Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning: An Academy Bully Romance (Supernatural Bullies and Beasts)

There are countless people who would say I’m not allowed to want you,” Darius breathed. “But you make me want to burn the whole world down so that I can claim you for my own.”

“Then we should burn it down,” I agreed.

Because that’s what I do,” he said slowly. “I watch you and hunger for you and ache for you. It torments me like I torment you.”

The fire in my veins burned hotter at that confession and I shifted in the sand, biting down on my lip as I looked up at him. His gaze lingered on my mouth and the ache in my shoulders heightened to the point of pain for a moment before fading beneath my flesh again.

“Then why do it?” I asked. “Why not just look away?”

“I’d find it easier to carve my eyes out than I would to stop them landing on you.”

My stomach knotted up and I took half a step closer to him.

“So don’t stop,” I breathed, my heart pounding recklessly in my chest.

I was asking him about which charity the kissing booth is raising money for,” she bit back instantly. “Not paying for a fucking kiss. Unlike you, I don’t just pay my way through life, living off of Daddy’s credit card. But I do have a stipend that’s stupidly generous and a fucking conscience and I was trying to do something decent. Which I guess you wouldn’t know jack shit about.”

“I don’t think I can keep seeing Tory,” he said darkly, more than a little anger pouring from him.

Darius sat up straighter in his chair, relief and excitement slipping from him. I caught his eye and he shrugged innocently, but not before I felt a touch of his lust too.

Yeah, we need this girl gone before the two of them come to blows over her

You burned my clothes off of my body on my first day here. You encouraged every asshole in this school to make my life hell. You tortured and tormented me every second you got the chance and you laughed while you did it. You took my deepest fear and dragged me to that pool so that you could force me to relive it and you almost fucking killed me,” I hissed, all the venom of all the hatred I’d ever felt for him pouring out of me like it was an open wound. “So yes. I broke into your goddamn room and I stole your precious fucking treasure and that psycho dagger while I was there. And then I melted every other piece of gold you owned and begged the flames to burn the rest. And I fucking laughed while I did it. It was the least you deserved. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

“It wasn’t a date,” I said, rolling my eyes. “And I’m sure he told you what we were doing anyway so why do you need me to confirm it?”

“Then why do you look so damn happy in this photo?” he asked.

I gave the picture another look and I had to admit he was right. Taken out of context it did look like we were really enjoying each other’s company.

“You’re right, I do. Maybe I should make it my profile pic?” I suggested.

He sent me a picture of them together to prove it if you don’t believe me.” Caleb pulled his Atlas from his pocket and flashed the picture Darius had taken of the two of us around at everyone.

I glanced at it and was surprised at how much we looked like a happy couple in the snapshot. I was looking straight into the camera, a laughing smile on my face while Darius pressed a kiss to my head, the corner of his mouth hooked into a grin and his arm wrapped around me.

“That is a pretty misleading picture,” I said lamely as Darcy mouthed what the hell? at me behind Caleb’s back.

No, no,” I said, waving Caleb away from me. “I can’t do perky this morning. I’m in a decidedly down-beat mood. Please take that sunshine smile away from me

Washer chuckled and some part of my soul withered and died

I’d find it easier to carve my eyes out than I would to stop them landing on you.”