Page 2 of The Bound Zodiac

I thought back to the other night, in my dream, where Jamie showed me the beauty of the Pisces home world. An entire planet that the Aelari called home once upon a time, sitting there, out in the stars just waiting for its inhabitants to return. Was it so wrong of them to want to go home?

Dad leaned back, arms crossed. “Still doesn’t mean I have to like it. You’ve already got enough on your plate without ancient secret societies circling.”

“They’re offering to help me at least. They have scholars with information about Ophiuchus, and how to control my powers. Every time I try to expand them, I run the risk of burning myself out. Plus, if Nightfall’s really coming here next week, I’m going to need every advantage I can get to keep the peace.”

The words hung there between us, and for a second the pub’s low chatter felt distant. Mom’s expression softened. “Well, just as long as you can walk away if it gets to be too much. In the end, it has to be a choice.”

I smiled softly. “I know, mom.”

By the time we left the pub, the sky had deepened to indigo and the street lamps cast long golden pools on the cobblestones. Mom looped her arm through mine as we walked back toward the inn. For the first time in weeks, the ache in my chest felt a little less intense.

Tomorrow I’d face the Order. Next week I’d face Nightfall. But tonight, at least, I had my parents, a full stomach, and Noodle was fat and happy.

The clock on my nightstand glowed 1:13 a.m. by the time I queued up the next episode of Outlander and sank back against the headboard. An empty marshmallow bag lay crumpled beside me, and I’d been mechanically tossing the last few to Noodle, who caught each one perfectly.

My phone was propped against a stack of books on the nightstand, Lydia’s face filling the screen from her dorm room at Dominion. We’d started this ritual a week ago. Late-night FaceTimes synced to whatever mindless show we could find, just to keep from drifting apart. It helped, mostly. I missed my best friends so much it ached.

“I still can’t believe Claire went back for him,” Lydia said, her voice tinny through the speaker. “That woman has zero sense of self-preservation.”

I smiled, tossing another marshmallow. Noodle snapped it mid-air. “I’m not even going to pretend like I wouldn’t have made the same decision.” I blushed as Jamie The Sexiest Red Haired Highlander To Ever Live Fraser, slowly walked towards the camera shirtless and sweaty.

I reached for the last marshmallow, split it in half, and lobbed one piece toward Noodle while popping the other into my mouth.

“So where are your five hunky new boyfriends tonight?” Lydia wiggled her eyebrows. “No sleepovers?”

“A girl needs her me time,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“You’re on your period.”

“Yep.”

Lydia snorted. “Same, actually. Even though Rafe made it very clear that it wasn’t a dealbreaker for him.”

I arched my brow. “Got yourself a certified freak in your harem, Lyd.”

She shrugged. “Don’t knock it till you try it.”

“Sure.”

‘What is period?’

I looked down at Noodle. “Great question. It’s when a woman’s internal organs stage a monthly revolt and evacuate through her vagina, taking her dignity and everyone’s good mood with them.”

“Did he just ask what a period is?” Lydia smiled at him. “Don’t listen to her, Nood. She’s being dramatic.”

“I really am not.”

Noodle glanced between us. ‘I am the more evolved species.’

“Bold claim from the guy with no limbs.”

The simulation chamber shimmered into existence around me, the familiar hum of Imperium’s training wards replaced by the low drone of airplane engines and the artificial chill of recycled air. I stood in the narrow aisle of a commercial jet, the seats stretching endlessly in both directions, passengers frozen in mid-conversation or scrolling on their phones.

Lucas scanned the overhead bins carefully, like they might hide a bane inside of them, while Rowan’s broad frame filled the space behind, tracking every emergency exit or entry point, to which there were very little.

“This is idiotic,” I muttered, starlight flickering at my fingertips as I tested how quickly I could shape a dagger with it. “Bane don’t swarm planes. They hit crowds, town squares, places packed with life force. Not a tin can at thirty thousand feet with maybe two hundred snacks on board.”

Lucas shot me a look. “Told you the trainers had a sadistic streak. Rowan, on my mark.”