Something Wicked
Page 18
They were both very careful not to look in Kenzie’s direction.
“You deserved more from me,” Selene murmured.
“And you deserved my honesty,” Mika said. “We both fucked up. So…start fresh?”
Selene smiled for real this time. “Yeah, I’d like that.” She kissed each of Mika’s cheeks and it was second nature to return the gesture – their high society upbringing as bred into them as their power.
Then the matriarch of the Kavanagh clan trailed after her sister. Mika watched her go, hoping they would actually be able to become real friends again. She’d missed Selene and her quiet ways.
“I want you to read these books front to back by next Friday,” Hunter told her, handing over a slip of paper. “And think about the question I wrote down. Next Friday we’ll start working on your block.”
Mika didn’t know what to say to this alpha fox who terrified everyone but Kenzie. And apparently her. She looked up and studied Hunter’s golden brown eyes, looking for the tells she could always see.
He was proud. Worried a little, but proud.
She didn’t call him out on it. Mika just nodded and tucked the note into her pocket. “Will do, Teach. Can I ask you a question?”
Hunter glanced up at his mate and triad, but nodded.
“Why do you care about me? You hate everyone except those people up there.” Mika watched for those tells, but he’d locked them down now.
“And Gram-Gram,” Hunter said, but he didn’t argue.
“Fine, five people.” Mika rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “Tell me and I’ll be a model pupil.”
Hunter grinned that terrifying smile that displayed his sharp canines, hands still in his pockets. Somehow it made him seem even scarier. He was a predator and so sure of his speed and strength he didn’t need to worry about being unprepared for a chase.
He took a step forward and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I’m drawn to chaos and pain. And you Mika, you have a lot of both.”
His words chilled her blood.
Hunter took a step back and narrowed his eyes at her. “I see a lot of myself in you,” he admitted. “And I don’t wish that on anyone.”
Mika didn’t know what to say to that – didn’t know how to feel. Hunter was known for his lack of empathy. He was a mercenary and a killer if the rumors were true. What did he see in her that was somehow familiar?
“It’s not easy to be what they want you to be, when you know it will never be possible.” Hunter looked up at Kenzie, patiently waiting for him. The way she looked at him—Mika had never seen love like that before. “But sometimes we get lucky, and we don’t have to be anything but what we are.”
Her hands were shaking and Mika had the distinct feeling this was one of those moments – a point in time she could look back on and say ‘if I’d chosen differently…’
“I can teach you how to live with what you are, and help you find rules that will guide you through the difficult choices.” Hunter studied her again and then nodded. “What you have is powerful and shaped by you, not the magic itself. So you have to decide who you are and what you want to be before that choice is taken from you.”
The fox didn’t bother saying goodbye. He just headed up the stairs, eyes only for Kenzie.
And Mika knew he was right. There was just one problem.
Who the hell was she?
30
“So, there’s this party,” Audrey told her as they walked through the forest toward Oleander House.
Mika was holding Ethan’s hand. It was still a novel sensation. She couldn’t stop staring at their hands, fingers laced together. No tingling from hers and no blood pouring from Ethan’s pores.
The bone bracelet locked her shit down and Mika couldn’t be more thankful to find this solution for her volatile power – even if it was temporary. She was under no illusions that this was a good way to live.
Three years she’d spent ignoring her magic, her block – everything that had happened that night. The only good thing that had come out of it was some small measure of control thanks to all her meditation and practice keeping it under lock and key.
Mika had locked down her emotions somewhere along the way as well. That had helped more than anything, but now…
Well, now she couldn’t bottle everything up. She was at capacity and Mika had to figure out how to deal.
“I think we should go to the party,” Audrey said, practically skipping along the path through the forest. Despite all the snow it felt a lot like spring. “We earned it after all.”
Mika looked up at Ethan who was grinning down at her. “You did earn it,” he told her. “And honestly I could do with a little drink right about now. That game is not easy to watch.”
“Why didn’t you try out?” Audrey asked, spinning around to walk backwards so she could see them both.
“I like working with plants.” He smiled down at Mika. “Mika is enough excitement on her own.”
Audrey snorted at that. “Ain’t that the truth. Have fun with that.”
“I intend to.”
Mika was blushing and she almost pulled her hand out of his. It was all a little much to be honest. “Hey, can I talk to you?” She flashed Audrey an apologetic look. “Alone.”
