Sorrow and Starlight: Zodiac Academy 8

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, graphic violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, suicidal ideation, and sexual content.

Gwendalina “Darcy” Vega struggles against the Shadow Beast form—a monstrous creature in whose body she is trapped due to Lavinia Umbra’s curse. She resists the beast’s desire to return to the battlefield, where she recently mauled her friend, Geraldine. Instead, she flees into the mountains toward the fallen star that crashed there.

She returns to her Fae form at the lake where the star fell. Her reflection in the water shows that her eyes have changed to black, erasing the silver rings that show her Elysian mating bond to Lance Orion, and her magic is gone. She tries to scrub the dirt and blood from her hands, only for the lake to brighten and show her a vision. Her long-dead parents speak to her, warning her that she must harness the darkness within her and trust in herself.

Roxanya “Tory” Vega grieves the loss of her soulmate, Darius Acrux, on the battlefield. She considers suicide with the dagger that killed him but is stopped by the thought that Darcy is still in danger.