Wicked Omen (The Royals: Warlock Court Book 1), page 10
Leo lifted his arm and she spun under it. He pulled her in tight then pushed her back out. “Later, girl.”
“What?”
He let go of her hand and she stumbled into me. Her back pressed against my chest as I caught her. “Whoa, careful.”
She spun around in my arms and looked up at me with those sparkling emerald eyes. “Are you here to drag me back and ground me?”
I leaned in and the smell of her strawberry shampoo smacked into me and I fought not to inhale the scent. Her grip was soft on my arms and I didn’t let go of her. “I just want to keep you safe, Astrid. I’m not here to be a killjoy.”
“Could’ve fooled me.” A slower song came on and couples rose to their feet and paired off. Each of them started to sway to the music around us.
Astrid dropped her hands and turned away from me. I didn’t know what got into me, but I reached out and grabbed her arm. I spun her back around to face me and pulled her close to my chest. When she stood frozen, I placed her one hand on my shoulder and let my fingers trail down her side to the small of her back. I wrapped my other hand around hers and pulled it close. The moment my fingers brushed over the small of her back, she stepped in closer. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t shove me away. Instead, she stood in the circle of my arms.
“Don’t tell me you don’t know how to dance.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “I know how, do you?”
I fell into step with the slow beat and guided her with me. My traitor heart raced, but I was doing my damnedest to ignore it. “See.”
“You’ve mastered the side to side motion. Very good.” So sassy, yet she couldn’t hide the way her lips pulled up into the smallest smile. I might’ve missed it if I hadn’t been looking.
We fell into an awkward silence that I couldn’t stand. “You snuck out tonight.”
“I did.” She lifted her chin at me, challenging me to say something.
“We have rules for a reason.”
When she bit her bottom lip, my eyes were immediately drawn to them. She signed. “I’ve never been good with rules.”
“So I see.” It made perfect sense. Warlocks were never good at following any type of authority.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Her hand tightened in mine and I wasn’t sure if she noticed she’d done it.
She was so close to me, the warmth of her body seeped into mine. She was small. So much smaller than me. Her head only came to my chest. Yet she was fierce. I’d thrown her in the deep end at the school and she didn’t sink. Instead, she swam, making friends and going to parties.
“Doesn’t matter. From now on it’d be good if you listened to what I say.”
“You know what would be good?”
“What?”
She stepped away from me. “If you stopped trying to control someone who can’t be controlled.”
Such a warlock. I was tempted to laugh, but I held it in. She turned and strolled away from me and my eyes were locked on the way her hair swayed with each step she took. It fell in a thick wave of dark red all the way down to her hips. I took a step to follow behind her when Kitty blocked my path, stopping me from following Astrid.
“Can I cut in?” When she smiled at me, the term “dealing with the devil” came to mind.
“I think I’m done dancing tonight.” I looked over her head at where Astrid was talking with Leo, Cross, and a smaller girl I didn’t know. She playfully smacked Leo in the arm, no doubt for him shoving her into me.
Kitty place her hand on my arm and ran it up and down from my elbow to my shoulder. “Then we can do something else.”
She batted her eyelashes at me and pouted her lips. I took a small step back from her. “Another time maybe.”
“For you? I have all the time in the world.”
Maze sprinted from the darkness up to Astrid. His face was ashen and covered in sweat. He yelled something to the group. Cross’ head shot up as he searched over the crowd. The moment he looked at me, I knew something was wrong. Leo threw his arm around Astrid as Maze led them away from the other students. Cross fell into line behind them with the smaller girl by his side. The two of them scanned the crowd for something. I didn’t know what.
Kitty walked her fingers up my chest. “How about you and I—”
I turned from her and ran to catch up to Astrid. If something was happening, I’d make sure it didn’t happen to her. I moved next to Maze. “What happened? What’d you see?”
His eyes were wide and his face flush. Bright green smoke seeped from his hands and he ran back toward where the student portal was. “Warlock resistance, lots of them heading this way.”
