Origins of an Academy Bully: Supernatural Beasts and Bullies [Book 0] by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

Author:Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti [Peckham, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-09T23:00:00+00:00

Lance Orion

I planted my cutlery down, rising from my seat and Darius's father gave me an encouraging nod. I didn't return it.

“Good man,” Lionel praised me like his pet dog.

“I’m not doing it for you,” I muttered as I marched out of the room after Darius. This wasn’t on his orders. I was checking on my friend who'd just been forced into an arranged marriage with his goddamn cousin. Who may or may not have looked like the wrong end of a rhino.

A furious conversation erupted in the dining room, but I didn’t look back. The front door was wide open and I stepped onto the stately porch which ringed the house. Darius was sitting on the steps, his head in his hands. I dropped down beside him with a sigh, nudging him with my elbow.

“This is the worst thing he's ever done,” Darius said, his tone defeated.

My heart went out to him as the quiet fell between us and the chirruping of cicadas filled it.

I rested my elbows on my knees, gazing across the pristine lawn under the full moon. “You don't have to do what he says.”

Darius jerked around to look at me, his face taut with fury. “It's not that simple. He's one of the most powerful men in Solaria.”

“So what?” I growled, giving him a hard stare. “He might be your father but he doesn't own you, Darius. You're only a few years off being a man who rules his own world anyway.”

His eyes narrowed then softened as that idea sank in. He nodded slowly, falling into deep thought.

“You're right,” he said at last and I grinned.

“I'm always right,” I said, blowing out a laugh.

He cracked too and I knocked my shoulder into his. “Go to Zodiac and work your ass off. Get bigger and stronger than that jerk.”

He nodded decisively. “I'll go along with his bullshit engagement for now, but I'm not marrying her.”

“You won't,” I agreed. “But just in case you do, I'm not available as a godfather to your goblin kids.”

Darius barked a laugh and for a moment a ray of light seemed to shine down on us.

“Lance?” my sister's voice jolted me back to reality and I turned, finding her hovering in the doorway. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

Relief filled me that she'd sought me out. She'd barely made eye contact with me all evening and it was breaking my heart.

I rose to my feet, patting Darius on the shoulder as I headed after her. She led me through to the kitchen which looked suitable for Henry VIII with its huge Aga, dramatic red tiles and golden fittings. My heart thumped erratically from the shirt storm that had hit this house tonight. And I had an awful feeling it was far from over as Clara's frantic eyes met mine.

“What's up?” I asked, my gut knotting at her expression.

She opened and closed her mouth, seeming unsure of her words.

“Clara,” I urged and she glanced up beneath her long lashes. Tears glimmered in her glossy obsidian eyes which were the mirror of mine.

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