Wicked Curse (The Royals: Warlock Court Book 4)

by Megan Montero

  I hopped down next to her and she gave me a look I didn’t quite recognize. Her lips pressed into a thin line and she narrowed her eyes at me. “Enjoying yourself?”

  “Not yet.” I spun back toward the giant and let my magic seep from my body into his. Searching out the one thing I wanted, my magic found it without effort—that huge, thudding heart. I wrapped my power around it and squeezed. The giant twitched and roared, but I didn’t care. He’d gotten in the way of what I wanted and now my power demanded its due.

  “Beckett, what are you doing?” Astrid said from right beside me.

  When had she moved?

  I shrugged. “Eliminating a problem.”

  And then I felt it, the squish, the give of pressure under my magic. The giant went motionless and a large black stain seeped over his skin… blood. I chuckled. “See? Done.”

  Astrid turned away from me, and I felt of wave of disgust and disappointment roll off her. At me? Why? I got rid of the problem. Done. Simple. I shook her feelings away and turned toward Logan. “Hello, brother.”

  “Beckett. I thought… I thought I’d die here.” He swayed and hunched like it took all the strength he had to hold himself up.

  I squatted down next to him and rested my hand on his bony shoulder. I gave it a little squeeze and he seemed to flinch under my touch. “We’re taking you back. Back to Warwick.”

  “Beckett, you’re hurting him.” Astrid pushed my hand off him. “Be gentle.”

  Gentle? I sighed. “Sorry, old friend.”

  She tugged on the manacles hooked into the ground at his feet. They were an odd green color, almost like jade. It was the only color I’d seen in this world besides gray and black. The skin around his wrists was red and bloody from him tugging at them constantly. His hair was longer and shaggy. A layer of scruff covered his face along with dirt and muck. Dark circles hung under his huge chocolate eyes. He closed his eyes and nearly fell forward onto his face.

  “I thought I’d never see you again.”

  “Well, here I am.” I held my hands out to my sides. “How long have you been here?”

  For some reason, I felt this moment should’ve been more important—finding him should bring me joy—yet I hadn’t felt joy or happiness since I got to this world. Only power and strength. I paused, wondering if this was what my father felt all the time—power. How interesting.

  A rattling breath escaped Logan’s lungs. He motioned toward Astrid. “Hard to tell. Long enough not to know her. Or any of them. They are with you, right?”

  Kylian and the others came around the corner just as Astrid rose to her feet. She gave them a warm smile. “Yeah, they’re with us. I’m so glad you all are okay. The giant grabbed me—”

  “We’re good.” Kylian cut her off. “We gotta get out of here before more guards show up.”

  “Guards?” She glanced around the corner as if one would suddenly pop up. “I haven’t seen any.”

  “The giant.” Logan groaned and his chains rattled. “He was the guard.”

  Astrid’s eyes widened. “Then we need to move now.”

  I didn’t understand the rush. I was here. I killed the giant… easily. I’d kill another one just as I had the first. “Let’s get the manacles off.”

  Astrid gently wrapped her hand around the chains and golden smoke poured from her hands, covering them from top to bottom. Her face turned a bright red and her lips pressed into a hard line. Small beads of sweat gathered on her forehead. Her shoulders sagged, and she blew out a heavy breath. “Nothing I’ve tried has worked.”

  Kylian moved in next to her and placed his hands on the manacles. “They’re mystically reinforced against warlock magic.”

  “How do you know?” I was going to get those freaking things off even if I had to cut off Logan’s hands. Did he actually need them to do his magic if he was a charmer?

  “I can feel the power running through them. It’s going to take a hell of a lot to get them off.”

  “I don’t care if you have to cut off my hands to get them off. Get me out of here now.” Logan shook and rattled the chains in our direction.

  Finally, someone’s thinking.

  “We’re not doing that.” Astrid rose to her feet. “I have an idea. If we can just overload it with enough power…”

  “They’ll break.” A smile tugged at my lips. “Brilliant.”

  In the distance, there was a rumbling, like the movement of giants. Everyone fell silent, waiting for the next sound. Astrid jumped to her feet and moved between Nova and me. “If the three of us do it with you, Kylian.”

