Wicked Magic (The Royals: Witch Court Book 2)

by Megan Montero

“Okay.” Zinnia pressed her lips together and nodded. “I can do this.”

  No, you can’t. My pulse raced in my veins as Zinnia leaned her body over his. I knew Grayson would die without her blood. It was our only chance. But the jealousy I was feeling right now felt like I would die if she did. The inside of my palms burned. I knew without looking that my flames were answering to my emotions. She tilted her head to the side, her cheek was so close to his. Could he smell her sweet vanilla scent, feel the heat of her body pressing into his? Did her soft hair tickle his skin the way it tickled mine the first time she kissed me?

  His lips pulled back from his teeth, and his fangs shot out, elongating to razor-sharp points. He sucked in a deep breath, and his chocolate gaze met mine a moment before he struck like a snake. Then his eyes slid shut as he swallowed down his first mouthful. Zinnia gasped. Her body shot tight with tension, and her back was ramrod straight. His lips were pressed to her neck like a kiss. Watching him feed from her was like watching an intimate act between two people. I’d expected it to be messy with streaming blood everywhere, but this…it was gentle and almost sweet. I wanted to look away, to get out of there as soon as I could. But with Niche standing there watching my every move, I had to keep it together. Good thing I’m trained for this. Wait, did she just…sigh? If Gray lived through this, I was going to kill him.

  When he wrapped his arm around the small of her back, I nearly summoned my sword to cut his hand off. The color returned to his cheeks in a rush, and he slowly sat up, bringing Zinnia with him. They faced each other on the bed, with her legs dangling over the side and her chest pressed to his. Where the hell is a clock when you need one? It felt like they’d been at this for years.

  Just as I was about to break them up, Niche stepped forward. “I think that’s enough, Mr. Shade.”

  Thank god. I didn’t know how much more I could take of this. Grayson tilted his head back, pulling his lips away from her delicate skin. Two small puncture wounds stuck out to me like spotlights. Before she could say anything, he leaned back in and ran his tongue over the two marks.

  I clamped my fist at my side. “Isn’t that enough?”

  Grayson pulled his head back and smiled at me. His eyes were hooded with desire or satisfaction—I didn’t know. He swiped his thumb over his bottom lip. “If I don’t seal the wound with my saliva, she’ll walk around bleeding all day long.” He gave my Zinnia a long sideways glance. “Why, my dear Zinnia, I do believe I’m a bit… magic happy.”

  I couldn’t take it anymore. Watching them together like this was something even I couldn’t do. I’d suffered years of combat training, mental exhaustion, nearly been swallowed by a monster and dying. This would go down as one of the worst things I’d have to endure.

  I gritted my teeth together. “Better?”

  Zinnia pressed her hand to her neck, gently probing the puncture wounds with the tips of her fingers. When she turned to look at me over her shoulder, I couldn’t meet her eyes just yet. I knew I was being unreasonable. I knew she’d just saved his life. I knew she had to do it…I knew I was being an ass. But right now, I didn’t trust myself not to show her exactly how I felt.

  Grayson stepped out of the bed and pulled those blood-soaked bandages away from his torso. His skin was already beginning to knit together, leaving behind tiny pink pucker scars. “Much better.”

  “Good.” I turned and walked out of the room.

  Chapter 4

  Zinnia

  “Tucker, wait.”

  I turned on the cot to face the door Tucker had just gone through. I knew if I went after him now Niche would know something was happening between us, but the truth was I didn’t even know what was between us.

  Beside me, Grayson ran his fingers over the fading pink scars on his chest and stomach. “I’ve got to tell you, don’t let any other vamp know about your super blood because they’ll be after you right off. I mean, you’re delicious.”

  Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I suddenly felt the need to cover my neck. I pulled my hair down around my shoulders. “Um, thanks?”

  He darted from one end of the tent to the other. All I could see was a blur.

  The Doctor ’s eyes followed his movements nervously, and he took a step back toward his desk. “I-I’ll just be on my way.”

  Grayson leapt on top of the cot and held his arms over his head. “Whoo, I feel amazing.”

