Wicked Omen (The Royals: Warlock Court Book 1), page 19
I held my arms out to the sides. “Okayyyyyyy.”
Behind me Nova cursed. “I love the outfit, but I need my gloves, Astrid . . . please?” She held her arms out in front of her. “Please.”
Another flick of Astrid’s wrists and Nova’s hands were covered in gloves that ran all the way up to her bicep. She had on dark khaki shorts, hiking boots that ran up almost to her knees, and a black tank top that clung to her. A backpack full of supplies dropped at my feet. She narrowed her eyes at me. “If I’m going to lug around a big metal book, then you might as well carry the water.”
I reached down and threw the backpack over my shoulder. “What about you?”
With the snap of her fingers she covered herself in golden smoke. She emerged in skin-tight black shorts, black hiking boots, and a black racerback tank top. Her flowing red wine hair was piled high on top of her head. She was breathtaking and frustrating. Perhaps it was a good thing she was pissed off at me? That way I’d be forced to keep my hands to myself and focus on the mission at hand. She looked down at herself. “Satisfied?”
Not in the least. “Yep. Glad you’re figuring out how to control your powers.”
“It’s amazing what a little pissed off focus can do for you.” She waved her arm. “Are we going or what?”
Chapter 29
Astrid
“Astrid, behind you!” Beckett pointed as he sprinted up the sandy dune next to me.
I turned and looked over my shoulder as the sand shifted. My feet slid deeper into the side of the dune and my heart raced. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest. The side of the hill exploded outward, sending chunks of rock and particles of sand all over me. I ducked down and covered my head. A worm the size of a bus leapt over my head, its mouth hanging wide-open. It split into three separate parts and razor-sharp teeth lined each one. Its body was meaty and would crush me if it fell straight down. Instead, it arched over my head and dove into the next dune, burrowing in.
I fell to my hands and knees and sucked in gasping breaths. Though the sun had just risen, the sand burned my palms. I was covered in it from head to toe. Beckett darted to my side and wrapped his hand around my waist and pulled me to my feet. His hand splayed over my rib cage and I grabbed a hold of him. He pointed to a bunch of ruins a couple hundred yards away. “Make your way over there.”
He turned his backpack over and dumped the contents onto the ground then grabbed the book from my hand and shoved it in. He tossed the backpack at me. “Go now.” Just then Nova sprinted by the two of us with one of those worm creatures following close behind. Her zombie creatures hung from the worm, ripping and tearing at it. The worm jumped from the sand then dove back in, chasing her the way dolphins did when they swam. Except this was no dolphin and that sand burned like hell.
Beckett threw a portal out in front of him. “I’m going for Nova.”
He dove into the portal. Another opened up just beside Nova. Beckett speared out of it, caught Nova around the waist, and shoved her to the ground a moment before the creature swallowed her whole. I turned on my heels and sprinted toward the ruins. I pumped my arms as hard as I could. My feet dug in and slowed my pace. An ear-splitting screech pierced the air and my ears popped hard. I dropped to my knees and covered them as they began to ring. The creatures all leapt from the ground like humpback whales answering her cry. There were dozens of them, all with those huge mouths spread wide-open. Rows of razor-sharp teeth lined their mouths and I shot to my feet, taking off once more. I wasn’t about to be breakfast for these things. No way! No how!
Sweat trickled from my forehead down my cheeks. My breaths came in hard puffs and I couldn’t get enough air. The ruins were just ahead and I felt the ground behind me vibrate. One glance over my shoulder and two of those worms chased me down. Diving and merging like the killer whales on the hunt. I ran under a crumbling stone archway into a ghost town. The buildings were made of stone and covered in that hard-packed mud. Up ahead a blue light flashed from inside one of those buildings. I was so close, a hand shot out from the doorway before it and jerked me to the side. I slammed into Beckett’s chest and he cupped his hand over my mouth, then pulled me down into a corner of the room. “Shhh.”
