Wicked Wish (The Royals: Warlock Court Book 2)

by Megan Montero

  Two queen-sized beds sat across from each other. One on the right side of the room and one on the left. They mirrored each other. Both were four-poster beds with gauzy black material hanging from them. At the center of the room I made a chandelier hang between the beds. Wrought iron vines wound around each other and the flickering lights gave the room a warm glow. Two doors appeared next to each bed where our walk-in closets would be. Another door appeared next to the fireplace and that would be our restroom.

  I pictured dark marble tiles, double sinks, and a huge walk-in shower. Tilly ran across the room and jumped on one of the beds. “I love magic. Can you make me taller?”

  I shook my head. “Nah, not permanently.”

  “Pity.” She motioned to the rest of the room. “I love it.”

  “Yeah, me too.” I sat back on my own bed and faced Tilly. “Roomies?”

  “Finally.”

  I lay back on my pillows. Exhaustion ate at me and perhaps a bit of sadness. I summoned the last two things I needed from Beckett’s house. My grimoire dropped onto the foot of my bed and the ball of magic Zinnia had given me now sat in that locked cage beside my bed.

  Tilly sat up straighter. “I thought I saw that thing in one of the living rooms at Beckett’s house. Is it yours?”

  I didn’t want to tell her that I’d nearly died and left her in this world alone. “Yeah, when I got my powers, they were a bit too much. But this powerful witch took some out so I could learn to use them a little at a time.”

  “She gave it back to you just like that?” Tilly snapped her fingers.

  “Yeah, she was pretty terrifying but also cool. I think you’d like her.” My gaze locked on my golden magic mixed with her silver as it swirled within that ball. I still hadn’t learned enough to feel comfortable enough to take the rest of it.

  “I say we go meet this chick and start our own house and rule the school.” Tilly giggled.

  I chuckled. “We can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because she kind of rules every witch in Evermore.” I kicked my blankets up and over my legs.

  “What’s Evermore?” She lay back on her pillows.

  “Pretty much every magic thing on the earth belongs to the world of Evermore. It’s what humans can’t see.” I curled on my side to face the fire. The flames danced and I felt myself relaxing for the first time in a long time.

  “Wow, magic is so cool.”

  “It really is.”

  Chapter 32

  Beckett

  “What do you mean she’s gone?” I drove my shoulder into Astrid’s door. It flew open and smacked into the wall with a bang.

  Maze followed behind me. “Maybe next time you won’t be such an ass, dad.”

  I glanced around the darkened room. Her clothes were missing. Her ball of magic was gone as well. I marched over to the bathroom. Empty. “For the love of all that is holy. Why does she do this every freaking time?”

  “Because you’re an idiot.” Maze walked into the room and sat on the edge of her bed.

  “Watch it. You might be psychic, but I doubt you’ll see my fist connecting with your face coming.” I shoved my hands in my hair and tugged at the strands. “Zinnia never gave Tucker this much trouble.”

  “You’re forgetting one major fact about that situation.” Maze grabbed a pillow and tossed it toward the door.

  Cross walked in and caught it, then threw it back at him. “Ah she moved out.” He said it so matter-of-fact. Like it was inevitable.

  “What? What am I missing?” I put my hands on my hips.

  “Astrid is not Zinnia.” Maze pulled a flask from his back pocket.

  “Are you drinking?” I arched my eyebrow at him. All my life he pledged never to go down the self-medication route. Now here he was openly drinking in front of us.

  “Dude, no, it’s perfect for pineapple cranberry juice. Stops my fingers from getting sticky when I gotta eat.” He opened it up and took a deep sip.

  I met Cross’ eye. “Seriously? With this guy.”

  “What?” Maze took another sip.

  I shook my head. “I can’t deal with this right now. How do we get Astrid back here under our roof?”

  “You could stop being so overbearing for starters.” Logan strolled into the room. He was so calm, so put together.