  “Mr. Shade, that’s quite enough. Lie back down in that bed. We don’t know that you’re completely fine just yet.” Niche pointed to the cot, then narrowed her eyes at him over the top of her glasses.

  “I think I’m just going to go.” I rose up from the cot and scurried from the room out into the chaotic hallway. Dizziness assailed me, and I teetered on my feet. I held my hands out, trying to stop the world from spinning. Nausea rolled in my stomach. Black dots swarmed my vision. I stumbled, and the stone floor rushed toward my face so quickly I didn’t have time to put my hands out. Before my cheek smacked into it, two strong hands swept under my arms and brought me back to my feet.

  A warm woodsy scent invaded my senses, and I sucked in a deep breath, trying to get the world to right itself.

  His rumbling voice lulled me into a sense of calm. “Zinnia, are you alright?”

  “I think so.” I was not alright. I was seeing three separate Tuckers, which wouldn’t be such a bad thing if I didn’t feel like throwing up on two of them. He slowly came into focus, and I realized I was still standing. Well, kind of standing. My knees were buckled beneath me, and my fingers were digging into his biceps, holding on for dear life. In that moment, I was grateful for his strong hands keeping me up.

  “You don’t look okay.” When he tilted his head to the side, strands of his deep auburn hair fell into his honey eyes. If I wasn’t so busy using him to stand, I’d reach up and brush them back from his face.

  I forced my legs to straighten, and I loosened my grip on his arms. “Is this better?”

  “You’re pale.”

  “And you’re hot.” I slammed my hand over my mouth. Did I really just say that out loud? Heat flooded my cheeks. “What I meant to say was you’re not hot. I mean, you are. But you’re not?”

  A chuckle rumbled deep in his chest and sent shivers down my spine. “So, I’m not?”

  “You are.” What was happening to me? It was like my brain just stopped working.

  “I am?” He raised his eyebrows at me.

  “Yes, no. I mean, damn. Can we just forget the last five minutes?” I swayed on my feet. “I think I need to sit down.”

  “I think you need some sugar.” The muscle in his jaw ticked. “You gave too much blood to Gray.”

  His voice was sharper than his normal smooth timber. I almost flinched back from him. “Are you angry at me?”

  At this time in the early evening students were finished with their classes and just hanging out around the hallways. Some of them slowed as they passed us, staring at Tuck and looking at me like I might sneak into their rooms in the middle of the night to write words in blood on their walls. I’m not that kind of witch guys! A pixie floated down and landed on Tuck’s shoulder. She sat perched there with her legs crossed at the ankles as she braided her long white hair. Then she rose up on her tip toes and danced along his shoulder up to his ear. At first I thought she was whispering into it then I realized she was about to bite him. I lunged forward trying to swat her away. Before I could Tucker reached up caught her in his hand then tossed her away.

  “No.” He couldn’t meet my eye. Instead, he glanced over my shoulder, looking anywhere else but at my face.

  I rose up on my tip toes and forced him to meet my gaze. “Hey, what’s going on with you?”

  “Did you like it?” The words tumbled out of his mouth. He pressed his lips together. “Wait, don’t answer that.”

  “Did I like getting bitten by a vampire?” Was he serious? How could I like having someone’s teeth in my neck?

  He sighed. “Just wondering what your though
ts were on getting dental.”

  I rubbed at the two small puncture wounds on my neck. They ached and throbbed. “Can’t say it’s something I’d like to repeat again. Wait, did you just say getting dental?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve heard it can be…pleasurable.”

  Other students openly gawked at us as they walked in all different directions, going to dining hall, or the library, or even to after school clubs. All the things I’d like to be doing at this exact moment, yet I was tasked with fighting an evil king and trying to save the world. Not to mention having one of the most awkward conversations with a guy I was crushing on hardcore.

  I glanced around. “Why are they all staring at us?”

  “Par for the course of being the witch court. We’ve got a lot of work to do.” Tucker dropped his hold on me, then turned and walked away.

  I stood frozen, wondering what had just gone so wrong. “Tucker?”

  His shoulders stiffened, yet he didn’t turn back. I stumbled forward, following in his wake. All around, students moved out of his path as he stormed down the hall. Somehow, I managed to catch up to him.

