Page 40 of Gemini Queen
I stare at Vasili Romanov like he’s the only thing in the whole world that matters.
And he stares at me the exact same way, pupils swelling to shrink his irises, lips parted, hardly breathing. It’s like the two of us are locked together, two scorpions in a bottle, barbed tails raised and dripping venom. It’s like the world has shrunk and we’ve expanded to become each other’s whole universe.
“Come on then, bad boy,” I breathe, a flat-out challenge for his ears alone. My hair’s floating and my skin’s tingling and we’re both breathing fast. “Let’s do this. Just you and me.”
“VASILI NIKOLAIEVICH ROMANOV.”From somewhere behind me, the whiplash of Compulsion sparks and crackles through the fraught air. The warlock’s pale gaze snaps free of mine, the blade vanishes, and suddenly I too am free. I collapse in a heap right where I’m kneeling, head sagging, bones liquid, breath spilling from my lungs like water.
My nemesis uncoils to his feet with sinuous grace like a cobra rising from a basket. “Just having a bit of sport with the new freshman, Master Aries. Surely a future queen can handle a little light hazing from the common folk.”
That curl of contempt in his tone brings me right to my feet. Though I’m still a good foot shorter than the Goblin King. He slithers past me like I’m not even there, all his terrifying attention now focused on Lucius, who’s standing at the head of the stairs in his professorial tweed and frowning mildly at his student like Vasili forgot to turn in his homework or something.
Frankly, having been the recipient of theBram Stoker’s Draculaversion of Lucius in a temper, all red-eyed and fangy, I’m a little disappointed that he’s not showing more of his wolf to the horrible Vasili.
Ronin is looming behind Lucius, glaring at Vasili with those molten eyes like he’s going to light him on fire. That’s a more satisfying reaction, though I’m pretty sure it’s not on my account, since Ronin and Vasili have apparently been mortal enemies since well before I showed up.
Still, I’m definitely relieved to see him, even if I have a score to settle with him too.
And even if he’s the one who killed the last queen.
Dez is here, looking flushed and jubilant, and I realize she must’ve run straight to Lucius once I drew Vasili’s fire. Smart girl that one, and an ally worth having.
By now Vasili and Lucius are eyeball to eyeball near the stairs. The Goblin King’s taller and he makes the most of it, shoving his hands in his pockets and sneering down at the shifter from an elegant slouch.
“Behave yourself, Mr. Romanov,” Lucius says with disappointing mildness. “I’m disturbed by your aggression toward Ms. Maali. I want a thousand-word essay on the ethics of telekinesis on my desk by first period tomorrow.”
“And I want four races that aren’t facing an extinction event thanks to the complete ineptitude of our ruling royals.” Vasili’s voice slices like a blade through the riveted silence. “Somehow, Master Aries, I doubt either one of us is particularly likely to have his desire satisfied.”
Then the holy terror saunters past his teacher without any apparent objection from Lucius, and my mouth falls open in complete indignation. Lucius just took him to task for choking Dez like he absolutely should have, but the shifter didn’t say one damn word about Vasili practically taking my eye out during his attack on me.
Who’s calling the shots at this Academy anyway?
Lucius stirs and glances at his watch. “On second thought, Mr. Romanov, let’s make that two thousand words due at midnight. You’re excused from History of Magic to facilitate a timely start. After all, I’m not entirely unreasonable.”
Vasili’s shoulders stiffen, but this time he doesn’t mouth off, probably because now he’s dealing with Ronin who’s just prowled into his path, and Vasili’s absolutely not giving an inch. Ronin’s mouthwatering in his plum-colored Academy blazer, with inky flames licking above the pale collar against his copper skin and his black hair in a sleek tail that pours over one shoulder and makes him even more feral.
The two of them smolder at each other from barely three feet apart. Like they’re either going to dismember each other where they stand…
Or burn the church down with a blistering kiss.
Seriously, my guy-guy sexual fantasies are getting out of hand. Not that I’m going to be having any fantasies starring the Goblin King unless they involve boiling him in oil while he begs me for mercy.
“Mr. Pendragon,” Lucius murmurs.
Ronin shoots his teacher a sulky look. Oozing insolence from every pore, he idles out of Vasili’s path.
“Your day of reckoning is rapidly approaching as well, Pendragon,” the Goblin King hisses. Then, like the reptile he is, he snakes downstairs and the shadows swallow him.
When he’s gone, the entire church lets out a collective breath.
“Ms. Gemini,” Lucius says quietly, before I can actually unwind. “You’re due in Mistress Agrippina’s Genetics of Witchcraft class in less than ten minutes. Ms. Maali will show you the way. Do try not to cause any more trouble.”
Which only makes me feel even more indignant. This all seems grossly unfair since, one, I didn’t start the last trouble but only defended myself from it and, two, now I barely have time to eat. There’s also three, the fact that I don’t actually want to be here on this island at all. And Lucius Aries has no idea how much trouble I can really cause once I put my mind to it.
But he’s definitely going to find out.
Chapter Thirteen
Lucius
