of his hands and mouth all over me.

Orion cleared his throat, a mischievous grin pulling at his lips as he wrote today’s inspirational quote on the board.

YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF HORNY TEENAGERS.

My eyes widened and it sounded like someone actually spat out their drink behind me.

“Yes!” Tyler bashed his palm on the table excitedly as Orion turned to look at us all with a smirk on his face.

I sank lower in my chair, glancing at Tory as she gaped at what he’d written.

“Please tell me this isn’t a sex ed class,” I said under my breath.

“This is sexual education for Fae,” Orion announced and I sank lower, wishing I could use my air magic to turn myself into a breeze and slip out the window.

Of all the professors to teach this, why did it have to be him?

I thought of my horoscope this morning and a line in it suddenly made perfect sense, but not in the way I’d hoped. A Libra will make you blush harder than you ever have before today. I’d maybe spent an extra ten minutes in bed daydreaming about how said Libra might achieve that. But not like this. Why did it have to be this?

My eyes drifted to Orion’s desk and I noticed the watermelon wearing Diego’s hat now had lots of friends around it consisting of bananas, peaches and one pineapple.

Orion folded his arms, moving to stand in front of the fruit selection, looking thoroughly amused. “With the coming Lunar Eclipse-”

“It’s coming so hard!” Tyler cried out and Orion shot a blast of water at him that sent him crashing to the floor, his seat flipping over with him.

Orion looked back to us all with a challenge glittering in his eyes. “Anyone who makes a joke in this class will get wet. Just like Tyler got wet. So is anyone else getting wet?” he baited us and I covered my face with my hand, unable to bear looking at him. A few stifled giggles sounded around us and I felt one rising in my throat, desperate to break free. I simply could not adult my way through this.

I glanced out from behind my hand and found Orion barely concealing a grin as he looked my way. “As I was saying. With the Lunar Eclipse coming on Monday, we will all be under the powerful influence of its sway which tends to bring out the more carnal side of our Orders.”

Holy shit. I hope that means I’m safe as I don’t have an Order yet.

“Principal Nova has deemed it necessary that you are all prepared in case your libidos get out of control. And I’m sure none of you want any accidental pregnancies before the first term is even up.” He tapped the board and the class sat up straighter as the title sprang onto the screen.

Sexual Education for Fae.

“This is so not good for my hangover,” Tory groaned quietly and Orion whipped around to face her.

“Hungover, Miss Vega?” he growled and she sighed, realising her mistake.

“Yes, sir. If you fancy sending any of your healing magic this way, that would be swell.”

Orion gave her one of his darkest smiles that said he definitely wasn’t her friend right then. “Oh I won’t be doing that. If you turn up to my class hungover you can deal with the consequences.” He shot to her side at a fierce speed and bellowed, “CAN’T YOU?!” in her ear. It even made me flinch, but Tory winced with pure pain.

“Ah no shhhh.” She covered her ears and Orion stalked back to the board with a chuckle.

He tapped the screen and the strangest list I’d ever read sprang up on it.

Pegasus Glitter

Pink Crystals

Moon Rock

Enchanted Birthstones

“My cousin said Pegasus glitter is the only way to kill Werewolf sperm,” Kylie piped up and Orion gave her a hollow look.

“Well your cousin is a moron,” he deadpanned.

“It works for me,” Kylie insisted. “Me and Sethy have never had any issues.”

“Ew, where does she get the glitter from?” Sofia whispered, gathering her hair over one shoulder and wrinkling her nose.

Orion pressed his fingers into his eyes for a moment then dropped his hand. “Miss Major, that is a myth. I assure you the reason you’re not pregnant is because Mr Capella is protecting himself from any accidents, but it isn’t a hundred percent effective unless you protect yourself too. So listen attentively unless you want to be carrying a litter of puppies the next time I see you.”

Tyler started laughing. “Kylie’s got a glitter muff!” he shouted across at her and Orion smacked him over the head with a slap of air.

He gestured to the board again. “What do these all have in common?” He pointed at a girl in the front row who shook her head and buried her face in her Atlas.

Sofia raised her hand but Orion pointed at Diego. “Mr Polaris?”

“Um, they don’t work?” he guessed.