I reached behind my back and pulled out the blade I kept hidden. With my other hand, I summoned a ball of electrified magic. A small hand curled into the back of my shirt, holding on. I only spared a second to look back to find Astrid right behind me. Her eyes were round and her cheeks were pink with exertion. The first energy ball fired down from the cliffs surrounding us. Maze dove out of the way a moment before it crashed into the ground in front of us. The ground exploded at my feet, sending sand flying in all different directions.
Astrid yanked my shirt and I stumbled back. Another ball hit where I’d just been standing. She. . .saved me. Students ran screaming toward the portal and we were trapped within the throng. They jammed into the portal, clocking it up and trampling each other.
“We can’t stay here!”
Hooded figures scrambled down the sides of the cliffs like ants charging to war. I extinguished my energy ball and threw my arm out, shoving people out of our way. I grabbed Astrid’s hand and ran toward a cave on the other side of the beach. We were sitting ducks, trapped by the cliffs and no place to run. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I should’ve never let Logan talk me into staying. Strategically this place sucked, and I knew it. But I wanted to be Mr. Fun guy and now the last of the nearly extinct fifth bloodline was in danger.
A hooded figure dropped down from the cliff and charged forward. Though I couldn’t see a face, I knew it was a guy because of his hulking size. A bright red energy ball lit up his palm. He stopped in front of us and raised his arm, ready to fire that ball. I planted my feet and threw my knife. It sank into his shoulder, stopping him dead in his tracks. The energy ball dropped from his hand and fell onto the hem of his robe. It caught fire and the man started to scream as the rest of the robe went up in flames.
Astrid pulled back on my hand. “Beckett, go, we have to go.”
Cross moved to Astrid’s other side. He held his sword at the ready. “Where are they all coming from?”
“The better question is how did they know we were here?” Astrid ducked down and another energy ball sailed over her head and hit the ground behind the terrified students.
“Beck, portal now.” She let go of my hand.
I tossed a blue orb a few feet away. “Come on, let’s move.”
She planted her feet. “These guys are here for me, for us. We have to get the rest of the students out of here first.”
She was right. I knew she was right. But there was so much at stake here. “You go first, and Cross and I will make sure the rest get out okay.”
She shook her head then cupped her hands around her mouth calling out to the terrified students. “Guys, over here! New portal!”
Half the students turned and started stampeding toward us. Astrid stepped to the side and shook out her hands. “Come on, work, damn it.”
Another volley of energy balls and it was like everyone was dodging land mines in the sand. It was the survival of the fittest and the fastest ones were reaching the portal first.
That smaller girl popped out into the middle of the frenzy. She held a dagger in each hand and was smiling, actually smiling. “Alpha team, left flank.” She held up one hand. “Bravo team, right flank. Protect the portals until everyone gets out.”
Lines of warriors from the Malback House lined up on each of our sides.
Astrid clapped her hands together and rubbed them quickly. “Now, bitches, now.”
“What are you doing?” The ground shook under my feet as bomb after bomb went off. Sand exploded on all sides and the smell of burnt flesh permeated the air.
“Trying to get my magic to work.” She bounced on the balls of her feet and shook her hands once more.
I formed an energy ball in my hand and threw it at another hooded figure hell-bent on reaching Astrid. “You can’t just talk it into happening.”
“Isn’t that how the creator powers work? You think about it and will it to happen.” Her head snapped up. “Cassidy, look out!”
A boulder three times the size of Cassidy, the girl who commanded the Malback House, hurdled down toward her. Golden magic flew from Astrid’s hand and rocketed at the boulder. It exploded just above Cassidy’s head. Pebbles rained down on her, but it was better than being flattened. Astrid looked down at her palms. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!”
