Page 91 of Wicked Warlock
“I know, and I want it.” I never wanted anything so much.
I pressed my lips to his and pulled him in closer. Beckett was my family. He was my match in every way. I didn’t want to be in this world or the next without him. He pulled away and smiled down at me. “Nothing would make me happier.”
My heart raced with excitement. My magic seeped from my hand and surrounded the both of us in a cloud of golden gentleness. “Tell me what to say.”
“Okay.” His tongue darted over his lips and sucked in a deep breath. “I’m nervous.”
“Not like you haven’t done this before.” I pressed a kiss to the side of his neck.
He held both of my hands in his and met my eye. “I am yours and you are mine. This vow I make to the end of time. Two become one until the setting of our last sun. I bind myself to you through skies of gray or blue. I will devote my life to you and only you. Two become one until the setting of our last sun.”
His magic seeped from his hands and began to mix with mine. I pressed his forehead to mine, and I felt my own pulse align with his. I couldn’t stop the excited butterflies in my stomach or the smile from spreading on my face. “I am yours and you are mine. This vow I make to the end of time.”
He nodded. “You’re doing great.”
“Two become one until the setting of our last sun. I bind myself to you through skies of gray or blue. I will devote my life to you and only you. Two become one until the setting of our last sun.”
Our magic glowed bright mixing together surrounding us. I felt his heart beat match my own. Beckett wrapped his arms around me. “I love you.”
I never felt so close to anyone before. Our connection was soul deep, it always had been. But now it was more. It was complete. “I love you too.”
“Now how about that distraction?” He pressed his lips to mine and electricity sizzled between us and for one perfect moment there was only me and him…my soulmate.
Chapter 42
Astrid
“Come on. Hurry up.”
I tugged Beckett along beside me as we hurried toward the courtyard. The long ballgown kept getting trapped around my legs. The corset was so tight I could barely breathe, and my boobs were definitely higher than they’d ever been. Beckett yanked on his jacket and tripped to the side. “I wasn’t the one that said ‘again.’ That was you, and I don’t remember you telling me to hurry then.”
“Screw this.” I opened a portal and ran right through, dragging him behind me.
We popped out just beside the stage that had been set up in the courtyard. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. Zinnia, Tabi, Serrina, Ophelia, and Nova all stood on the stage lined up next to each other. They too were dressed in their gowns and crowns. Zinnia was there in her black leather corset, pants, and huge billowing skirt that flared from her hips and showed up her knee-high boots. The gothic crown on her head was sharp and pointed. Her power glittered all around her.
Tabi had on a bright yellow dress and a crown of flowers wound in her thick curls. She smiled at me and winked. Serrina stood next to her in a tight satin red dress that hugged her every curve. A simple crown of rubies sat on top of her blond hair. She giggled at me and I rolled my eyes. It’s like I had a flashing sign above my head. I was getting down with Beckett.
Ophelia nodded at me. “Nicceeeee.”
She was the only one not in a full-length gown. Instead, she wore a black tutu-looking skirt, combat boots, a black turtleneck, and a black leather jacket. Eyeliner was heavy around her eyes and her lips were a bright ruby red. She didn’t wear a crown, per se; it was more like barbed wire wrapped into a circle and thrown on top of her head.
I began to walk up the side of the stage when Nova reached out and grabbed the edge of my dress and tugged it down into place. Had I been running with my dress up? I shot a look over my shoulder at Beckett. A little warning. Nova tugged her gloves higher up her arm and righted her dress as well. It was a dark purple lace that covered her from her neck all way down to her shoes. It was completely see-through and there was only a very short slip dress under it that barely came to the middle of her thighs.
Matteaus stood at the podium, and he narrowed his eyes at me. I gave him a little wave. “Hi.”
A deep groan escaped his lips, and he rubbed at his head. “As I was saying… In the past, we had the pleasure of having six casts in the world of Evermore. I am pleased to announce that sixth cast has finally rejoined us under its new queen, Astrid Lockwood.”
I stepped forward and waved to all the students standing there watching me. Kill an Unseelie general? No problem. Public speaking? Huge problem. I stopped just beside Matteaus and he offered the microphone to me. Nervous bubbles sat in the pit of my stomach.
“It has always been a dream for Evermore to be united, and now I am so pleased to be a part of that. Thank you to all who supported me through this journey and to all who supported Evermore.”
The student body clapped and cheered as green flags were released from the top of the courtyard. They all matched the occult woman who was on the wall in the hall of the dorms for the warlocks. Zinnia stepped up behind me and placed a golden crown on my head. When she stepped back, they all whooped and hollered. I wanted to cheer with them. This wasn’t just for me. It was for us all. Evermore was united, and a shock of pride went through my chest for us and for them.
Matteaus motioned for me to fall back into line with the other queens, and he took the microphone once more. “I took over as headmaster of this school when Alataris came to power because none of the casts could be trusted to make a decision… You’re welcome. But given recent events, I feel it is time for me to step aside for a new headmaster to reign. Hold your tears for later. I don’t want to see them.”
He motioned to the stage opposite me. “With that said, I’d like to introduce professor Margarite Charles. Your new headmaster.”
Professor Charles walked up onto the stage with a broad smile taking up her face. I didn’t know her all that well, but she’d helped me through this, and I was grateful. Her short gray hair was sticking out in wild spikes and her green eyes sparkled with excitement. She wore a loose flowing shirt with silver sparkles all over it and a pair of matching sparkly jeans. She waved to the students as she walked up on the stage and took the podium.