“Correct,” Orion said brightly. “In fact, there’s only one spell you need for contraception.” He started passing out the bananas to the boys and peaches to the girls. He tossed one to me with a smirk and I fumbled the catch, but held onto it, placing it down on my desk with a blush lining my cheeks.

“You need to perform it every thirty days to keep the spell working. Boys must face the direction of Mars and girls the direction of Venus which you can calculate on your Atlases. It is only one hundred percent effective if both parties – or more – are protected by the spell. I highly suggest you don’t rely on your partner to maintain contraception as the spell will also protect you from STIs like Faemidia, Centyphilis, Grifforrhea and Manticrabs.”

“I hope he gives us a live demonstration of this spell,” a girl whispered behind me and several giggles sounded in response. Heat rose in my blood and my hand tightened around my peach.

Orion picked a banana off of the desk and he suddenly had everyone’s full attention as we waited to see what he was going to do with it.

“What’s the pineapple for?” I muttered to Tory.

Orion grinned as he overheard me, setting my pulse racing as he locked me in his gaze. “That, Miss Vega, is to go with my lunch.”

“Oh,” I giggled.

A knock came at the door and an air of disappointment filled the room as Orion placed the banana down and headed over to answer it.

My heart thrummed out of tune as I spotted the beautiful Francesca standing there, her full lips slanted into a heart-stopping smile. “Hi Lance, sorry to disturb you, I need to see those memories of yours from the Nymph attack – it really can’t wait any longer. Can I borrow you for ten minutes? Professor Washer agreed to cover for you.”

My heart lurched as Washer stepped overly close behind her and she moved further into Orion’s personal space, resting a hand on his arm as she escaped him.

I looked between the two of them with my heart in my throat, trying to figure out if this seriously hot woman meant more to him than I knew. Those thoughts weren’t helped by Tyler who hollered, “Is that your girlfriend, sir? I hope she knows her way around your banana.”

Orion knocked him out of his chair again with a gust of wind, not even glancing in his direction as he did it.

Francesca’s gaze slid across the fruit on everyone’s desks then to the title on the board.

“Oh sorry guys, I’ll bring him back to you as soon as I can.” She beamed, taking Orion’s hand and tugging him out of the room. There wasn’t a single drop of moisture left in my mouth.

Have I been a complete idiot in thinking he was single?

“I’ll only be ten minutes, Brian, it’s not necessary for you to oversee my class,” Orion growled loudly out in the corridor.

“Nonsense, it’s my pleasure,” Washer replied. “Franny told me she’d be stopping by this morning so I came prepared to cover for you. I used to teach Sex Ed long before you worked here, remember? I taught you all the ins and outs of the physical act, so I’m sure you have a lot to thank me for.”

Washer swept into the room and shut the door firmly behind him before Orion could reply. He had a large bag under his arm and he surveyed us all with a keen enthusiasm that made my skin crawl.

Oh please god no.

My stomach churned and Tory grimaced as he moved to the front of the class, his leather pants creaking as he went. His white shirt was tucked into those awful trousers and several buttons were open at the top, revealing his sun-baked chest beneath.

His tongue swiped out to wet his lips as he gazed hungrily at the class and I had the urge to run for the exit.

“With the Lunar Eclipse fast approaching, I’m sure you’re all getting a lot of urges already.”

“Pervertido,” Diego breathed.

“So I’m sure you all want to know how best to deal with those frustrations whether you have a partner or not.” He laid his bag down on the desk, slowly unzipping it in a way that seemed somehow suggestive.

“Actually, sir,” Kylie called out. “Professor Orion was just about to show us the contraceptive spell? And then we were done to be honest.” She sounded as desperate for him to stop opening that bag as I felt. I did not wanna know what was in there.

“Well that’s quite simple. I’ll show you that in due time,” Washer said, taking something from the bag which appeared to be a spiralling black horn made of plastic. I turned to Tory in horror as I realised what that must have been for.

“Is that a Minotaur horn?” Sofia breathed, her mouth wide as she stared at it.

He started laying all kinds of strange sex toys out on Orion’s desk including a fake Werewolf tail, a bunch of feathers, a scaly clawed glove and a set of fake Vampire fangs.