  Before he could get away, I wrapped my hand around his shoulder and pulled him around to face me. “What’s going on with you?”

  “Nothing.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

  Deep down I felt he was lying. Over the past few days, the more I was around Tucker the more I could feel his emotions out. I wasn’t sure if it was because of my growing magic or something else. But it was unnerving. “Don’t lie to me.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Sure, you’re not.” I wasn’t going to stand here, and play guess my emotions today with him. Enough was enough. I’d been bruised, battered and bitten all within twenty-four hours. I backed up a few steps. “You know what, I don’t need this right now.”

  I’d just saved all of Hexia and Grayson, yet everyone was looking at me like I’d betrayed them, or I was dangerous.

  Tucker followed closely behind me. “Zin.”

  No, I wasn’t turning around. I was done with this day, done with all of them. “Leave me alone.”

  “I can’t.” He sighed. “I can’t leave you alone.”

  I whirled on him. “And why is that? Is it because you’re my Knight, or is it something else?”

  I was so tired of secrets. For sixteen years my mother kept from me who I was. Now standing before him I wanted to know what he was hiding.

  He glanced down at my wrist and then quickly away. “I just want to make sure you’re safe.”

  “Mission accomplished.” I started walking back toward the portal that was connected to Evermore Academy.

  “Zin, wait.”

  “Wait for what? For you to tell me how I’m going to find my mom, or beat Alataris, or how to use my magic without nearly killing everyone? Or even better yet wait for you to tell me what this mark around my wrist means?” Only hours ago, my mother flashed her wrist at Alataris, calling it her soulmate mark, distracting him long enough for me to destroy one stone and make another. Did that mean the mark on my wrist was a soulmate mark too? If so then who was my match?

  “I can’t tell you.” He looked down at the ground and shook his head.

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I started walking again.

  He leapt into my path, stopping me from moving forward. “But I want to.”

  “Ugh.” I threw my arms up. “Then why don’t you?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  I jammed my finger in his face. “That is not an answer.”

  His shoulders sagged forward, and he shuffled from one foot to the other. “I want to tell you, but I can’t.”

  “Why not?” I put my hands on my hips.

  “I can’t tell you that either.” He kicked at a rock with the toe of his boot.

  “Bye Tucker.” It was time to end the day. Exhaustion filled my body. I’d lost a large amount of blood, I couldn’t remember the last time I ate anything, and now this. No, I was so over it all.

  “Zi—”

  I shoved through the first classroom door I saw. I’d expected to walk into an empty room filled with chairs what I got was something completely different. I stood on the edge of a sandy white beach with the sun beating down on me warming my skin. What the heck? Did I just portal again?

  Tucker shoved in behind me. “We shouldn’t be in here. Let’s go.”

  I knew I was angry at him, but at the same time I didn’t understand how one minute I was in the school and the next I was standing on a beach. Every portal I’d ever traveled through was turbulent, but this had been so easy. I held my hands out to my sides feeling the warm breeze brush against me and ruffle my hair. “How is this possible?”

  Tucker came up beside me. “Evermore Academy has thousands of students who need classes on multiple subjects. To find that kind of space in New York City would be near impossible. So the school has a space charm on it. The base of the school stays the same with the courtyard, dorm rooms and four towers for classes. But whenever they need more, it’s always here, ever changing Evermore.” He wrapped his hand around my arm and tugged me back to the door. “Now come on, let’s go.”

  I pulled my arm free. “No. I think I’ll stay here for a while.”

  “Look around you, there is a reason other students aren’t in here hanging out on the beach.”

  Teal waves rolled against the shore, I sucked in a deep breath of that salty air. For the first time since I’d gotten to the academy, I felt relaxed. I shrugged. “I’m staying.”

  Tuck opened his mouth to argue with me but the sound of paws stampeding toward the beach. I turned to look back at the palm tree covered island. The trees were shaking and there was a clear path where they were splitting and falling to the ground. The path kept getting closer and closer. “What is that?”