Her dorm mate held up her hands and grinned. “Hint taken. I’ll see you back at the house. But you’re not getting out of this party.”
She nodded and watched Audrey walk down the path alone, humming as she made her way to Oleander House.
Then it was just her and Ethan.
For some reason she felt awkward and weird. Mika pulled her hand out of his and wiped her sweaty palms on her pants. She had to make some things clear.
“Hey, don’t worry. I’m not falling in love with you,” Ethan teased.
Mika peered up at him. For some reason she didn’t believe him, but at the same time the comment stung. She left it alone though, not ready for that conversation by any means.
“I actually wanted to ask what you and Lucien were doing together.”
Ethan actually seemed flustered by her question and it made her even more curious. He leaned against one of the trees and shrugged, still smiling slightly. “He knocked on my door this morning and asked if I wanted to watch you try out for the team. Lucien brought coffee and donuts. That’s hard to say no to.”
So, she would have to ask Lucien for his motive then—why he’d sought Ethan out.
Crossing her arms over her chest she sighed. “You’re sure this isn’t weird? I mean, why go with him after last night?”
Ethan stopped smiling completely and looked up as the sky darkened. Clouds were rolling in – that or Ethan was conjuring them. “Lucien is hiding something. I don’t trust him, and I want to know why he’s so interested in you.”
And there it was. Ethan was too perceptive for his own good. He had this way of reading people that never ceased to amaze her.
“I don’t know why he’s interested in me,” Mika said truthfully. “But we all have secrets. What makes you think his will hurt me? You’re sure it’s not because he kissed me?”
Ethan frowned then and the sky got darker. Mika shivered and wished she’d worn a heavier jacket.
“I told you I don’t care about that,” Ethan murmured. The wind picked up and Mika realized just how powerful of a storm witch he really was. “And I don’t know if his secret will hurt you.”
The temperature dropped even further but Ethan didn’t seem to notice despite wearing just a long-sleeved shirt.
“I can’t know that if I don’t know what it is.” Ethan still hadn’t moved from the tree, but snow started to fall, thick and fast.
This must be what it’s like for others to deal with her magic.
Mika stepped forward and cradled Ethan’s face in her hands, staring into those strange grey eyes that were dark and electric at the moment.
“His secret won’t hurt me,” Mika promised.
All of a sudden the wind
died and the snow slowed, but the sun didn’t come out again.
“You know what it is,” Ethan said in surprise.
“I know his biggest secret,” Mika agreed. She slid her hands back and into his thick curly hair. Ethan was tall and lean, but his muscles were rock hard. “Lucien won’t hurt me. And even if he did, I can take care of myself.”
He let out a deep breath and finally wrapped his arms around Mika. Ethan pressed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. “I swear I’m not falling for you,” he whispered.
Mika kissed him softly. “Liar,” she murmured. “I nearly killed you and yet, here we are.”
The laugh that escaped him was ragged and raw. “You underestimate my willingness to live, Mika, if it means I get one more kiss.” Ethan’s thumb traced her jaw and he opened his eyes to stare into hers.
When he kissed her Mika felt everything inside her rise up and nearly choke on the bracelet binding her magic. But she didn’t care. Ethan tasted like rain. Her fingers gripped his hair hard and all she wanted was to be able to kiss him without the heavy silver between them.
Finally he pulled away and tapped her nose. “Don’t worry; I know this is nothing serious.”
Mika smiled at the joke. “Right, not serious at all. We’re like…friends with benefits.”
“Exactly,” Ethan agreed. “Hugs count as benefits right? What about hand-holding?”
She nodded, smile widening. “And movie nights.”
“Only if you like horror,” he said very seriously.
The sun started peeking out through the dark clouds and Mika nodded. “We’ll have to watch something tomorrow after coffee.”
Ethan’s grin dropped from his face when a scream pierced the air.
Mika’s heart jumped into her throat. That sounded a lot like Audrey’s scream.
They were frozen in place, staring at each other. Both of them no doubt wondered if they’d actually heard it, or if the forest was playing tricks on them.
Then a second scream pierced the air.
Neither of them hesitated this time. They ran toward the sound as one, dodging trees and plowing through snow as quickly as they could. Ethan held out his hands and blasted a path with a gale-force wind.