Logan and Maze both ran over to us. They waved for the last of the students to run through the portal. Twenty warlocks charged across the beach like a black tide. I slid my knife back into its holster and walked out in front of our group. Rage rose up inside me, so much rage. These zealots were a sick cult that lived in the past. They embraced their dark side not because they were born that way but because they wanted to. They’d attacked a bunch of innocent kids dancing on the beach just to keep their evil hands on the warlock world.
“Beckett, what are you doing? Are you crazy? Get back here,” Astrid called after me, but I wouldn’t stop. I wouldn’t turn around. These people were after her because of the blood in her veins. They threw energy ball after energy ball in my direction. Little shots of golden magic exploded them all before they hit me. Blue smoke seeped from my hands and crawled over the ground like a fog. Once they were all within my magic, I held my hands out to my sides and curled my fists. Their surprised screams filled the air as I heaved them up off the ground. My power curled around each of them the way a snake curled around it’s pray. One by one, their yells cut off and the onslaught of bombing magic came to a screeching halt. Power coursed through my veins and I relished the feel of them all struggling to no avail.
I lifted my arms over my head. The invading warlocks floated higher in the air. I threw my hands toward the ocean, launching every single one of them miles off shore. Sweat beaded my face and my breaths heaved in and out. When I turned back toward the others, they all looked at me with wide eyes and dropped jaws. No one said a word to me. I trudged back toward the portal. My shoulders hunched with exhaustion and I swayed. I stopped when I got to Astrid. “And that’s why we have rules and you should listen to me.”
She ducked under my arm and wrapped her hand around my back like she was holding me up. When she looked up at me, I didn’t see the fear I expected. “That was incredible.”
Was it? Or did I just give into the dark side of myself that I’d been fighting since I was a boy? As we walked toward the portal, the others whispered in hushed tones behind me. By tomorrow, what I’d done would be spread around the school like wildfire. I pulled Astrid in closer to me and leaned on her. “Let’s get back. You’re going to need your strength for tomorrow.”
“Why? What’s happening?” Her eyes went wide.
“Tomorrow you get sorted.” I didn’t want her to go through the sorting. Most of the time it only caused extreme pain, but some kids died while trying to go through it and if there was one thing I knew, it was that now that I had Astrid in my life, I didn’t ever want her to leave it.
“Why do you look so worried?” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll survive.”
She was saying it in passing, but in my mind I could only think one thing. I really hope you do.
Chapter 13
Astrid
Beckett didn’t want me to go to any of my classes this morning, claiming something about conserving my strength for the sorting ceremony. I didn’t understand what the big deal was, but the fact that everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells about it made me nervous. I strolled out of my room in a little black dress similar to the one I wore to the party last night. Except in this case I finished the outfit off with heeled boots. If this was a ceremony, I wanted to be dressed in a respectful manner. I walked down the hall where Beckett sat at an oversized desk. Stacks of books littered the desktop and he had his nose buried in a scroll that looked as ancient as the crypt keeper.
I knocked on the doorframe. “I’m ready.”
He put the scroll down and his eyes flared for a quick moment as looked me up and down. “Go back and try again.”
“What?” I held my hands out to my sides. “Not good?”
“Hence the go back and try again.” He looked back down at his paper. The room was dimly lit, and a fire crackled in the fireplace, giving his tan skin an even warmer look. Yet he was back to being an ass . . . again.
“What exactly is wrong with this outfit? It is a ceremony I’m supposed to be dressed for. Isn’t it?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing at his eyes. “Astrid, I don’t think you’ve got a grasp of the gravity of the situation. You are going to be put through a ritual where we don’t know how you’re going to react to the spells being cast or the potion you’ll have to drink. We don’t know what your magic will do.” He slammed his fist down on the desk. “Damn it, Astrid, this isn’t some kind of party where you show up looking all hot! Now go put something on that you can move in, that you can be comfortable in.”
“Ugh, fine.” Jerk! Wait, did he say I was hot? UGH, never mind! I spun on my heels and they clicked down the hall back to my room.
“And no sexy little heels. Wear your boots, for love of God,” he called after me.
