As Wicked As They Come

by Emma Dean

  They all trained in the morning and evening together now, sharing what they’d learned from dodgeball practice, Corbin, hunting classes, and whatever else any of them did.

  Ethan showed them how to wield an ax one-handed like a pro while wielding magic in the other hand, how to throw axes with as much precision as Corbin threw his knives. Lucien helped with swords, and whatever they’d taught him in the fox den. Malachi shared what he’d learned from Jessica, and Audrey shared what she’d learned from Finnick and Ash.

  Mika – she had nothing she was ready to share, but every night at midnight for the past week Morgana had appeared to her. She’d forced Mika to train with Excalibur for two hours every night.

  Even though she was a non-corporeal ghost, Morgana glowed in the dark and Mika couldn’t sleep with the light in her face. Audrey always snored, too exhausted from dodgeball to notice. And Morgana would not leave Mika alone until she got out of bed.

  No one knew about this yet and Mika wanted to tell them, but she also needed a few moments to herself to reset and recalibrate. This time with Morgana was all that kept her from losing it some days. She was doing better – Mika really felt like she’d improved, but it was still a lot of maintenance and effort to find a new normal.

  She slipped out of the house and headed toward the forest. Mika didn’t keep anything important to her in Oleander House anymore. There were too many people coming and going and it was a very public space.

  The administration also didn’t like the wards around her room that Audrey had put up, so they’d taken them down.

  Mika had put her own blood wards around the temple with a drop of blood from each of those she trusted so they could enter the temple as well.

  Her footsteps were silent thanks to the charms. Mika ran her fingers over the bark on the trees, saying a quick hello to the blackthorn. Nothing new to report from the forest so she made her way toward the temple.

  It was a balmy night, humid and warm. The weather was holding steady for the most part – reluctantly releasing its hold on the summer heat.

  She went down the second set of stairs and into the basement where the translocation pad she’d created was. Mika had Lucien move the armoire the other day, so it was against the wall, and she’d found racks on those walls that indicated there’d been some kind of armory down in the temple’s basement at one point.

  Made sense for a warrior goddess.

  Mika hefted Excalibur from its place on the wall – a sword more than half the length of her body and about four or five inches wide. But it didn’t feel heavy in her hand. She climbed the stairs to the very top and went to the broken bridge where Lucien used to stand watch.

  Staring out at the ocean, she tried to see the undine, but either they were cleverly hiding or not paying any attention to her.

  “They’ve been watching you these past few nights even if you can’t see them,” Morgana admitted, appearing out of thin air. “I’ve spoken to them, but they still haven’t said whether they would accept an alliance from you or not. I assume they are trying to see what kind of witch you are.”

  Mika widened her stance and lifted the sword over her head, blade parallel with the ground, pointing behind her in the first position. “Smart.”

  “It is.” Morgana watched as Mika stepped from the first stance to the second, fluidly moving to the third. “Keep your elbow up.”

  Without responding she followed the instruction until her muscles were warm and loose, finishing all ten of the basic steps twice.

  Morgana unsheathed her ghost sword and stood in front of Mika, stepping into first position herself. Mika copied her and waited.

  “The undine cannot serve you here on the island,” Morgana told her, moving through a variety of blocks which Mika copied. After nearly a week it was starting to get easier, more natural. “But the undine rule the seas and they possess their own brand of magic. If nothing else, they provide an excellent barrier between us and the mainland. Not to mention the speed with which they can travel.”

  By the second set of blocks Mika was sweating, even in her shorts and a tank top, but she didn’t stop. A dead warrior witch had taken the time to train her in the ancient ways and she wasn’t going to waste it.

  “We have modern technology,” Mika managed. She concentrated on keeping her breathing even as Morgana sped up, adding new blocks.

  “That can be hacked and traced,” Morgana spat. “A note passed by undine is the most secure in times of war. They can go to places you cannot. They can travel between realms – all the seas are connected.”

  The last Witch Queen switched to attacks and Mika followed suit, feeling her muscles protest at the unfamiliar movements.

  She’d trained with Lucien and the hunters using weapons last semester, but they hadn’t focused on any one weapon. They’d focused on getting okay at all of them in case there was a chance she’d need to use a mace or a stool to protect herself or others.

  Professor Bartholomew preferred using a different style in the second part to the class that did focus on various sword types. His was more a hack and slash type that worked for hunters and their innate speed.

  But what Morgana was teaching her had finesse and each movement could flow into another until she was a spinning storm of blades that could block or attack on a dime. It accounted for the speed shifters had, the strength hunters did, and the advantage male witches would have over her in sheer size.