  Logan held his hands in front of him. “Do what you have to.”

  I held out my hand and blue smoke seeped from my palms, so hot, so ready. It crept over the ground toward him. Astrid was next. Her golden power seeped in next to mine, the two dancing together in a glowing swirl of blue and gold. Nova opened both her hands and purple sparks bounced over the ground toward Logan. Kylian stayed the closest, holding his glowing hands over the chains around Logan’s wrists. Our powers filtered up through the chains like a braid of blue, gold, purple and copper. The chains rattled and shook, and I felt their resistance to my power, yet together I knew we were stronger than this magic.

  Our power turned liquid and crept over the manacles like water flowing over river rocks. It gathered and twisted over every inch of them. Logan gritted his teeth and sat back on his feet. His skin turned a sickly pale and he tilted to one side. Soto caught him and held up. Astrid hesitated and her powers started to subside. “It’s hurting him.”

  “No.” I grabbed her wrist and pulled forward. “He must be freed.”

  Her power flowed back with mine. Logan groaned and sagged onto the ground at Soto’s feet. She pulled his head into her lap and stroked his messy hair. Flakes of that green metal fell in goopy chunks onto the ground in front of him as though our magic was melting off the manacles like acid. The metal hissed and bubbled as the chunks fell one by one like green drops of tar. Then all at once the manacles popped and clanged to the floor where they shriveled up and melted into the slate.

  Logan lifted his hands, examining them. A smile broke out over his face and his eyes glistened. “Finally.”

  “Come on. We have to move.” Kylian threw Logan’s arm over his shoulder and pulled him up to his feet. He turned to Astrid. “Can’t you do something to get him covered?”

  “I got this.” She waved her hand, and his torn clothing was replaced by thick army pants, combat boots and a black turtleneck. His face and hair looked like he had showered and dressed, yet he leaned into Kylian like the guy was a lifeline.

  Again, the distant sound of rumbling like a thunderstorm rolling in filled the air. The ground shook and I spun in a circle. Did they have storms here or was it something else? My gut told me something else was rolling toward us, but I couldn’t find the alarm to care. I got what I wanted. Logan was with us and that was the final piece of the puzzle. I just needed to go claim what was mine. “We need to get back to the entrance.”

  Kylian looked to the top of the canyon then turned back toward me. “You threw us once. Can you do it again?”

  I rubbed my hands together. “With pleasure.”

  “You threw them?” Astrid took a step back from me, looking completely appalled.

  “Got us here faster, didn’t it?”

  “Yeah, he did… without warning.” Nova crossed her arms over her chest.

  Soto chuckled. “It was kind of cool.”

  Kylian elbowed her. “Not really, but we need to get to the top and we have to get out quick.”

  I held my hand out to my side and gathered a ball of my magic in my palm. “You first?”

  “Ya—”

  I didn’t wait for his response. I hauled back my arm and threw him up with my power toward the highest shelf on the inside of the hollowed-out mountain. He held Logan tightly to his side and landed there easily. I didn’t wait for the rest of them to speak, I just launched them one right after the o
ther. Astrid stood before me and we were alone for the first time.

  “I don’t like what this world is doing to you.” She shook her head. “You’re different.”

  “I don’t feel any different. Maybe it’s you.” She opened her mouth to argue but I threw her to where the others had landed. I didn’t feel any different. I felt… stronger.

  With a last look around Logan’s hovel, I shook my head. I didn’t know how long he’d been here but how could he not have escaped. Were the chain that unbreakable? Was he that weak? His absence held up my plans. I fired my magic down and launched myself up into the air, soaring for a few seconds. My stomach went up into my throat as I began to come down next to the others. I landed harder than expected. Stinging pain vibrated up my legs as I skidded to a halt next to Kylian. He along with the others stood motionless, staring out toward the horizon.

  I turned to follow their gazes and froze. It couldn’t be. How could they have moved so quickly? So quietly? Thousands and thousands of Unseelie warriors stood in long rectangular formations stretching as far as the eye could see. A slow smile spread across my face and my power flared to life, covering by body in neon blue smoke. I wiggled my fingers, knowing what was about to happen. Come get some.

