Libra Ascending: An Epic Urban Fantasy Romance (Zodiac Guardians Book 1) by Tamar Sloan (adult books to read .TXT) 📗

she wouldn’t have lost Cassandra as a friend. Maybe she would have saved Cassandra from him. She might even have been adopted years ago because Sister Agatha wouldn’t have excluded her from events in fear that she’d scare off other parents.

Brielle shakes her head as she walks down the hall to her next class. No, things couldn’t have gone any other way. Because warning people about who Mr. Sinclair really had been the right thing to do, and Brielle always tries to do the right thing, even if it costs her.

But none of that matters anymore. She has a second chance. The Pierces are interested in adopting her.

She just needs to be...normal.

4

Tristan

Mirror Point High looks like so many of the other high schools Tristan’s seen, he doubts he’ll even remember it once they leave. Multi-storied and square. Brown brick and narrow windows. He scans it, thinking of his vision, but nothing about it feels familiar...

Of course it’s not. There’s no way it would be that easy—rock up to school, find a Zodiac Heir, take them home to proudly show Zarius and Tess.

Feel like they’ve actually got a chance at winning this.

Standing in the parking lot, Tristan hears the screech of tires. He holds still, pretending he hasn’t noticed as his body goes on high alert.

Zarius’s voice whispers through his mind. Skins are everywhere.

Chardis chooses his vessels carefully, infiltrating their minds and taking control of their bodies. The possession blackens their hearts until it’s the same pithy void as Chardis’s soul. Unfortunately, it also gives them unnatural strength.

And the ability to turn invisible.

You drop your guard, you’re dead.

Zarius hasn’t sugarcoated the truth during their training. Some days, his words are as brutal as his kicks. But he can’t afford to. If Tristan isn’t ready for anything, anytime, his days end.

And so does the Universe.

But someone shouts, there’s a brief argument, and it’s over. The usual bustle of students resumes around him, one or two glancing at Tristan, most too preoccupied with each other or their cell phones to notice the new kid.

Tristan doesn’t mind. It gives him time to scope out the place.

He strolls toward the entrance, looking casual and self-assured. He’s learned this whole process is quicker if he hooks up with the right kids from the get-go. He just has to find them…

There’s a wide set of stairs that lead up the front door, pale and stained. To the left, Tristan notices a bunch of kids on the other side, prowling in the shadows. The Outcasts, as he likes to call them. They like to wear black boots and too much eye-liner. They’re so busy perfecting their blank stares and life-sucks attitude to know what’s going on in the school.

They’re worth keeping a note of as it’s possible some of the Zodiacs have struggled to assimilate, especially with their powers unchecked, but they’re not the people Tristan wants to talk to right now.

Someone sweeps past him, and Tristan registers the sharp scent of soap. Three teens, clothes neatly pressed, stride up the steps, books in hand. The High Achievers. They get the best grades, love to talk about books and Anime, and generally come from well-to-do families. Usually intact families. Odds are, they’re not a Zodiac. Plus, they spend too much time in the library to be of use.

Tristan hears a tinkling laugh and he slows, knowing he’s getting close. A bunch of kids are hanging around the doors on the right, laughing and chatting. All girls, their hair straightened and glossy, their midriffs peeking between their leggings and tees. Two of the girls crowd in close, lips pouting. Tristan waits for it. Yep, there it is. The requisite selfies.

They lean back, scrolling through the multitude of photos they just snapped. “Do you think it works? Maybe we should take it again?”

Tristan blows out a breath through pursed lips. He’s fallen for this before, thinking these are the people he needs to integrate with. It wasted days when they could’ve been moving onto the next school.

These guys are the Fringe Group. The Wannabes, the Second-in-Line. The Popular Clique would never question their selfies. Even if they hated it they know you don’t show that sort of insecurity right on the front steps of the school.

The Popular Clique knows you look like you’re having fun. Always.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Tristan leans against a concrete column. If he’s found the Fringe group, then it’s only a matter of time. The next part is inevitable.

It happens only a second later. The glance, the cute little wave. The frantic patting down of hair.

They’re here.

The group is smaller than he’s seen in other schools, but then again, Mirror Point High is one of the smaller places they’ve been to. Generally, Zarius and Tess prefer to hit the bigger schools. More butts for your buck as Zarius likes to say. Tess doesn’t bother to correct him anymore—“bang, Zarius, we’re not buying backsides!”— because they get the gist. More teens to check out in one location.

But desperate times mean desperate measures.

Three of them—two boys, one girl—are waiting at the end of the pavement beside the parking lot. A girl sashays towards them, pressing the button of a remote over her shoulder as a silver Mercedes flashes its indicator lights behind her.

A blonde girl.

Holy pitch. The blonde girl.

She joins the others, rolling her eyes and laughing at something they said. “I know. I never would’ve got the smell of poor out if she’d hit.”

They walk past him, secure in their knowledge they’re lords of this kingdom. Tristan’s heart is hammering. It’s the girl from his vision. Less bruised, far more conscious, but definitely the same girl.

The thought flashes through his mind before he can stop it. Could she be a Zodiac Heir?

Could she be the Gemini Twin?

Shaking his head and telling himself to get a grip, Tristan picks up his books. Just because the girl was in a vision doesn’t make her one of them.

But it does mean he needs