  Cross scoffed. “And I was there. I saw what Zinnia did to Tuck and it was no picnic either. When are you all going to learn?”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “Right, like you’re such a Casanova with Ophelia. That girl has got you tangled in knots.”

  “We have our own set of rules to play by and a deal I have to hold up my end of. Once that’s done, we’ll see if you know what you’re talking about.” He walked farther into the room and pulled the chair at Astrid’s desk out then dropped himself down into it.

  “You guys forget one simple fact.” Logan leaned against the doorframe.

  “Yes, let’s take advice from the one who lives like a monk.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. We were like a bunch a hens in a coop clucking away about girls.

  Logan arched his eyebrow at me. “Speak for yourself. I’m the only one here who has a date tonight while the three of you sit here and wonder where things went wrong. Here’s some free advice. I’m sorry goes a long way. But not only that, maybe back it up with your actions.”

  “I wasn’t wrong.” I huffed.

  “According to who?” Logan countered then started to back away. “I’m done standing here. I’m not leaving my Angel waiting. Later, guys, and good luck.”

  Cross rubbed his hand over his chin. “She is a warlock, Beck. Perhaps it’s time to start letting her in on things. The war to come, the fallen, the plans for Evermore, just all of it.”

  “She freaked out just learning that she was a warlock and trying to control her powers. I don’t know how she’ll handle the rest of it. I’m trying to take it one step at a time, but it’s not working.”

  “If we’re going to take over the council then she needs to know this stuff.” Maze grabbed up one of her pillows and held it to his nose and took a deep breath. “Chicken nuggets.”

  “What?”

  He shook his head. “Never mind.”

  I paced. “We can’t take over the council until she completes what’s expected of her in the warlock world.”

  Cross slouched farther down in the chair. “It might not be as difficult as you think. There are those who aren’t happy with the council and how oppressive they are.”

  “You father is a big supporter of the council and he’s got a lot of backing.” I shook my head. “The fact she’s gone doesn’t help that.”

  “Don’t you worry about my father.” Cross curled his hands into fists. “I’ll handle him.”

  “Still doesn’t change the fact he’s still out there and has Alataris’ supporters rallying around him. And now I have to figure out how to convince Astrid to move back in here.” I spun to Maze. “Any way she might be coming back any time soon?”

  Maze sat up straight and his eyes went milky white. His head jerked to the right then to the left then straight back as he stared blindly at the ceiling.

  I glanced at Cross and whispered, “I’ve never gotten a vision on demand.”

  Cross sat forward with his elbows on his knees. “Possible game changer?”

  Maze sucked in a deep breath and shot to his feet. He glanced from the door to the window and back again. “Tilly!”

  He sprinted from the room without another word. Cross jumped to his feet. “What was that?”

  “Not a vision on demand. Follow him and make sure Tilly is okay. The last thing we need is for something to go wrong with her.”

  “Shit, I might need a strait jacket for this.” He dashed out the door, leaving me alone in Astrid’s room.

  I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened up a text to the only person I knew who could understand what I was going through. Tucker.

  Hey, man, I got a problem.

>   Three little bubbles popped up. What’s going on? Send me a portal. I can be there in seconds.

  Not that kind of problem. I hit send.

  Oh?

  I ran my fingers over the buttons in quick succession. Astrid moved out and didn’t tell me.

  Good to see that whole soul mate thing is working for you LOL.

  I sighed and sat back on the bed. Come on, man, what do I do here?

  I’m pretty sure I told you to tell her.

  That’s not going to help. I rose to my feet and walked out of her room, letting the door fall shut behind me.

  My phone vibrated in my hand. In my experience partnerships work better.

  I paused in the middle of the hallway. Cross said the same thing.

  LOL surprised he has any good advice.

  I continued down the hall and turned into my room. I kicked the door shut behind me. I held my phone over my face. It was the only thing illuminating the room in the darkness. Me too, but I think you might be right. Time to take a different approach.