  “I don’t know. But I don’t want to stay to find out.” Tucker grabbed my arm and started dragging me forward.

  I planted my feet, there was something inside me telling me I had to see what creature was coming at us. The last set of trees parted and a wolf, no not a wolf, a beautiful creature the size of a small car popped it’s head through. It had the body of a wolf with dark black fur that had vivid blue marking. When it stepped through completely, I noted how it’s fur shimmered in the sunlight. When I got a full look at it, I was shocked to find it had at least ten tails. Each one pitch black and tipped with vivid blue. The creature dug it’s front paws into the sand and launched itself at us.

  “Zin now.” Tucker threw me over his shoulder and ran straight at the door.

  “Put me down I have to touch it.” I reached my hand out to the creature and it was getting so close. Its nose was only a foot away when Tuck leapt through the door and slammed it shut behind him. I kicked my legs. “Why’d you do that?”

  He dropped me onto my feet. “Because that’s a Kumiho.”

  “A what?” I peered at the door yearning to go back.

  Tuck hunched over and sucked in deep breaths. “A Kumiho, it’s a creature that was trapped in a painting until some idiot painted all nine of its tails on. Once it got out it attacked humans trying to make itself human. Luckily, the fallen were able to get it bound to its animal form. But Zinnia that thing is a killer.”

  “Then why keep it in a school!” My eyes shot wide as I eyed the door a new. I could hear it scratching at the other side of the door like a puppy wanting to get in.

  Tuck shrugged. “The study of mythological beasts class.”

  Even hearing what Tuck just said I still felt a bone deep pull to be in that room with the Kumiho. I knew he wouldn’t let me go back in there, but my instincts were telling me I had to. The first chance I got I was going in that room.

  “I’m serious, Zin. The answer is no.” He crossed his arms over is chest.

  My anger rose to a boiling point. Instead of yelling I sucked in a deep breath. “I guess it’s a good thing you’re not the boss of me.”

  Bright red flooded
his cheeks. “Seriously?”

  We stood staring at each other. The energy bounced between us and I couldn’t tell if it was anger or something deeper. My heart raced, and I stepped in closer to him, for a moment I didn’t know if I wanted to kiss him or kick him. His honey eyes turned molten as he leaned in closer. I wanted him closer.

  “Tucker and Zinnia.” Niche marched up to the two of us. Instantly, I felt she was about to yell at us. I took a small step back. Though Niche was smaller than me by only an inch, her fire engine red hair, big glasses and white lab coat gave an heir of authority I couldn’t ignore. She held her head high and shoulders squared.

  I snapped to attention. “Yes?”

  She came to stand between us. “Let’s keep our focus. We need it now more than ever.”

  What did that mean? Did she think there was something between us or that my mind wasn’t were it needed to be? Like on Tucker and all the reasons why he wouldn’t let himself get closer to me even though he so clearly wanted to.

  Niche pushed her glass up her small nose. “Tomorrow I want Zinnia to start training with her powers, and let’s find her a weapon she can be comfortable with.”

  I inwardly sighed with relief. This wasn’t about my personal life or me sneaking into classrooms holding dangerous creatures. This was about the role I was born into. Funny how I’d rather face that than the messy pieces I was turning into over him.

  Tucker nodded. “I’ll see to it.”

  “Great, we all good here.” I needed to get away from him. I needed a moment to breath. But most of all, I just needed a damn moment, period. “Cause I’m gonna go back to my room now.”

  I took a step away from them, but then I felt his hand on my shoulder for just a brief second. “I’ll walk you back.”

  I glance at him. “That won’t be necessary. I think we’re done here.”

  Chapter 5

  Zinnia

  I hadn’t slept all night. Tuck was in the dorm room next to mine and I could hear every move he made through the night. He tossed around just as much as I did, each time he did his bed creaked. Then my eyes would shoot wide open and I’d lay there listing for his next move. Yesterday had been too much of an emotional rollercoaster and I need the sleep. But I barely got more than a few hours. I just wanted to focus on my classes and wait for the next opportunity to face Alataris. This morning I got up early and was just about ready to sneak out of my room. I held my books close to my chest and slowly closed my door behind me.