Page 71 of Gemini Wicked

Lucius licks his lips and looks hungry.

My fated mate wrestles his Academy sweatshirt over his curly head, then hesitates. Behind his spectacles, his cautious eyes veer from Lucius to Zephyr to Vasili.

Neo clears his throat. “Just, um, keep these guys from killing each other up here while I’m gone, okay, Lucius?”

“You may rest assured I’ll tolerate no homicide beneath this roof. Manslaughter is a violation of the Academy Codex,” Lucius says wryly. His whiskey-colored eyes linger on Ronin. “Why don’t you help Neo in the kitchen, my dear one?”

Our headmaster’s tone is so tender it makes my eyes sting. Lucius is very clearly feeling extra protective over Ronin since he knotted our guy last night, I can feel all that broody tenderness through our bond, so it’s actually hard for him to let Ronin out of his sight.

Ronin pushes out a breath and rolls away, scrambling lithely out of bed with an alacrity that gives our collective an electrifying flash of his tight ass, all tawny skin and flexing glutes, before he’s dragging his abandoned leather pants over his hips.

Vasili hums with approval.

Even Zephyr’s unreadable gaze sneaks over to check out the view.

Ronin flings someone’s shirt around his muscled shoulders—looks like one of Lucius’ Oxford button-downs, infused with our headmaster’s comforting scent—then hightails it after Neo out the door without looking back.

It hurts me that Ronin looks and feels so profoundly relieved to leave.

And even though I don’t have a mating bond with Zephyr, I’ve got a feeling it hurts him too.

With a sigh, I pass Max a tee shirt so he can cover up his back, because he won’t want Zephyr staring at his scars. Then I reach for my own bathrobe on its hook beside the bed.

That maneuver flashes my boobs, complete with piercings. And yowsa, the way Zephyr’s gaze devours me. Like wildfire ripping through a stand of dry timber, consuming every tree in its path, and leaving a drift of ash.

Speaking of which…

Under the incendiary smolder of his riveted stare, I bundle my warm and tingling body into my Academy bathrobe and clear my throat. “Where’s Ash?”

Zephyr blinks and drags his focus from my boobs to my face. “Ash is currently acting as my regent on the Avalon throne. Never fear. You shall soon see him.”

Resentment curdles in my tummy and floods my mouth, sharp and astringent as vinegar. “Guess you’re taking right off, then? To swap places with him in Avalon? Since you can’t leave the throne vacant during a civil war.”

His chin dips in a somber nod. “I am indeed returning to Avalon.”

Before my heart can totally plummet in free fall, he keeps going. “But I won’t be returning alone.”

“Oh, yeah?” I level him a suspicious look. “Well, I’ve got finals this week, we all do. So…?”

“My bride.” For the first time since I opened my eyes and found him here, his cold face thaws in a rueful smile that makes my heart skip a beat. “I come to you not empty-handed.”

My gaze shoots to the severed head on my desk. “Well, obvi.”

He chuffs out a breath. Impatience laced with a subterranean note of humor. “Zarina Gemini, I come bearing more than my cousin’s head.”

Deftly he plucks an envelope I haven’t even noticed from the nightstand and offers it to me with a graceful flourish. Green parchment thick as velvet, embossed with my name in swirly gold letters, rich with the scent of burnt amber and summer roses.

It’s dangerous to accept anything from a Fae. That’s one of the ways they trap you.

But, you know, either I trust the guy or I don’t.

My lips part and I reach—

Quick as a striking rattlesnake, Vasili snatches the envelope from Zephyr’s grip. “What’s this?”

“Hey.” I give Vasili my annoyed queen look. “That’s mine.”

Zephyr tilts his own chin at a regal angle that’s positively glacial. “That is an enchanted invitation—for all of you—to attend the social event of the Avalon season. The Faerie Ball.”

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