  There in the middle of them all, standing on a rock formation above them, was that bastard, Nylore. His glowing red eyes were like two pinpoints among a sea of gray. He raised his hand and pointed at me. “I told you I smelled you.”

  Chapter 36

  Astrid

  Legions spread out meeting the dark gray horizon. From this distance, they looked like ants crawling over one another to get to us. How had they arrived so silently when we were in the canyon? Up here, high above them all on a small overhang, the six of us stood with no way out. The back of the hollowed-out mountain was closed off with no exits in sight. Only the castle stood tall and dreadful on the rocky pedestal. Even that was dark as slate and looked dead inside with its jagged walls and ominous surrounding canyon. The one way out was blocked by Nylore and his army.

  My heart raced in my chest and vomit rose in my throat. We were going to die here. How could six stand against so many? Not even six—Logan was barely standing, and I didn’t know what power Soto held. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be strong enough to overcome this. I sagged back against the wall. “We’re all gonna die.”

  Kylian dropped Logan down onto the ground behind us all. His eyes glowed a light crystal green. The muscle in his jaw ticked and his hands balled into fists at his sides. “I told you we would.”

  “Brother, is that helpful right now?” Ashryn, ever so calm and steady, gazed out over the Unseelie army and let go of a heavy sigh. “Though, accurate as it may be.”

  This was the moment when we never came back. A ball formed in my throat and I forced the tears not to flow. I was sixteen. I didn’t want to die not ever saying goodbye to my bestie, Tilly. I shook away the thought and tried to think around the pain in my throat, the throbbing in my head and the exhaustion in my body that this world inflicted on me. They were all right—this was hell. “We need a plan.”

  I reached for Beckett’s hand, wanting to take comfort in his touch, to have his strength next to me when we decided what to do next. My hand fell limp at my side as his entire body lit up a neon blue. His eyes glowed and a slow smile slide over his face. “Kill them all.”

  Magic poured from his hands, and he launched up into the air, doing that superhero jump thing he’d been doing. He landed, a bright glowing ball of power, just in front of the army. He threw back his head and launched into the fray, throwing fists and spinning and fighting his way through the front line.

  “What the hell is wrong with your boy?” Kylian growled. “He’s going to get us all killed.”

  “It’s not him… it’s this world. It’s affecting our magic, turning it volatile. And making him that.” I couldn’t just stand here and talk. I had to do something.

  If Beckett could launch himself across the canyon to the fight, then I could too. Golden power flowed around me, and Nova jumped forward, latching onto my arm at the last minute. We flew up into the air. My stomach dipped and turned, and if I hadn’t felt like I was going to vomit before, I sure as shit was going to do it now.

  I dropped down a few feet away from Beckett with Nova right beside me. I gave her a sharp look. “Are you insane?”

  “You all go in, I go in. Beckett is my friend too.” She shrugged. “Been a while since I hit something.”

  The Unseelie around us all froze. Their meaty bodies dwarfed mine and the overwhelming stench of their gray, sweat-soaked bodies made me want to gag. They seemed to hum with pulsing energy. The muscular bodies twitched and moved, about to strike. I felt it in the air. Some of them growled, exposing their razor-sharp shark teeth. Drool dribbled from their mouths like they thought Nova and I would be the most delicious snacks.

  “We need to get to Beckett.” I glanced over my shoulder at him.

  He lit up the area like a reactor, yet he was surrounded, and they were closing in quickly. Then, as if a bomb went off, they all leapt at us, their huge hands grabbing for me. I jumped up and fired my magic all around me, knocking them back. Tiny purple sparks flew over my shoulder, smacking one soldier in the face. He fell to the ground, twitching and convulsing. A war hammer swung for my head, and I arched back and the metal block at the end of it barely missed my face. A heavy fist connected with my side, and I heard something crack. My head snapped to the side and my body went flying. I crashed landed onto Nova. My knee connected with her hip and we ended in a tangle of limbs on the ground.