I nodded up at him and he took his hand off my mouth. I sagged against him, sucking in hard breaths. The walls rumbled and dust rained down on us. Beckett tucked my body against his and covered my head. He pointed out the window to where Nova stood on the top of a building with her arms raised. Purple sparks flew from her hands into the ground. Again that screeching came from the mountains high above us. It echoed all around and I covered my ears. Beckett placed his hands over mine while pulling me closer. When I peeked up at him, blood trickled from one of his ears. He swayed on his feet.
I whispered, “Are you okay?”
“Just a little dizzy.” He shook his head hard. “We have to get up there.”
“Can you portal?”
Again, he swayed. “I think I’ve only got one left in me.”
I watched as Nova called those zombie things from the ground and sent them running in all different directions. “What’s she doing?”
“Creating a diversion for us to get to the cave.” Beckett wrapped his hand in mine. “Are you ready?”
Just then a zombie thing ran through the house we were in. “Shit.”
The wall exploded inward and one of those worms shot through, missing me by inches. It grabbed one of Nova’s creations and with one bite chopped it right in half. It lay on the ground grinding the spare body parts between its teeth. The sound of bone crunching filled the room, Beckett and I slid up against the wall. One step at a time we head toward the opening while this worm sat there and ground those bones. Crunch, crunch, crunch. I cringed, knowing any moment it could be me.
It swung its head toward me, its nose inches from my face. I craned my head away, as its breath fanned over my skin. When it turned its head to the side, I saw its eyes were barely the size of pennies and cloudy. Ground dwelling creatures tended to have poor eyesight because they lived their lives in the dark. These killer worms were no different. I sucked in a deep breath and tried to melt into the wall. Beside me Beckett summoned a ball of magic to his hand. He bellowed at the top of his lungs, drawing the worm away from my face toward him.
He hauled his hand back and threw it at the worm, blasting it through the wall. Its head exploded into thick, meaty chunks. He grabbed my hand and yanked me to the opening. My heart thundered in my chest and I wanted more than anything to get the single piece of bone we needed to get the hell out of here. There, laid into the side of the hill just beyond the main road in town, was a thin staircase that led up to the opening of a small cave.
I pointed to it. “I bet she’s in there.”
I glanced over my shoulder once more to see Nova directing all her creations in different areas of the town. Like a boss she stayed high above it all, giving us the cover we needed to get to Euryale. Beckett pulled me harder and I turned to follow him up the stairs. Every muscle in my body screamed. My legs shook and felt like jello beneath me. I couldn’t stop, not for one second. Ahead of me Beckett ran headlong toward the cave. He was injured more than he let on and I knew the grueling pace was taking its toll on him. He said he had one portal left in him. It had to be the portal home.
Once we reached the opening of the cave, he grabbed me and pulled me to the side. He leaned down and whispered, “What’s the plan here? We can’t just walk in and ask for it.”
I shook my head. “I agree. Euryale isn’t her sisters.”
As if she could hear me her screeches began once more and the side of the hill vibrated. I pressed my hands to my ears and curled in on myself. I couldn’t listen to it, not this close. Once it stopped, Beckett sucked in a breath. “I’m going to go in first.”
“Not this babying bullshit again. Come on, Beck. I can handle my—”
“And then you back me up.” He cut me off. He placed his hands on my cheeks and every thought in my head stopped dead. His stormy ocean eyes met mine. “Don’t let yourself get hurt.”
He pressed his lips to mine, and I forgot where we were and what we were doing. I melted for him and wanted more, always more. His minty flavor invaded my mouth and before I knew it, it was over. Without another word, he turned from me, leaving me completely speechless. He headed straight into the cave with two energy balls ready to fire, leaving me behind to wonder what the hell just happened between the two of us. Nothing could drag me out of my confusion, nothing but the sound of Beckett’s screams.
Chapter 30
Astrid
I didn’t hesitate, running headlong after him. My magic poured from my hands. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Everything was dark. I could barely see. I slowed my pace, waiting for a hint of where to go. I stilled myself and held my breath, listening for something, a scream, a hint of movement, a flash of Beckett’s blue light. But there was nothing, not a single damn thing.
