Beneath the words was a crude drawing of a snake with its head cut off.
“Lovely,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant despite the chill running down my spine. I passed the note to Percy, whose expression darkened as he read it.
“This isn’t a prank.”
Eris took the note from him, examining it closely. “The magic on your door was designed to do more than just scare you. If Draco hadn’t disarmed it…” He trailed off, but I could fill in the blanks. Someone had wanted to hurt me, or worse.
“Who would do this?” I asked, sinking onto the edge of my bed.
“Someone who doesn’t want the thirteenth zodiac to exist,” Aiden said grimly. “There are plenty who think your designation upsets the natural order of things.”
Draco was still scanning the room, his magic probing for any other traps. Tendrils of purple like fanned out from his fingertips, traveling throughout the room, over surfaces, underfurniture and even around the seam of my window glass. “We need to report this to Director Waverly.”
“And then what?” I asked. “Hide in my room? Let them win?”
“No,” Percy said. “Then you move into the shield quarters. Tonight.”
THIRTEEN
Aiden
I didn’t waitfor Jupiter’s response. The moment Percy made the declaration, I moved to her dresser and yanked open the top drawer. Someone in this academy wanted to hurt her. Maybe even kill her. The thought sent a wave of possessive rage through me that I didn’t care to examine too closely.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Jupiter demanded as I began pulling out stacks of clothing.
“Packing. Unless you’d prefer to stay here and wait for whoever left that charming note to come back and finish what they started.”
She crossed her arms. “I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for years.”
“Clearly,” I said, gesturing to the threatening note still in Percy’s hand. I moved to her closet next, pulling out shirts and pants, not bothering to fold anything. The urgency coursing through me wouldn’t allow for neatness.
Draco had already found a duffel bag and was methodically collecting her books and study materials from the desk. Eris was gathering toiletries from the bathroom, and Percy stood guardat the door, glaring down the hallway as if whoever it was, was lurking nearby.
“This is ridiculous,” Jupiter protested, trying to grab clothes from my hands. “You can’t just decide where I live!”
I caught her wrist, my fingers wrapping around it entirely. She was so small compared to me, yet the power thrumming beneath her skin was undeniably strong. “Someone just tried to hurt you. They got past security, past the wards, and into your private space. Next time they might do worse than leave a note. Fuck if they’re getting past me.”
I felt her fear beneath the anger, and it only strengthened my resolve. She could hate me all she wanted, but I wasn’t leaving her here unprotected.
“We have a room,” Draco said, his words gentler than mine as he carefully packed her notebooks. “It’s been empty for three years. Waiting for our axis.”
“I never agreed to be your axis permanently!” she snapped, but her resistance was weakening. I could feel it, her exhaustion, her uncertainty.
“The bond says otherwise,” Percy interjected from the door. “And whether any of us planned this or not, you’re connected to us now. That makes you our responsibility.”
“Oh, how romantic. Like a pet you didn’t ask for but now have to feed.”
Eris emerged from the bathroom with an armful of her products. I returned to packing, moving to her nightstand. When I opened the drawer, I paused at what I found. A small silver dagger with ancient runes etched along the blade, a worn photograph of what must be her parents, and a journal bound in dark leather. Personal items. Precious things. I handled them more carefully than I had her clothes, wrapping the dagger in a t-shirt before placing it in the bag.
“Don’t touch that,” she snapped, seeing the journal in my hands.
I placed it in her hands instead. “You can carry this yourself.”
“I’m not going,” she said, but there was less conviction in her voice.
‘Yes, we are,’Noodle declared, slithering across the bed to the duffel bag Draco was packing.‘Safer with them. Many eyes to watch.’
Jupiter looked betrayed. “Et tu, Noodle?”