  The sword was always in front of her somehow, protecting her front, her back – whatever she needed as she moved through the steps. The movements were slippery and difficult for an opponent to follow or to block. Morgana had showed her there was always a way into someone’s guard.

  “Stop,” Morgana instructed, eyeing her stance. Mika was breathing hard, but it was even and controlled if exhausted. “Get some water. I will show you how to add a knife into these movements. You will need both.”

  “Not a shield?” Mika asked, grabbing a bottle of water from the pile she’d left the other day.

  Morgana bared her teeth at nothing in particular, swinging her massive non-corporeal sword once through Mika’s body. “We are not human. We do not need useless heavy items. The sword and the knife are your shield. If you cannot use them as such you deserve to suffer for your foolishness. Maybe then you will learn.”

  Picking up the belt, Mika pulled out the long knife that was settled in a sheath next to Excalibur’s. Morgana insisted she have three blades like this on top of Excalibur – apparently that was how warrior witches used to carry their weapons.

  Their largest sword down their back to better distribute the weight. Two knives on the left thigh since most were left-dominant. And then one strapped to the right thigh. Morgana stated the belt could be cut and all weapons lost. The thigh was more difficult. Though she liked the small knives on the belt for throwing.

  “On top of all this,” Morgana said, waving at all she wore. “I carried a bow when on patrol. Arrows at the waist.”

  “I’m not going to carry a bow,” Mika warned her, getting into the first stance with the sword, knife up to take some of Excalibur’s weight from her left side. “I’m going to carry a gun.”

  “Good idea,” a deep, familiar voice said from behind her.

  Mika whirled around to find Corbin standing on the other side of the bridge, arms crossed over his chest with a smile on his face.

  Mika ran towards Corbin and threw her arms around his neck, careful of the blades. “You’re back.”

  “I’m sorry it took so long.” He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed tight. “Did you miss me?”

  The blades clattered to the ground and she heard Morgana ‘tsk’ before the ghost disappeared.

  “I did,” Mika murmured, pulling his head down to kiss him. “Let me prove it to you.”

  His lips were soft and warm.

  Corbin’s hands pressed into her skin hard enough to bruise, clearly surprised. Mika slid her tongue into his mouth and tasted him, his wildn
ess, the viciousness she could feel lingering from whatever it was he’d had to deal with while he was away.

  She didn’t know and she didn’t care. Mika trusted him to tell her what she needed to know. She trusted him to keep her safe – to take care of any enemies she may or may not know about.

  Corbin pulled back, searching her eyes. “Is everything okay, dove?”

  She shook her head. “Yes, and no.” Mika kissed him again, breathing in his distinct scent, letting his strength settle her. Having him back was like a piece clicking back into place she hadn’t known she was missing.

  “I’m gone barely a week and I find you missing from your bed.” Corbin growled slightly, nipping her bottom lip. “But Armad told me where you were – you let him see you come here. Thank you.”

  “I’ve never tried to keep you away. Not really,” Mika told him. “You’ve always been able to see me. Even when I didn’t want you to.”

  Corbin pressed his forehead to hers, breathing harsh. “You scared the fuck out of me this summer, Mika. There was nothing I could do to help you and I’ve never felt so helpless in my life.”

  “Neither have I,” she admitted. Being forced to kill her sister – it had felt just like the aftermath of her rape. “I was out of control and didn’t want to kill you too.”

  She could have. It would have been so easy to lose control, just like she had with that human. “The bill for the repairs to the mansion is going to be brutal.” Mika chuckled at her own lame joke, but Corbin buried his face in her neck.

  “I love you,” he whispered. “I was pissed, but I also understand. Coming to terms with both emotions took some work.”

  Mika couldn’t help but laugh, knowing how hard any emotions were for the raven, let alone complicated and conflicting ones. “You did amazing, and it made me trust you even more. It made me…it made me realize how much I love you.”

  She’d never said it out loud like that before and Corbin’s ruby eyes widened. “Well, I suppose it was worth it then.”

  “Mm.” Mika smiled up at him, wondering how she’d gotten so lucky. “I should pick up my weapons before Morgana tries to find a way to gut me.”

  “Does anyone else know you’ve been training here at night?” Corbin asked, reluctantly releasing her.

  Mika picked up the sword and the knife. “Armad.” She grabbed her sheaths and headed down the stairs toward the basement. “No one else.”

  Corbin muttered something under his breath as he followed her. “And why is that?”

  “Can’t sleep. Don’t want them to worry.” Mika flung a witchlight into the air as she stepped into the pitch-black basement. “Plus, some of this stuff isn’t just training with the sword.”