“Do you dessssiiirrreeee?” a voice whispered in my ear.
I pulled my knife from my thigh holster and swung out with it, connecting with nothing. I sucked in a breath and widened my stance, ready to fight. Movement to my left and I turned.
“What do you neeedddd most? I can give it to you.”
Again, I swung out, connecting with nothing.
“All you have to do is assssssssk.” Her voice was low and snake-like.
Every word sent a shiver down my spine. Where was Beckett? Did she kill him? Was he struggling somewhere down this hall. “Where is he?”
“He? He who?” A lashing strike hit my thigh. It felt like a whip abrading my skin. I didn’t know if it’d been ripped open or not. Heat radiated from that point and spread outward. Before I recovered from the first strike another came and hit me in the ribs on the other side of my body. My shirt ripped and cold air fanned over my skin.
“Beckett!” I spun in a circle.
A muffled groan came from farther in the darkness. My anger flared. He was here and I couldn’t get to him, couldn’t see him. Blackness swallowed my vision whole and I was done. The palms of my hands burned and I let my magic go. The cave ignited in golden light and it was so much worse than I imagined. Ground dwelling bugs, scorpions, snakes, and worms covered the floor, ceiling, and walls. Worst of all, spiders. I hated freaking spiders! Everything in me wanted to run or at least get a massive can of Raid.
Euryale darted around the cave or at least her upper body did. She was unlike anything I could possibly imagine. From her rib cage down she had one long thick snake tail. Her torso and chest were covered in gold dust. Her face, though striking, was snake-like. Her eyes were oversized almond shapes and completely black. Her hair was smooth down to her head. Most importantly, hanging around her neck from a leather cord was a single piece of bone. My eyes locked on it. Mine! But there in her coiled snake tail was Beckett. I hesitated. Her tail was wound around his entire body, squeezing him like a boa constrictor. His cheeks were red, but he was still conscious.
Euryale opened her mouth to scream and I let go of my own scream. Power burst from my hands and the bugs around me dropped dead to the ground. Euryale’s mouth snapped shut. I threw my arms out and pictured my magic grabbing her arms up. They shot straight out and she loosened her grip on Beckett. Blue magic exploded from between the rings of snake tail around him.
Then he leapt straight up toward the cave ceiling and dropped down at my side. “I’ll hold her. You get the necklace.”
Her tail snapped out toward us and we dove out of the way. It cracked like a whip on the back wall. The entire cave shook and I pressed myself up against the stony surface. I came to my feet and threw my powers out at the same time Beckett did. Euryale screamed and I had to cover my ears once more. The dead bugs crunched beneath my feet and I slipped on their lifeless carcasses. Enough of this. We jumped to our feet at the same time and stood shoulder to shoulder.
Beckett didn’t hesitate. He fired energy ball after energy ball at her, knocking her off balance. “Astrid, freeze her, now!”
I held my palms up and aimed for her. My magic flowed out to her and smacked her right in the chest, she stood unmoving.
Beckett hunched over and sucked in a deep breath. “The bone?”
“I got it.” I marched up to Euryale and wrapped my hand around the cord and yanked it from around her neck. Only her eyes moved and she watched me the whole time. I held the bone up. “It didn’t have to be like this.”
I turned on my heels and marched past Beckett with the bone firmly in my hand. “Let’s go home.”
He swiped the sweat from his eyes and groaned. “Right behind you.”
Chapter 31
Astrid
My entire body hurt and all I wanted was my bed, pillow, and about twelve hours of sleep. Possibly fourteen. Instead, I stood over that damn box, trying to figure out how to get the bone into place to unlock it. Logan, Cross, Maze, Beckett, and myself all stared at the stupid thing. We sat on the chair surrounding the island in the kitchen. The tension between Beckett and me was palpable. I couldn’t look at him. He kissed me . . . again.
I didn’t know why he’d done it when he seemed to hate the first one so much. But it was all I could think about. Logan crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back on his stool. “I don’t see a place to put it. Are you sure this is the right bone?”
“Oh yeah, it’s the right one,” Beckett confirmed.
