Page 31 of Wicked Warlock
Grayson’s fangs popped out and he snapped them at Maze. “That’s cute.”
Maze’s eyes flashed milky white and he chuckled. “The curse of The House of Shade will take its toll and you will know.”
“Don’t make me give you a thrashing.” Grayson, too, jerked him from side to side and Maze’s eyes cleared.
“Let me go.”
“Not until you behave yourself.” Grayson tightened his grip on Maze.
I wanted to help my friend, but I knew I couldn’t. We had to look on as Tilly fought against the water trying to cleanse her of demon blood. The water seemed to start to calm as Tilly’s thrashing lessened. Finally, her body stilled and the water calmed. Steam drifted up from where Matteaus held her under. He rose to his feet and shook out his hand. Tilly floated there face-down, her arms drifting out to her sides.
A puddle of black oozed from her like blood seeping from a wound. My breath left me, and I felt the tension run through Ophelia’s body, like she was going to spring for her, too. I placed my hand around her wrist. “Not yet.”
Aidenuli reached into the water and yanked out Tilly’s limp body. Her head sloped to the side while her arms and legs hung uselessly. Her eyes were closed, and I couldn’t tell if she was breathing or not. My heart sunk into my stomach, and I wanted to puke on the tiles. Tilly was Maze’s soulmate. I didn’t know how he was still standing, but I felt the power rolling off him. If that was Ophelia, I didn’t know if I could hold still.
Aidenuli threw her over the fountain right at Maze. “She is cleansed.”
Maze caught her sopping body and cradled her to his chest. Astrid rushed to his side and pushed back the hair from Tilly’s face. “Tilly, I’m so sorry, Til. Please wake up. Please.”
Water dripped from her clothing onto the floor at Maze’s feet. Strands of her long blond waves hung over the side of his arm, and he pulled her in closer. He pressed his forehead to the side of her face and closed his eyes. “Breathe.”
As if on command, she sucked in a gasping breath and coughed. Water shot from her mouth all over his shirt and the side of his face, but he didn’t seem to care. Her eyes had yet to open, but I could see the relief on his face.
Astrid sobbed. “She’s alive.”
“Let’s hope she stays that way,” Matteaus cut in, grabbing all of our attention. “And if you ever do anything this asinine again… You Will Pay a price worse than death.”
“Yeah, that doesn’t give me the shits at all.” Grayson ran his hand through his hair. “Bloody hell.”
Matteaus pointed a finger right at Odin. “Watch yourself or you’re next, little demon.”
Before any one of us could answer, his he held up his hand and flames twisted around his fingertips. A dark smirk spread over his lips. “And don’t mess with my fountains again.”
He snapped his fingers, and the foyer vanished as my body was jerked in a direction I couldn’t fathom…
Chapter 12
Beckett
My body twisted uncomfortably around in circles like riding a corkscrew roller coaster. I couldn’t force it to stop even if I wanted to. I closed my eyes and waited for the ride to be over, breathing past the jerking motions. When my feet suddenly hit the ground, I tipped forward. I held out my arms, catching my balance, and we were back in the courtyard. Night had well since fallen and the moon was high in the sky. Gray clouds skirted around, looking like purple smudges across the darkness that blocked out the stars. We landed in a circle all standing around the main fountain in the courtyard. They all took a step back from it, and I followed suit, though I didn’t know why.
I looked down at my hands, examining them. I was me. I was back. That crazed Beckett from Unseelie was gone, and I felt… free. No restraints, no madness, just quiet peace.
Zinnia cut into my thoughts. “That is it. Enough is enough. Everyone get some rest. At least a few hours. We’ve all been through a shit ton today and we deserve it. Kylian, Soto, Logan, follow me. I’ll show you to some rooms where you could stay.”
Logan ran his hand over his hair. “I just want to go home.”
“Dude, home got blown up last night.” Cross clapped him on the shoulder as Logan let out a deep groan.
Did I need to rest? I didn’t feel like I had to. Astrid stayed next to Maze and Tilly. “I think you’re right, Zin. We should all rest.”
She kept petting Tilly’s head and whispering to her that everything would be okay. Was it okay? Astrid had no power, the walls were still down, and the council was on the loose. None of this seemed okay, yet I felt calm and sure, knowing what needed to be done. To keep them all safe. A list to be completed. The madness I felt in Unseelie, my father’s madness, was now gone from my body. I was free of it.
“Beckett.” Astrid placed her hand on my arm. “Did you hear me?”
“Hmm?” Did she speak to me?
“I said I was going to get Tilly settled in with Maze then I’ll meet you at your room.” She looked up at me with those enchanting emerald eyes, and I knew I had things to do. Things I’d put off for far too long.