I froze. Sexy? Me? No. I shook my head and marched on. I walked into my room and slammed the door behind me. Fine, if he wanted me comfortable, then comfortable he would get. I stripped out of my dress and heels into a pair of my black ripped jeans, an off the shoulder burgundy sweater, and combat boots. I shoved my feet in and roughly laced them up. “Tell me go back and try again, jerk.” I mimicked him, making my voice go deeper. “Go back and try again, Astrid, you don’t fully grasp the situation. UGH, ass.”
“Are you finished?”
I shot to my feet and spun around to find Beckett leaning against my doorframe with his arms crossed. Heat flooded my cheeks and it pissed me off even more that he got to see how embarrassed I was. I put my hands on my hips. “I thought I closed the door.”
His lip pulled up in the corner. “You did.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?” How dare he just walk in here? I was changing. He could’ve seen something.
“I did knock. Maybe you didn’t hear me in between the times you were calling me an ass.” He shoved away from the doorjamb and motioned for me to follow him down the hall.
I smacked myself in the forehead. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I grabbed my fuzzy black scarf off the foot of my bed and wrapped it around my neck as I followed him down the hall. He stopped at the top of the stairs, waiting for me to get there. I paused in front of him. We both stared at each other, not speaking. The tension was so thick I could cut it was a machete and still not get through. I was crazy attracted to him, yet I wanted to throat punch him at the same time.
He arched his eyebrow at me. “What?”
“What?” I snapped back. What was I supposed to say to him? I’m sorry for calling you an ass? “I’m not sorry.”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t expect you to be.”
I raised my chin. “Good.”
“Good.” He motioned for me to lead the way down the stairs.
I tossed my hair over my shoulder and lightly grabbed onto the railing as I walked. His steps were silent behind me, but I still felt his presence like a second skin. If only I was that aware of him only moments ago before I practically called him an ass to his face. As I reached the bottom of the steps, everyone was sitting waiting in the parlor to my right. Even Ophelia had mysteriously returned from whatever killing spree she’d been on.
She sprang to her feet when she saw me. “Hey, Astrid, heard you blew up a boulder. Pretty sick. How’d it feel?”
Freaking amazing! “Good, it felt really good.” I didn’t know what to make of her. She was a complete contradiction. On one hand, I was one hundred percent sure she’d killed her fair share of people. On the other, she seemed so genuine and sweet. I had no idea if I could trust her or not.
She pointed at me then looked at Cross. “She blew shit up. What’d you do?”
He threw his hands up. “I was there helping get the other students safely through the portal.”
“Lame.” She walked over to me and placed her hand on my shoulder. “So, listen, I’m pretty sure Beckett is trying to be all gentle with you about the sorting, because, well, he’s that kind of really good guy. But imma give it to you straight. This is gonna suck, but in the end you’ll earn your street cred at the school and with the warlock world. So, it’ll be worth it.”
The more she said, the more I felt like throwing up. How bad was this going to be? “What house did you get sorted into?”
“Oh, I’m Ophelia.” She shrugged and walked back over to the couch. I guess that make her a house of her own?
Next Maze gave me a tight-lipped smile as he walked right by me and stood in front of Beckett. He dug into his pockets and handed Beckett one thing at a time. The first was a vial of liquid. “In case you need to make her puke.” Then two needles.
Beckett held them up. “Why am I gonna need two?”
“In case she stops breathing, duh. Trust me.” He held the needles and made a stabbing motion. “Right into her heart one time. It’s epinephrine, don’t miss.” Then he handed him a bar of chocolate. “In case she passes out at the sight of blood.” He pulled a white bandage and slapped it into Beckett’s hand. “Oh, bruh, this is so cool. If you slap it over a gushing wound, it works like instant stitches. Magically spelled for it. Did it myself.” Then he pulled out a card from the inside of his pocket and held it up. The five of swords. On it was a woman standing with two swords in her back while a man walked away holding another three swords.
