Page 54 of Wicked Warlock
The crone hobbled toward us and stabbed the end of her cane into the top of Maze’s foot. “At least he has the courage to do what needs to be done.” She pointed toward something in the shadows.
We all turned, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Tilly! She stood just behind one of the pillars. Her eyes glowed a bright green still and her hair was long and wild. She didn’t move, didn’t speak. I took a step toward her. “Tilly.”
She flinched back, moving back behind the pillar and out of sight. Maze didn’t say a word. He just held his hand out to his side. Tilly darted next to him. She seized his hand and took a step closer to him, hiding part of her body behind his big one. Her eyes met mine, and I wanted to go to her to pull her in for a hug, to hold her tightly and tell her I was sorry for everything that happened to her. I tried to move toward her again, but she hid behind Maze even more.
Beckett wound his fingers with mine and gave them a squeeze. “She’ll be fine.”
I wanted to yell, “How do you know?” but I didn’t. Instead, I held my tongue.
“Beckett, what is all this about?” Zinnia snapped, getting everyone’s attention. “Why is she here?”
The corner of Beckett’s mouth pulled up in that cocky grin. “Go get your mother, Zinnia. It’s time to say hello.”
Chapter 27
Beckett
The crone stood in the center of the courtyard. She looked up at the sky and around the courtyard. There was a stillness about her that came with age and wisdom. Astrid fidgeted by my side. I felt the stress rolling off her. She wanted to go to Tilly but didn’t want to leave my side. Maze took Tilly and moved as far away from the crone as possible. Brax paced around the courtyard in his tiger form as though he were in a cage at the zoo. Across the way and semi-hidden under one of the overhangs sat Niche and Adrienne. They were blocking one of the hallways with books surrounding them, notebooks in hands, and pens at the ready. If a soulmate mark was going to be removed, they were going to take notes.
A light breeze ruffled my hair and Grayson appeared by my side. “Oi, what’s up with all the—” he made the stabbing motion, “death by Dustwick?”
“I don’t know what you mean?” The council had to be eliminated. I did it. Plain and simple.
“Mate.” He turned to face me fully. “Jack the Ripper is a kitten compared to you. Not that it’s bad. They had to go.”
“Exactly my thoughts.”
“You all right?” He looked me up and down.
“Why does everyone keep asking me that? I feel fine.” I didn’t feel anything, not happy, or sad, or stressed. There was… nothing. It was clean. Done. Fine.
“Because you’re being a complete psycho,” Astrid snapped. “You start in Unseelie, needing to rule everything and everyone. Now you’re cold as ice and straight up killing people.”
I knew I was “off” in Unseelie, acting like my father. But since I’d been back, I didn’t feel like him at all. “Didn’t they need to die?”
What prison would’ve contained them? In three weeks, we’d have rebellion and more murder of our people on our hands. Astrid and Grayson shared a look then both of them began to nod. I shrugged. “We still have Nylore to deal with and the walls. We didn’t need death attempts on our queens coming from the council as well.”
“It’s logical for sure.” Grayson’s British accent rolled over the words with refined elegance. “But it’s not you, mate. It’s just not you.”
“I really have no idea what you mean by that.”
Astrid made an exasperated sound in the back of her throat. Before I could ask her what it meant, Zinnia’s mother’s coffin floated from the hallway. It was surrounded by silvery bands of Zinnia’s power. She walked behind the coffin with her head held high and her goth crown in place. She was dressed from head to toe in black and was flanked by Ophelia, Tabi, Serrina, and Ashryn. Cross walked with Tucker just a little farther behind him. The school was silent as the grave, with not a student in sight.
“Where is everyone?” I stared up at the motionless hallways.
“Matteaus ordered an evacuation.” Grayson lowered his voice. “Because of that bird.”
The crone turned and looked at him for a moment then turned her attention back to Zinnia as she dropped the coffin in the middle of the grass at the crone’s feet.
“If she dies… you die,” Zinnia said.
The crone chuckled and gave her a small bow. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“This isn’t a joke. This is my mother.” Zinnia stood there swirling in magic and completely imposing.
“The price has been paid. I will hold the deal.” She motioned for them to move away. “Back up.” Zinnia didn’t move. “Unless you too would like to sacrifice to me.”
Zinnia stepped back five more feet, and the others fanned out in a circle all around the crone and the coffin. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I felt the gathering of dark magic in the air. I’d grown up around it, felt it all my life, and knew when it was being summoned. The crone held up her hand and torches appeared in a perfect circle around the two of them. Flames exploded to life and the heat of them seeped into my skin.