  Nova scrambled back on her elbows. “You got any good ideas?”

  I jumped to my feet and hauled her up next to me. I jumped over a swinging sword and fired my magic into the Unseelie’s face. He spun in a wide circle and I kicked him in the back, sending him reeling toward the others. His long sword went through three other Unseelie, driving them all to the ground. “We gotta get to Beckett.”

  I dove under one of the Unseelie’s legs and hopped over another’s swinging dagger. It was like running through an obstacle course of death. My only advantage was I was small and they were huge. They were slower than me, but one hit could be fatal, like a human squashing a spider. Beckett’s wild laugh sounded over the cries of wrath and fighting. Didn’t matter how much I fought to get closer to him, there were too many of them. A sword came down an inch from my shoulder and I staggered back, bumping into the Unseelie behind me. He wrapped his hand around my neck from behind me. His fingers were so thick and long, they met under my chin and squeezed the air from getting to my lungs. My feet lifted off the ground and I kicked them out, trying to connect with something. But nothing. No footing, no grip, no stopping the black dots from swarming my vision.

  I summoned my power to my hands and pictured it as burning daggers in each hand. I ran my hands down his forearms. Black blood poured down my throat and shoulders. His grip loosened and I sucked in a deep breath. I held my hand behind me and fired my power right into his chest. It fired like a laser and he fell to the ground, dropping me. When I turned back, there was a smoking hole in his chest and the fifty soldiers behind him.

  A volley of slate arrows pierced the area all around me, knocking away rows of Unseelie. I gazed up where I’d left Kylian, Ashryn, and Soto. Soto held her hand at the ready with a dozen slate arrows. Even with their cover, it wouldn’t be enough. There was only so much any of us could do. We had to get out of here… somehow.

  Nova ran to my side out of breath and covered in thick black blood. “There’s too many.”

  I grabbed her hand and I turned for Beckett. Faster, I have to go faster. Magic exploded around me and that wave of dizziness overcame me once more, same as it had when I ran from the giant. I came to a halt three feet from Beckett. His eyes widened and Nova tipped sideways next to me. “Whoa.”

  I stormed up to Beckett. “We have to get out of here.”

  “Not leaving.” He fired his power in w
ide harsh beams all around him, killing handfuls of Unseelie at the same time.

  “I wasn’t asking.” I grabbed Nova’s hand once more and tugged her with me. I ran up to Beckett and wrapped my hand in his shirt. I let my power flow over us. I yanked him to me. “Fuck this!”

  Chapter 37

  Astrid

  I appeared right on the shelf next to Kylian. I dropped Beckett just as fast as I’d grabbed him. Kylian was on him in a minute. He wrapped his hands in his shirt and threw him against the wall. “You asshole.”

  A trickle of blood dripped from the corner of Beckett’s lip. “Just because you’re scared doesn’t mean I have to be.”

  Kylian placed his hand on the wall behind Beckett and thick slate pieces wrapped around his chest, hips and legs. Thick cube-like blocks bound and covered his hands. He shoved against them and they cracked ever so slightly. Nova waved her hand and skeletal arms popped from the wall and wrapped around his body, reinforcing Kylian’s hold. “That’s not going to keep long.”

  Beckett chuckled even louder. I looked him dead in the eye. “Shut up.”

  I faced out toward the legions and watch as Nylore threw up his arms and roared to his troops like he’d already peeled the skin from my body and took it as a trophy. Their returning cheer sent my blood boiling. What was the point of having all this power if we were going to hold back? I turned to the rest of them. “We don’t need to go down there. Just don’t hold back anything. Whatever you’ve got, now is the time to use it.”

  “What do you mean?” Nova looked down at the legions. “We are surrounded.”

  “I mean it’s time to take your gloves off.”

  Beckett struggled against his bindings. They began to crack under the pressure of his magic. My hand shot out and I grabbed his face, pinching his chin and forcing him to look down at me. His eyes went from glowing that bright brilliant blue back to the ocean eyes I recognized. I let my power seep into my voice. I let the inner charmer in me lace every single one of my words. “If we let you out, you will stay right here and you will help us.”