  Astrid has all the makings of a queen. Even though she’s not, don’t forget that.

  Yeah, you’re right.

  GL bro.

  I closed my phone and tossed it on the bed beside me. I pulled my shirt off and tossed it into the corner. Tomorrow I would settle this. Tomorrow we’d start fresh. My phone buzzed and I picked it up. A message from Cross appeared. He’s in the basement and I don’t think he’s coming out. Dude took ALL the snacks and locked the door.

  Fine.

  One letter popped up. K

  And the convo was over. I tossed my phone away again and slid farther back on my bed. I pulled a pillow behind my head and sucked in a deep breath. Tomorrow will be a better day. As my eyes drifted shut, a sense of calm hope overcame me and I let myself find the piece that could only come from a deathlike sleep.

  Chapter 33

  Beckett

  How did I get here? I sat up in Astrid’s bed. Her strawberry scent flooded my senses and her pillows cushioned my head. I glanced down to the foot of the bed where Astrid stood looking down at me. My heart hammered in my chest and every muscle in my body tightened with awareness. She was beautiful, with her hair curling around her shoulders and down her back. My hands ached to touch her.

  Her bright emerald eyes sparked with life. “What am I doing here, Beck?”

  I sat up and reached for her. When her fingers slipped in my grasp, I pulled her closer to me. “I don’t know.”

  She swung her leg up and rested her knee next to my hip. When I dropped her fingers, I let my hand wander down her side to the back of her other leg. My hands shook as I ran them down her legs. I gripped them harder and pulled her knee up and over to my other side. She straddled my hips then did a little hop and landed in my lap.

  I felt so free with her, like nothing could keep us apart. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Me too.” She titled her head to the side and pressed a kiss to my neck. Goose bumps broke out over every inch of my skin.

  I closed my eyes and leaned my head back to give her more space. “I don’t want to fight with you anymore.” Her kiss scorched my skin. I gripped her harder pulling her closer.

  “Me neither.” Another kiss and she grazed her teeth against my skin. I fought the urge to throw her down on the bed. This would be slow, deliberate. I might not be able to tell her we were soul mates, but I could make her feel it.

  I cupped the back of her legs and pulled her tighter to me. We were nose to nose. Her breath was mine and mine was hers. I bit her bottom lip before sucking it into my mouth. “Let’s not anymore.”

  She kissed the tip of my nose and let her lips drift lower down to meet mine. Ours mouths melded together, and heat fired deep in my chest. As her tongue danced with mine, she reached down and grabbed the bottom of my shirt. She pulled back for a bare second to rip it over my head. We smashed back together in a tangle of lips and limbs. Electricity sizzled between us as we tumbled back on the bed. Her touch scorched my skin and I wanted everything she had to give.

  When I reached down for the hem of her shirt, I hesitated. “Is this okay?”

  Her eyes danced with mischief. “Off now.”

  She raised her hands over her head, and I pulled her shirt free and tossed it to the side of the bed. I twisted my body and rolled her onto her back. Her hands ran down my stomach and my muscles contracted to her touch.

  “Let’s just be good from now on, deal?”

  “Deal.” She wrapped her hand around my belt bucked and yanked at it. My hips jerked forward and the sound of clicking metal filled my ears. Excitement and nervousness warred within me.

  I snapped the button on her jeans clean off and rolled that zipper down ever so slowly. She lifted her hips and let me peel her pants down her creamy legs. When I ran the tips of my fingers over her thighs, goose bumps broke out over her skin. I smiled down at her. “You’re so beautiful.”

  She brushed her fingers down my cheek and over my collarbone. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

  There was no one else I wanted to spend this moment with but my beautiful Astrid. I pulled the blankets up and over us and we were surrounded by warmth and all I could see was her. I rolled my body to rest against hers.