“Fetishes are perfectly normal,” Washer purred. “We don’t tolerate Order shaming at Zodiac so if anyone has a particular fondness for Werewolf fur or Vampire bites, no one’s judging you here. In fact…” He moved into the aisles, his pants creaking as he walked up the row toward us with the Minotaur horn in his hand. “You can use this time to get comfortable with your desires.” He placed the large horn down in front of Diego, pressing a button which made it start twirling vigorously so it rolled across the desk.

“Don’t be shy. Pick it up and pass it along,” Washer encouraged and Diego snared it between two fingers before tossing it onto the desk behind him like it was infected.

Washer proceeded to pass out more of the sex toys, brushing his hands over our shoulders as he moved. When the fake Dragon foot glove landed on Tory’s desk, she prodded it away from her with a pencil.

“I bet they’re his,” she whispered to me and a new level of horror invaded me.

Washer made a beeline for us and I looked away, desperate not to catch his eye but he moved in front of me and Tory so we were eye level with his bulging crotch.

I leaned as far back in my seat as I could, looking up at him as I kept my hands firmly under the desk where he couldn’t get hold of them.

“Sexuality is perfectly normal. It’s best we’re all open about what we like. Let’s all share some of our deepest desires.” He reached for Tory and she shrank away but not fast enough as he caught hold of her wrist. “Maybe Mr Altair likes to use that Earth magic of his to tie you up with vines, hm?” He wiggled his eyebrows and magic tingled in my hands, my hackles rising as he sifted through my sister’s memories.

“We like to play a game where he hunts me. It’s so hot,” she said, her voice husky and I lurched forward, catching her arm to tug her away. With my hands free, Washer caught me in his snare next, his fingers winding between mine as he smiled down at me.

“And what’s your naughtiest memory, eh?”

Panic flooded me. He couldn’t replace out about Orion. I felt Washer sifting away my panic, pushing against my will and hunting for my darkest secret. I held onto it as hard as I could, desperate for him not to see it, but he dug in deeper, sending a flood of calm into my body to try and coax it out of me. He pushed harder, but I somehow kept up my walls against him through sheer desperation, a burning sensation flooding my veins.

“Well if you really don’t want me to see it,” he sighed, releasing me and I took a deep breath, overwhelmed with relief as he walked away, moving further into the classroom.

“Did you just fight him off?” Tory whispered, her eyes wide.

“Yeah,” I said in relief. “I have no idea how though.”

“Dammit. When you figure it out, you’ve gotta teach me.” She held her pinkie out to me and I hooked it with mine to bind the promise.

Washer trailed through the class, closing in on Kylie who looked anywhere else as she tried to ignore him. His hand landed on her and she winced for half a second before his power slid over her. “That Seth Capella must be an animal in the sack. Give the class some insight so they can all learn a thing or two about Werewolf copulation.”

Much as I disliked Kylie, no one deserved to get perved on by Washer and I cringed as she opened her mouth to speak. “He likes to do it doggie style and sometimes…he makes me howl for him.”

“Do you enjoy that, Miss Major?” Washer purred and I glanced at Tory, wondering if we should lead an intervention, though I was sure we’d only end up in detention with him for it. And nothing in the world was worth that.

“Yes,” Kylie sighed. “I like it even more when he howls back.”

Washer released her, sweeping through the classroom while everyone desperately tried to avoid his eye. He approached Elijah who was standing behind his table with a nervous look on his face. Washer’s hand wrapped around his and he smiled keenly as Elijah relaxed. “Tell me about your sex life, Mr Indus, any troubles?”

“Well…” Elijah clenched his jaw as he struggled against Washer’s power and my stomach churned with sympathy.

“No need to be shy,” Washer urged.

“When me and my boyfriend have sex…he only wants to do one thing-” Elijah blinked hard, trying to fight back.

“Which is?” Washer pressed.

“He asks me to dress up like- like-” Elijah was turning red and I bit into my lip with discomfort. “Like Darius Acrux,” he gasped. “I have to use a smoke machine and growl like a Dragon while I boss him around. And he asks me to call him…”

“Yes?” Washer pressed.

“I can’t,” Elijah said in horror, gaining some self control back as he shook his head.

