Page 89 of Wicked Warlock
“There is always a way.” He coughed and hissed an ugly rattling sound.
I opened my hand and my sword reappeared.
Beckett walked to my side. “You don’t have to do this. One of us can—”
I didn’t wait for him to finish the sentence. I struck out with my sword, slicing it clean through Nylore’s neck. He stayed like that for a moment, then his head slid off to one side and his spike-riddled body dropped to the other. “I had to. For Evermore.”
Chapter 41
Astrid
The occult or warlock wing of the school was in full swing. The charmers had recovered fully once Nylore lost his ability to breath his power died with him. Leo strolled out of his room toward me and smiled. “Your Highness.”
“Shut up.” I gave him a playful shove. “Still just me.”
He tugged his cardigan back into place and straightened his sleeves. He pointed toward the end of the hall where a picture of a woman stood. “I found this for us.”
She was deadly beautiful. She had sharp claws and long green hair that flowed past her shoulders all way down to her hips. Instead of legs, she had a long mermaid-like tail with multiple dragon heads at the end of it. Underneath, it read “Occult.”
Leo walked up to it with me. “What do you think?”
I stood there for long moments, feeling totally complete with our cast welcome here at Evermore. “I love it.”
He turned with me as we began to walk down another hallway. “Going to see Tilly?”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “She hasn’t spoken since Matteaus dunked her in the heavenly water. I have no idea what to do. Things just aren’t right with her.”
“Time. Maybe all she needs is time.” He put his arm over my shoulder. “And we will get back the Tilly we all know and love.”
I leaned into him. “I miss her so much. I miss having my sister with me. And I can’t help but feel that this whole thing is my fault.”
“Listen, we both know that girl did whatever the hell she wanted, whenever she wanted.” We stopped just outside Maze’s door. “And at least she has him.”
I lowered my voice. “Yeah, but can Maze help her?”
Leo lowered his voice to match mine. “Again, only time will tell.”
When I turned to face the door, I hesitated and sucked in a deep breath. Leo looked from me to the door and back again. “You gonna knock?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
“Despite what’s happened to Til, she’s still in there and still your best friend.” He leaned against the wall beside the door.
“I know that.” I sighed. “I’m just nervous.”
“The slayer of Unseelie generals is nervous.” He pursed his lips, lifted his hand, and gave three fast knocks then took off down the hall.
“Coward,” I called after him.
“Love you.” He blew me a kiss then turned and kept on running.
Maze swung the door wide open. He leaned on the door frame and held a bag of white cheddar cheese doodles. He reached in, grabbed a handful, and shoved them into his mouth. “What’s up?”
“I’m here to see her.” I looked past him to where I saw a familiar head of blond waves.
“Cool.” He wiped his hand across his black t-shirt, leaving a trail of powdery white fingerprints across the fabric.
Tilly sat up straight on the edge of the bed with her feet flat on the ground. When she looked up at me, I half expected her to smile or say something sassy. Or to lean back on the bed and make herself comfortable. But she didn’t. She tilted her head to the side and just stared up at me.