  She cradled me within her hips and all I knew was her. I cupped her cheeks and met her gaze. “Are you good with this?”

  She reached her hands up and wound her fingers into my hair, then pulled me down toward her. “More than good.”

  I ran my fingers down her bare body and hooked my thumb into the waistband of her panties. My hand shook as I slid them down her legs and unhooked them from her ankle. Her body quivered under my touch and I felt each tremble in her thighs as they brushed mine. As I pressed forward, joining our bodies, I locked eyes with her. “Astrid, you are everything.”

  Her fingers intertwined with mine and there it was, the connection I craved with her. This was us at our core. I wanted her and she wanted me. Every responsibility I had faded away to nothing. It was the two of us tangled in these bed sheets, moving as one. I didn’t know where she started, and I ended. I didn’t want to know. We were one for this stolen moment and it was all I could ask for.

  “Astrid, I lo—”

  I shot straight up in my bed. My breaths came in ragged huffs. Sweat covered my body from head to toe. My hair clung to my head in soaking locks. I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to slow my racing heart. In the darkness of my own room I glanced around for her and ran my fingers over the top of my sheets, looking for her touch to meet mine. Yet there was nothing. I was utterly alone. I fell back onto my bed and let the cool air seep into my damp skin. As my breaths started to slow, my mind was a whirl with how real it was. I still smelled her scent, felt her on my lips and my skin sizzled from her touch.

  I sucked in a deep breath. “What in the actual hell?”

  Chapter 34

  Astrid

  My eyes flashed wide-open and I rolled onto my back. I sucked in a deep breath and stared at the ceiling. I was more exhausted than I was when I fell asleep.

  I gradually sat up and glanced around at my new room. “Tilly?”

  No answer. I threw my blankets off my legs and scooted to the edge of the bed. I searched for the rest and found none. Instead I woke up feeling more drained than before. My body ached and my mood was slowly declining with every passing moment. Everything was wrong. Beckett was pissed at me, I was living with Kitty Kalarook, and my bestie was loose in this house. I placed my feet on the cold stone and a chill shot up my body.

  My shirt was soaked and clung to me in all the wrong places. I ripped it off and threw it onto the floor where it fell with a wet sopping sound. Gross. I hurried to my closet and dug into the piles of clothes there to find a baggy black turtleneck sweater and leggings. Today was a day to stay in bed and do nothing but wallow. I felt rotten down to my core about fighting with Beckett. Everything was off and I had no idea how to get back to where we were a few days ago. Whatever this
was it was putting me into a funk of epic proportions. I padded over to the stairs and took them two at a time.

  “Tilly? Where are you?” I pressed my finger to the back of the painting, and it slid to the side like a door. I stepped out onto the second floor and covered my eyes from the light shining in from the foyer. Did I have some kind of magic hangover?

  When I came to the end of the hall, I glanced over the balcony into the foyer . . . empty. I moved to the set of stairs closest to me. I froze when Kitty stopped on the top step of the other set of stairs.

  She looked down her nose at me. “You look like hell.”

  “Spare me the compliments.” I rolled my eyes.

  “I don’t want you in our house.”

  “I think you made that perfectly clear last night and I think I made my position perfectly clear.” I placed my hand on the golden railing and began to walk down.

  She ran her hand through her silky hair. Kitty was impeccably dressed, in her pressed khaki pants, tight polo shirt, and neutral makeup. When we both reached the foyer, she crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at me. I really wasn’t in the mood for this.

  She huffed. “What’s it going to take to make you leave?”

  “Ugh, what’s it going to take to shut you up?” I tried to run my fingers through my hair and ended up getting them tangled. I yanked them free and walked past her.

  “I’ve already called my father and he will have words about this with the headmaster.”

  Back when I was in private school in New York, there were so many girls like this. Girls who wanted all their problems solved for them, girls who had daddy’s money to back them up. It made me want to dig my heels in and stay longer. “Much good may it do you.”