Page 81 of Gemini Wicked

I know it’s for reasons, not because I’m stupid, that my grades are in the crapper. But I’m feeling pretty judged and defensive and overall inadequate, in a way I’m definitely not used to, since my own predecessor spouted that shit on live TV about me being too wicked and unworthy to be queen.

Neo pops up from the table and hurries after me. “Yeah, babe, but that’s only because you missed the whole first semester.”

Which is true. I wouldn’t even be here now if Lucius and Ronin hadn’t kidnapped me right off a penthouse roof in Singapore last winter and dragged my ass through the wards.

Guess that’s what you’d call a cute meet, right?

Yeah, not so much. At the time, I was pissed as fuck.

Now it looks like maybe they screwed up.

You know, pinning all their save-the-world queen hopes on me.

“One.” I park my hip against Xhevith’s snout and tick off my academic shortcomings on my glittery fingers. “I’m shaky in Witching World History. Two, I’ve been struggling all quarter in Common Magics. Three, I’m barely passing Science of Witchcraft. If I don’t pass my finals I’m, like, seriously at risk of failing the whole year.”

“You’ll pass your finals, Ms. Gemini, if I have anything to say about it. Don’t forget you’re acing your independent study with me,” Lucius rumbles. That’s his wolf lurking in his voice, because our turbulent independent study sessions in the Belfry are how the two of us first started fucking. “You’re the strongest lightning witch the arcane races have known in decades—if not centuries. I truly believe we’ve only begun to explore the depths of your power.”

“You are a fully manifested dragon shifter queen.” Max pushes aside his empty plate and stares at me with broody eyes that smolder with heat. “And you are fertile. You and I will breed clutches of beautiful dragonets to restore our failing bloodline.”

That’s Mr. One Track Mind with the breeding kink weighing in right there.

“Plus you’re a wicked telepath, love, thanks to that badass Valyrian pedigree you’re rocking,” Ronin calls from the kitchen over the gurgle of running water.

“And you levitate,” Vasili purrs, “due to your delicious Mogadon DNA.”

“Yeah, I know. My whole genetic code’s like a tossed salad with mystery dressing on top. That’s the whole reason the Senate voted me in as queen in waiting.” I stand on tiptoe and stretch to give Xhevith a good scratch under his eye ridges.

The attention makes his inner lids lower over those golden orbs in lazy pleasure.

“Here’s the thing,” I say softly, because Xhev’s getting sleepy and I don’t wanna wake him up. “If I’ve got all these dormant recessives that keep popping up and manifesting as weird strains of witchcraft we didn’t even know I have, who’s to say Cleo doesn’t have a few tricks up her own witchy sleeve? She’s half Aquarius and half Fae. We already know she’s a sea dragon shifter, and they’re supposed to be extinct.”

“Her Unseelie pedigree is no enigma,” Zephyr says coolly from the table. “If this stray mortal you speak of truly is Messalina’s lost daughter with my late uncle Oberon, that connection would make her my first cousin.”

“Yeah, that’s another part of what’s fucking with my head.” I groan and lean my forehead into Xhevith. “You two being cousins. And of course I boinked both of you. Think she’s gonna cause problems for you too?”

“I do not.” Zephyr’s tone gets edgy. “Your queen Messalina irrevocably renounced her daughter’s claim to my throne the day she stole the babe from Avalon.” He pauses, and his voice turns diffident. “Still, the girl’s Unseelie pedigree offers… insights… into the type of Faerie magic she’s most likely to manifest. These are insights I’d be willing to share.”

“And what will you demand in exchange?” Vasili sounds nothing but suspicious, and honestly I can’t blame him. “The Unseelie offer nothing for free.”

“Consider it a bridal gift,” Zephyr says tightly. “I’ve been called a generous lover.”

The clatter of crockery and a sudden curse drift from the kitchen.

Shit. I’d bet real money Ronin just dropped a plate in there.

Lucius murmurs Ronin’s name and his chair scrapes back. I know he’s going to check and make sure our guy’s okay.

“Hear that? Zephyr’s gonna help, we all are. It’s gonna be okay, babe.” Neo hovers anxiously in my periphery. “I know it.”

I turn and pull him into me for mutual comfort.

“She was more than my bestie, okay?” I sigh into the side of my fated mate’s neck. His soft purple curls tickle my face. “And I’m not even talking about us being friends with benefits. She was my accomplice in my burglar days—and she was wicked good. She’s always been sneaky. And smart.”

“You’re smart too, Zara. Once we know the test questions, I’ll help you study. You’re gonna do great.” My bookworm wraps his arms around my waist and tucks my head into his nice broad shoulder.

Gratefully I snuggle into his solid warmth and breathe in his clean soapy smell of sage and lavender. “I just feel like I need as much of a head start as possible to bone up for that fucking exam.”

“There’s no need to fret over the timing, my dear.” Lucius emerges from the kitchen and calmly gathers a stack of plates for the sink. “I expect you’ll find the examination announcement, with all the necessary details, posted in the student commons this morning.”

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