Page 3 of Gemini Queen
Chapter Two
Ronin
The literal second she strolls onto the scene of Wang Tai-Sun’s charming wee orgy, I recognize Zara Gemini. Strutting from the lift like the spoiled bitch owns the whole bloody building.
While the unsuspecting reason for tonight’s festivities cons her way past Wang’s top-notch security and beelines for the booze like the party bitch I’ve boned up on in her file, I order another Macallan and check out my target.
Despite the teal hair and glitter nail polish and platform boots that ought to spellTrailer Trashwith capital T’s, this alley cat manages somehow to project old Hollywood. She’s got big eyes and lush lips and soft curves under that swanky leather dress that hugs her tiny waist. She’s got a California tan and streamlined legs and a saucy sway to an ass that’s practically begging to be spanked.
Long story short? She’s a bit like a street-punk version of a vintage pinup girl like Rita Hayworth. She’s Scarlett Johannson in a wig.
And that Gemini bitch is crackling with so much psychic power her mane is floating around her shoulders and lightning practically shoots from her fingers.
“Do correct me if I’ve missed something. Because I know how much you enjoy that sort of thing.” I chisel every word from the ice of my hatred for all things Gemini and drop my commentary into the ear of the chap standing quietly by my side. “Thought you said she rejected her heritage. Suppressed her gifts. Somehow, Lucius, Zara Gemini doesn’t appear to be particularly suppressed to me.”
We’re not really on a first name basis, he and I, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to call the blokeMaster Ariesoutside Academy grounds.
“I never said she wasn’t gifted,” Lucius murmurs, in that voice of his like gray silk, so soft I lean close to hear. “She possesses all the raw potential of her Gemini DNA, spliced with the volatility of her Scorpio recessives. I said she wasn’ttrained, Mr. Pendragon. An oversight I fully intend to remedy.”
As a survivor of Lucius Aries’ rather draconian instructional methods myself, I can personally attest the Gemini witch is destined for an unpleasant education. Too bloody bad, because it can’t be unpleasant enough to suit me. If not for this rogue American upstart and her precious Gemini pedigree, my twin sister would be alive and thriving today at the Icarus Academy.
What happened to Gwen is purely the Geminis’ fault.
That prick Damien might have passed beyond my vengeance. But his sweet sister Zara’s right the fuck in front of me.
I watch the Gemini girl sip her champagne and sway to the tunes. The way her thighs flex and her hips swivel should be a felony offense. And there’s no doubt she fancies the attention. But there’s a vigilance lurking in that sultry face that tells me she’s going to make her play. Her turquoise eyes are practically glowing with all that Gemini power.
“What if she doesn’t survive your training?” I fire the question at my headmaster like a crossbow bolt.
Because surely a bloke can hope.
And, well, I can’t deny a certain wicked part of me does enjoy yanking the wolf’s tail.
I’ll admit I’m wondering how far Lucius Aries will let me take this delicious defiance.
“Then she won’t be the first, will she?” Lucius says briskly. But I know he’s far less indifferent to the grim consequences of a vacant Gemini seat than he pretends. “In that case, we’ll look for a Gemini recessive with enough power to claim her place. Meanwhile, you and Vasili can continue your reign of terror over the student body unimpeded.”
His dry tone draws my eye. Which I’ve been trying my damnedest not to allow all night. At the Academy, I can just manage to ignore the savagery that lures me under his quietly contained exterior and those whiskey-colored eyes that look like a wolf’s about to leap for my throat and, gods, that mouth I’d kill to kiss despite all the viciously cutting things he says with it. He’s my fucking teacher and it’s his job to enforce every fucking rule.
Including his own personal rule that forbids teacher-student hookups.
And enforcing every rule at the Icarus Academy is one duty Lucius Aries discharges with positive relish.
Tonight, dark hair untied and loose around his shoulders, his scholarly tweed replaced with a black leather jacket and a russet silk shirt I want to unbutton with my teeth, I can barely stand to look at him.
Still, I manage to parrot my lines. “I hate Vasili Romanov of House Scorpio. Nearly as much as I hate Neo Mercury of House Capricorn. Yet here I fucking am, bringing Neo his fucking mate since he isn’t ruthless enough to bring her in himself.”
Lucius tilts his head, those tousled curls thick and soft as a wolf’s pelt whispering against his broad shoulders. “Am I going to have a problem with you tonight, Mr. Pendragon?”
The beast is rising in his eyes, pupils swelling to give just a glimpse of the monster that lurks inside. I’m not House Aries, so there’s no genetic link, but as my headmaster, he’s the alpha in ourdomusat Icarus.
And he knows how to enforce his dominance.
“No. I know what I need to do.” Sullenly I claim my whiskey and walk away before I lunge for his fucking throat.
Time to get moving. Time to undertake the odious little chore Lucius dragged me across six bloody time zones to discharge. Time to make someone’s life a living hell.
Across the way, Zara Gemini’s just noticed me. And I don’t want her knowing I noticed her first.