“You’re in a safe space,” Washer promised. “What does your boyfriend ask you to call him?”

“Prince Caleb,” Elijah choked out and Tory descended into stifled laughter beside me.

My mouth was wide open and Washer grinned, leaving Elijah ghostly pale as he walked away from him.

“Roleplay is perfectly natural,” Washer said, strolling up the aisle toward the front of the class with a grin.

Tyler was furiously tapping away on his Atlas and I had the feeling FaeBook was exploding with everyone’s darkest secrets right now. So I couldn’t feel particularly bad for him when Washer’s hand landed on his, halting him mid-post. He glanced up in horror before his eyes glazed and a dreamy look took over his expression.

“Pegasuses have a reputation for being wild in the bedroom. I’d know of course, I’ve had my fair share of glittery companions. I’m still washing the glitter out of my sheets in fact,” Washer chuckled and some part of my soul withered and died. “Who is it you lust for, Mr Corbin?”

“Sofia Cygnus,” he said without missing a beat and Sofia turned bright red, covering her face with her hand.

“I see,” Washer purred, glancing over his shoulder at her. “And what is it you’d like to do to Miss Cygnus?”

“Seriously dude?” Tory said, but Washer ignored her.

“I wanna make her feel so good she glows,” Tyler sighed and I glanced at Sofia, unable to fight a grin.

“And does she want that back I wonder?” Washer walked away, making a beeline for her and Sofia sat up straighter.

“I do,” she blurted before Washer could force the answer from her and he raised a brow, moving on past her.

Tyler shot her a look over his shoulder, biting down on the inside of his cheek and she gave him a shy smile in return. Go Sofia.

Washer continued on through the room and when he’d pulled memories from half the class, passed out all of his sex toys like they were part of some sick show and tell and run his hands all over us in the process, he finally returned to the front of the room. I now knew way too many details about the sex lives of my classmates and I wondered if we had any grounds to complain about this to Principal Nova or if this counted as acceptable because of his Order.

“Now I’ll teach you how to do that contraceptive spell for all your naughty escapades on the Eclipse.” He picked up the banana Orion had left on his desk and held it against his crotch, wrapping his hand around it.

I grimaced, wanting to crawl under my desk just so I didn’t have to watch as he started rubbing it.

The door opened and a genuine breath of relief seemed to leave the lungs of every class member in the room as Orion strode back in looking fierce. He took one look at Washer holding the banana and started snarling like a wild animal. “Take your sex toys and get out of my classroom.” He pointed them out on students’ desks and Washer rolled his eyes as he moved to gather them up.

“Oh you need to loosen up, Lance. Your students would benefit from my years of experience. I can just finish up here for you.”

“Out,” Orion growled, sending a quiver through me.

Washer tucked the toys into his bag and headed out of the door with a huff. Exhales rippled through the room and my shoulders sagged as we were finally relieved of his company.

Orion slammed the door behind him with a blast of air, facing us with a deep scowl. “I got back as quickly as I could,” he sighed, glancing around at the horrified faces of his pupils. “Let’s move on to that spell.” He scooped up the banana Washer had left on the desk, holding it way above his crotch. “Don’t let your magic take any form. Especially if you have fire,” he warned and some nervous laughter sounded around the room. “Face Mars if you’re a guy which is that way… and Venus is that way for the girls.” He pointed.

Heat rushed up my neck and I just wanted to fade away and not have to watch this anymore. Isn’t there just a pill we can take, dammit?

“Cast your magic into a shield like this. And you’re done.” A vague glow ignited beneath his hand and ran down the length of the banana. He placed it back on his desk and folded his arms. “Now you try.”

I picked up the peach with a frown, looking to Tory for backup but her forehead was pressed to the table.

“Ohhh it’s so cold and nice,” she sighed.

“You need to cast a shield on your peach,” I said, nudging her. She lifted her head, showing me her hand which had a juicy pit in it. “I ate it.”

I started laughing, looking to Orion to get her another one as she struggled to survive. He was standing in front of Tyler’s desk, frowning while Tyler kept accidentally wrapping his banana in vines.

“No one is to cast this spell on themselves until you can do it on fruit,” Orion demanded and no one complained about that.

“Sir?” I called and he looked over, raising a brow. “Can Tory have another peach?”