Maze held the bone up and eyed it. His eyes went milky white for a moment and he chuckled. “Damn, she was the scary sister.” He turned his attention toward me. “I hate spiders too. Like really hate them.”
“Yeaaaa it was gross.” To say the least. Even picturing that cave now gave me the shivers.
The box itself was a huge puzzle, every piece connected to the next. It couldn’t be pried open or tricked. The bone had to be placed the right way. I waved for the book. “Give me the book.”
Cross slid it down the table the way a bartender would slide a drink down a bar. I stopped it just before it fell to the floor. Next, I snapped at Maze. “Bone?”
Maze tossed it to me as though it wasn’t important, like it wasn’t a piece of my family history. I caught it and then turned it over in my hands. It was a perfect circle, like a ring, but I could fit two of my fingers in it. I tried to place it on each side of the box. Why wasn’t it as easy as placing the skin over it? The skin had taken to the box right away. But the bone was like sliding the ring over the table. Nothing, absolutely nothing happened. Yet my eyes were drawn to the ruby as it glinted under the lights of the kitchen. On a whim I dropped the bone around it.
I sucked in a sharp breath. It fit perfectly. The bone began to spin and twist until smoke rose from the ruby. The ruby melted and liquefied. It bubbled and boiled, even popping like a tiny cauldron. It rippled and then from the center of the ruby a perfect needle rose up. It looked like the Empire State Building standing in the middle of the book. No longer liquid but a solid perfect needle standing straight up. I reached my finger out to touch it.
Beckett grabbed my wrist, jerking it back. “Don’t touch it, you don’t know what that will do.”
“It’s obvious.” The etching on the box clearly stated. “Thy final test is sharp and fine, place thy heart to claim what’s mine.”
Beckett shook his head. “Don’t, Astrid.”
“But it’s obvious. The last missing piece is the Lockwood blood. One single touch and it’ll be open.” I didn’t realize how badly I wanted that book until this very moment. It had the answers to my magic and though I performed a little magic, I wanted more. I wanted to unleash it all, to be powerful. Flashes of Nova standing on top of that building ran through my mind. It was my time to learn about my heritage to embrace my family lines. I looked at the needle, needing to touch it. It called to me. I knew I was right.
“Don’t think I don’t see you looking at it. The answer is no. We have to think of all possible solutions before we do anything.” He pressed his lips together and shook his head.
“Ugh, so bossy,” I snapped back. I was telling him in my gut I knew I had to touch that needle.
Maze sat forward. “What is with the tension between you two?”
Oh for the love of Pete. Was everyone going to be as bad a Medusa? “What are you talking about?”
Beckett scoffed. “We’re just friends. Nothing more. You know how I feel about that.”
He didn’t even look at me. As if it wasn’t confusing enough to be in this world his mood swings were giving me emotional whiplash. One second he was annoyed, the next he was kissing me, the next he was flirting with Nova. Maybe I was overly emotional, maybe I was being unreasonable. Or maybe just maybe I’d had enough of it all. I was running on no sleep, I’d been tortured, I had bruises all over my body and I was utterly done!
Just friends? After you stuck your tongue in my mouth twice. “Right, because friends know the way you taste.”
It was like I dropped a bomb in the room and none of the guys knew what to do. Screw this. I reached out and touched the needle. Pain shot through the tip of my finger and down into my arm. It radiated to my chest and my lungs contracted. I stumbled back off my stool. What the hell. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see anything but that damn needle receding back into the top of that box. The metal clinked and folded in on itself.
Pain like I’d never know flowed over me. Something unlock and it was like a dam had busted.
Maze shot to his feet. “She’s gonna blow.”
Beckett raced forward. “Hold on, just hold on, Astrid. Don’t let it go yet.”
I tried to hold it back, tried to stop whatever was happening from coming. My body started to shake uncontrollably. I fell to the floor and Beckett caught me. Golden smoke poured out of me, flooding the room. I couldn’t stop it! Oh God, I wanted it to stop! The pain was too much. Dots swarmed my vision and then . . . blackness.