The screaming didn’t stop; it just got louder and louder as they tried to find its source among the trees.
Mika ran blindly, following her senses as her heart pounded. She ripped off her bone bracelet and suddenly the sound of blood pumping filled her ears until it drowned out even the sound of that endless screaming.
She clapped her hands over her ears and stumbled, but even that didn’t quiet the noise. It took her too long to realize the sound wasn’t her own blood, but someone else’s.
Gasping, she ran toward it as the sound got louder and louder.
Ethan shouted, but she was too disoriented. Mika stumbled and fell, sprawling in the snow. Turning to see what she’d tripped over—the sound stopped.
Not even an owl called out. Wind didn’t rustle through the trees. There was absolute silence as she stared at a body brutally staked to a tree.
Blood was everywhere. It soaked the tree and the snow. It covered Mika and she could feel it singing to her – a crystal clear note as she held up her hand to see the blood covering it just like that night three years ago.
She forced herself to look at the body pinned to the tree like a dead butterfly behind glass.
It wasn’t Audrey.
Mika sucked in a massive breath of air and scrambled back.
She didn’t recognize the witch, but she was sliced open from neck to navel.
“Fucking hell,” Ethan muttered. “They stripped her organs.”
He was right. Her chest and abdomen were nothing but a cavity.
The blood sang as it soaked into the snow.
This girl had been murdered in cold blood—sacrificed.
The silence in the forest was deafening.
Don’t miss Wicked Games
Book 2 in this slow burn, reverse harem, witch academy series.
Want Free Stories?
If you subscribe to my newsletter you can get these shorts free on Bookfunnel!
* * *
A Bandit’s Prequel
(Short steamy reverse harem shifter story.)
If you’re subbed you also get the chapters of the first book before release!
* * *
Royal Guard of Draga
(Novella prequel for a Game of Thrones in space slow burn story that turns into a reverse harem, this is also steamy and just the beginning.)
Other Books
Paranormal Romance*
Loyal to Monsters (M/F)
Stolen Magic: Episode One
Stolen Magic: Episode Two
Stolen Magic: Episode Three
Stolen Magic: Episode Four
Stolen Magic: Episode Five
Stolen Magic: Episode Six
Stolen Magic: Episode Seven
Stolen Magic: Episode Eight
Stolen Magic: Episode Nine
Stolen Magic: Episode Ten
Stolen Magic Episode Eleven
Stolen Magic Episode Twelve
Stolen Magic Episode Thirteen
Blue Mountain Wolf Pack (M/F Wolf Shifters)
Alpha Wolf
Broken Wolf
Wolf Moon
Wolf Curse
Wolf Bite
* * *
Chaos of Foxes Series
For Fox Sake
All Foxed Up
What the Fox
Chaos of Foxes Boxset
* * *
This is Bandit Territory Series
A Bandit’s Prequel
To Catch a Bandit
Make Out Like Bandits
Queen of the Bandits
* * *
University of Morgana Academy Series
Something Wicked
Wicked Games
No Rest for the Wicked
A Wicked Raven
Wicked Blood
As Wicked As They Come
Wicked Little Things
The Wicked Will Rise
* * *
The Infernal Royals Series
The Devil’s Huntress
* * *
Standalones
Spotted Her First
Vaudeville Runaway
A Cup of Christmas Magic
The Draga Court Series (Polyam/RH like Game of Thrones in space without the incest)
Princess of Draga
Crown of Draga
Jasmine of Draga
Heir of Draga
Queen of Draga
Fate of Draga
Prequel Novella – Royal Guard of Draga*
Christmas Epilogue Novella - Winter Solstice in Draga
* * *
*Can be read as a standalone before or after Princess of Draga, but in the timeline takes place before Princess.
* * *
*All paranormal stories are in the same universe - the Council of Paranormals.
Want updates on when the books are released and my
progress with them?
Sign up for my newsletter @ emmadeanromance.com
About the Author
Emma Dean is the author of Draga Court and the Council of Paranormals. Juggling work, life, higher education, and a rambunctious toddler leaves little room for much else, but when she gets the chance she dives into a good book and likes to re-read the Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop every year during Christmas.
Join her reader group
Emma’s Enclave
* * *
Follow her on Social Media or
www.emmadeanromance.com
e(100%); -o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share