He headed to his desk, picking up another one and shooting over to Tory’s desk at high speed. “HERE YOU GO, MISS VEGA!” he boomed and she covered her whole head with her arms.

“Whhhy?” she moaned.

I couldn’t fight a laugh and Orion threw me a wink, remaining where he was.

“Let’s see it then.”

Oh no. No no no. Go away.

He chewed the inside of his cheek, his eyes firmly on me and I knew he was purposefully trying to unsettle me.

I sighed, dropping my eyes to my peach as Diego fiddled with his banana in the corner of my eye.

I took a breath, trying to ignore the hot teacher staring at me while I held my hand over the peach and shut my eyes.

“You’re not facing Venus,” he pointed out and I opened my eyes again, biting my lip as I glanced up at him.

“Right…yeah.” I got my star chart up on my Atlas and swivelled in my chair, placing my peach at the edge of the desk and summoning magic to my fingers. The different Elements kept rising in my veins, trying to interfere with the pure energy beneath it. I pushed them back again and again, readying to cast the spell.

I imagined a shield into existence, willing it to surround the peach. The fruit pinged off of my desk as air exploded from my palm and it smacked right into the centre of the board, bursting into a cascade of orange pulp.

“Woops,” I breathed while Tory fell apart beside me.

“Oh my god, Darcy, do not try that on yourself,” she laughed.

“Again,” Orion commanded, speeding back to his desk in a blur before returning to me and placing another peach down. “Concentrate.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Could you just look away or something?” I ushered him back and his brows lifted in surprise.

“No, I’m happy right here.” He smiled cruelly and I clenched my jaw.

Is this because I didn’t reply to your messages again, Professor Unprofessional?

“Fine,” I said, pushing my shoulders back. Screw him, I’ll do this whether he’s here or not.

I focused once more, drawing back the other Elements and shutting out everything around me as I released the power from my palm. A light shimmered in my hand and floated down around the peach. I smiled victoriously but I was too cocky. Fire exploded from my palm and disintegrated the entire thing into a gloopy puddle.

Orion barked a laugh, running off to get me another peach, while tossing out more fruit to other students who’d destroyed theirs. As he returned, Diego sent his banana shooting out of the skin and flying over Orion’s head.

He folded his arms, gesturing for me to try again and I narrowed my eyes at him.

Could he seriously go and watch someone else now? Why is he so intent on monitoring me?

When Orion finally left me to practise, I started to get the hang of it. By the end of the lesson, I’d attempted it successfully a couple of times but I was still nervous about trying the spell out on myself. It was so not worth any accidents. Besides, I was definitely not going to be having sex any time soon anyway. Lunar Eclipse or not. The moon was not gonna control me.

The classroom was a mess when the bell rang and everyone started filing out of the door.

“Miss Vega.” Orion caught my wrist as I headed for the exit, pulling me back and heat scattered through my body. “Stay and help me clean up.”

My heart tripled its pace as I nodded, terrified and thrilled about spending time alone with him.

“I’ll catch up,” I said to Tory and the others and they waved goodbye as they left the room.

I still had my peach, intending to practice on it later and I tucked it into my blazer pocket as the final students exited. Silence descended and I decided to play innocent as I picked up the trash can and moved to the board, cleaning up chunks of fruit which were splattered all across it. I felt Orion’s eyes burning into me as I continued cleaning up just like he’d asked and my heart pattered excitedly.

“You didn’t reply to my message,” he said and a smile pulled at my mouth.

“Is that your new catchphrase?” I asked airily, placing the can down.

He was behind me in a flash, one hand on my throat and one on my stomach as he jerked me back into his chest. His teeth grazed my ear and my whole body convulsed with pleasure.

“You’re supposed to fight back,” he growled.

“I will if you try to bite me, but that’s not what you want.” I turned in his arms, gazing up at him under my lashes as my heart fell into a rampant beat. “Is it?”

He swallowed and his Adam’s apple rose and fell. “The Lunar Eclipse is approaching. All Fae act crazy when that happens. I can’t be blamed.” A smile danced around the corners of his mouth, revealing the dimple in his right cheek.

