The Court of Stars

Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

I couldn't stop shaking. It was as if my body was set on vibration mode and my mind was on replay of what happened. I could still feel Gilen's hands as though he was a phantom. Yes, he had made me doing other things to satisfy him, but that was truly the first time we had sex since that one night, and this was the first time he raped me.

"Are you... Do you want me to do anything?" Lupus still clutched onto me like a leech, his eyes full of concern. I tried to shrug him off earlier, but he just growled and held on tighter. So, I let him hold me because I knew his touch wasn't tainted, that he wouldn't hurt me. But it didn't mean I didn't shudder every time he moved.

Ara's fingers clenched and unclenched around the crown in her lap. It was beautiful. It was a crown of glimmering blossoms from the sea, and red, Indian jewels set as roses. The metal band was made of obsidian, though it contained a few dents, and was melted into a pattern of an ivy branch. Though it didn't match Ara's style, I was sure she'd still look gorgeous in it.

As if reading my thoughts, Ara looked up and pierced me with her sapphire eyes. Lupus clutched me tighter, making me flush against him, but I ignored the way his heartbeat rose as Ara's gaze intensined.

"You have a bruise on your cheek." She reached her hand up and brushed her thumb on my cheek, but I flinched at the soft touch. At the same moment, the carriage was sent forward and I was sent flying, landing in the laps of Casey and Ara. Ara laughed as Casey's face turned the same color as his favorite wine, but I didn't think it was funny at all. I just wanted to go home, to sit in the bath and scrub myself clean of the Aries and sleep where no one could touch me. I scrambled back to my seat and pushed myself against the wall, tight enough that Lupus couldn't wrap around me again.

My eyes wouldn't meet theirs as we pulled up to the Virgo Palace. It was a massive mauve palace, tall with spiralling towers. Maidens laid out on the front lawn, tanning and enjoying picnics in the frigid outdoors. A woman sashayed out of the gates, her black hair ending in a deep pink color that matched her eyes. She wore a simple tank top and fringed shorts and I wondered how no one was freezing. Couldn't they feel the cold air?

"Paige!" Ara ran and picked up the small woman, spinning her in the air. I rolled my eyes at the public affection. Ara judged me for being friends with Aquila when she was friends with a fucking Zodian? Yeah, okay, that made sense.

The crown slipped from her hands and just as it was about to clatter onto the ground, Casey swept it up in the air and hugged Paige the moment Ara set her down. The way they looked at each other was intimate, as if they had had a relationship in the past. While it wasn't uncommon for two Zodians to date, it was hard to imagine Casey with anyone. The mere thought of it shifted something inside of me.

"Please, come inside and get something to eat." The Virgo waved her hand back towards the palace, her glittered nails flashing in the early light. She puckered her dark lips, as if in deep thought, before her eyes lit up. Her eyes were mono-lidded with an epicanthal fold, swept with light pink makeup and winged liner. Prominent cheekbones and full lips had me instantly jealous. She was so gorgeous, why would Casey ever leave? She was probably kind and cared about how he felt. And, she didn't have a broken past.

Paige strolled over to Lupus and I, her lips spread in a thin smile. "Hello, Southern Crown. It is a pleasure to meet you." Her voice was soft and she extended her arm to me. If I was short, then she was tiny. My own mouth turned down in a scowl. What an utter lie. It was never a pleasure to meet me, everyone just said that to be polite. Casey frowned back at me, obviously displeased with my attitude.

Ignoring the Virgo's outstretched arm, I almost toppled over my own feet as I rushed into the nearest restroom. Vomit made its way up my throat, only liquid from my lack of appetite. Tears pricked my cheeks, yet I didn't even know why I was crying. Was it for my dead twin, the raping by the Aries, or the fact that I would be lonely forever? Maybe it was a mixture of all three.