“That sounds like a very convenient excuse to break the rules,” I accused, my eyes flipping to the door and back. “And what would your girlfriend think?” I gave him a stern expression, my gut knotting tightly as I waited for his response to that.

“What girlfriend?” he asked lightly.

“Francesca,” I said, trying to step away from him but he held on tight.

He grinned wickedly. “You’re jealous.”

I inhaled sharply as he scooped me up, turning around and planting me on the edge of his desk. He stepped between my knees and desire rippled through me.

“She’s not my girlfriend.” His thumb skated across my inner thigh, feather-light, lasting only a moment, but the reaction was pure chemical. His skin was weaponised and I was the victim of his lethal touch.

“She’s not?” I asked and he shook his head.

He released a measured breath, his gaze falling down, down all the way to that place where my skirt rode up and his fingers lay against my flesh.

He glanced at the door with a taut frown. “You should go,” he said, his tone deep and soft, like he’d meant to say the exact opposite of those words.

I nodded, leaning forward to get up, but he didn’t move and I fell into the trap of his scent. I was too close and his hand was still between my thighs.

I’m going to get up, push him aside and walk out of here before I do anything stupid.

I pressed firmly against his chest and the heat of his skin flooded into my own. I applied more pressure but he still didn’t budge.

“This is a bad idea,” I warned.

I let my hand glide down his body, taking in the firm press of his muscles, the soft rise and fall of his chest, every line and plane I’d studied in class. Gah, why does he have to be so irresistible?

“I’m going to go now,” I said with about as much conviction as he’d used.

“Are you?” he asked, his free hand sliding around my waist, his fingers curling, reeling me in as he stepped further between my legs.

“I am,” I said, breathless, desperate. And not to leave. But to touch him without fear of what would happen if we crossed this line on school property. Of the trouble we’d both be in if anyone ever found out.

“Yes,” I whispered a lie and his eyelids lowered half way, his seductive gaze drawing me in even further. We were baiting each other. This was inevitable. He knew it. I knew it. And frankly, we were fooling ourselves to believe we hadn’t already crossed a threshold into forbidden territory on multiple occasions.

Our movements were slow and so delicate as if the softness of them meant this wasn’t happening.

I shifted my hand to his right bicep and let it ride the swell of his muscles all the way to his bobbing throat. I reached up to the crook between his neck and his ear where heated skin met rough stubble.

My gaze lingered on the spot where my fingers brushed his flesh, but I felt his eyes on me like a hawk’s.

“If you don’t kiss me I’ll go mad,” his voice rumbled through his chest and a magnetic heat tugged me toward him.

It was my call. Kiss him and bring the world down on our heads, or let go, walk away and never look back.

I’m the sister who makes sensible decisions.

I don’t play games with the devil.

And yet here I am tempting him with my own two hands.

The drumming beat of his heart matched mine. It seemed to sing my dilemma. Walk away. Stay. Walk away. Stay.

A knock came at the door and I scrambled backwards over the desk in my haste to put distance between us, dropping down over the other side of it. If my heart had been beating hard before it was nothing in comparison to this rioting panic. I flattened my skirt, my cheeks flushed as I tried to hide any evidence of what we’d just been doing.

Orion straightened his tie and gave me a look that said, don’t tell. Did he really think I would?

He cleared his throat, dropping into his desk chair. “Come in,” he called, sounding bored.

The door swung open and Principle Nova stepped in, barely seeming to notice me as her eyes locked straight on Orion. “I’ve called a faculty meeting in my office about enforcing curfew. The students are totally ignoring it. You don’t mind giving up your lunch to sit on it, do you?”

Orion’s jaw ticked – the only sign this irritated him beyond belief. “Very well. Miss Vega was just leaving.”

Nova nodded, looking to me with the barest hint of acknowledgment. The lines under her eyes spoke of little sleep and she kept wringing her hands together in a way that said she was on edge. I guessed the Nymph attack was causing her a lot of sleepless nights. No doubt the FIB were on her case and the press too.

She nodded to me, turning and hurrying back out of the door. Orion moved to follow, sweeping me along with him by pressing a hand to the base of my spine.

His fingers circled for half a second, then he shot away after Nova at double speed. I felt him everywhere for a lasting moment, then he was painfully absent all at once.