  Hanging Excalibur back on the wall, she let herself stare at it for a moment. Mika tried not to think too much about exactly what this sword was, its legend and history. She didn’t want to think about who or what the Lady of the Lake was, or how King Arthur had ignored Morgana and paid the price.

  “She’s teaching me how to rule, how to use the gifts of being a blood witch to heal and to harm. She’s teaching me…she’s teaching me how to make an army.” Mika went to the armoire and opened the drawer with all the blood stones.

  There were already so many of them, but Morgana told her she might need thousands.

  “Do you even have access to that many rubies?” Corbin asked, coming up to stand behind her.

  Mika trailed her fingers over the first row. “Each of these houses a few hundred. Rubies can hold massive amounts of power. They’re one of the few binding stones per Morgana. With the right spell, you can even bind a demon with one.”

  “Fuck,” Corbin muttered. “I suppose that makes sense since you can’t carry all these around all the time.”

  “And now that I’m matriarch of the Marshall clan I have access to all of our rubies. We have a lot Corbin. It’s obscene, and there’s more in the safety deposit boxes too.”

  “Probably some at the bottom of the ocean still too.”

  “Well, until the undine aren’t going to try and murder us the moment we set foot into the ocean, I suppose those rubies will have to stay there.” Mika shoved the drawer closed and turned around, leaning back against the armoire. “Did you find Aine?”

  He shook his head and she buried the disappointment down as far as she could. They couldn’t free the Morrigan without Aine, and the witch’s memory in the crystal only had a few suggestions, which Mika had passed along to Corbin.

  Corbin planted his hands on the armoire, caging her between his arms. “I sent out ravens to check every location you sent me and had five different trainees scouring the library with me. After Morgana died, Aine disappeared. No one’s seen or heard of her since the First Purge.”

  Mika held his gaze and waited to see what he would do next. “I believe you did everything you could.”

  “I even had every mention of a red mare checked out in case she ended up stuck in an animal form.” Corbin sighed and rested his forehead against hers. “The goddess of summer and sovereignty could be anywhere and nowhere.”

  “Maybe there’s a spell I could do. She is a daughter of the Morrigan. There has to be something that lights us all up like beacons.” Mika tilted her head up just slightly so her lips barely brushed Corbin’s when she spoke.

  His breath caught when her hands went to his waist. “You’d have quite a few to sift through with all the ravens.”

  Mika pulled him closer until his entire body was pressed against hers. “Mm, maybe. If I could add an exception for ravens’ blood it might work.”

  “This goddess has been in hiding for nearly 1400 years. I don’t think a locator spell would work,” Corbin said through gritted teeth as she slid her hands up his chest and under his shirt.

  “Blood magic is precise. Even a goddess can’t deny her blood claim.” Mika lifted Corbin’s shirt over his head and enjoyed the look of surprise on his face.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, eyes glowing that gorgeous red.

  “Something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” she murmured. “Do you trust me?”

  16

  Corbin’s eyes searched hers for a moment, and then he nodded. “I trust you.”

  Mika sighed in relief, trailing her nails over his tattoos as she admired them all. Then she let her hands fall to his waist.

  Smiling slightly at the way his chest rose and fell a fraction quicker, she reached down. It took two seconds to undo his belt and buttons. Corbin was already hard and bulging against the fabric of his jeans.

  Before she could pull them down though, he grabbed her wrists tight and Mika looked up at him, one eyebrow raised in question.

  “Here?” he asked, voice hoarse and eyes wide. It was almost like he couldn’t believe what was happening. “Are you sure? After everything?”

  Mika pulled her tank top over her head, standing there in nothing but her bra, shorts, and boots. “Because of everything,” she murmured, unbuttoning the shorts. “I needed space and you gave that to me. Now I need you.” Mika let her shorts fall to the ground. “Are you going to give me that too?”

  His glowing eyes roved over her body shamelessly and Mika felt an itch travel over her skin, but not like the one she’d had recently. No, this one craved Corbin’s rough touch. Her body wanted him to leave his mark on her.

  “I think at this point we both know I’ll give you whatever you want, even if I shouldn’t.” Corbin reached out and hooked his finger in her underwear. He tugged her forward until she was pressed against him. “But I want this to happen because you want me, not just something to scratch the itch.”

  Mika raked her nails down his shoulders, just enough to sting but not break the skin. “I’ve wanted you since the greenhouse. I’ve spoken to the others and they’re happy for us. Is there more you want?”

  The sensation of his teeth on her skin made her back arch and Mika sighed, wishing he’d bite her like he had before. “I want everything,” he growled, tearin
g her underwear off of her body.

  Mika gasped, feeling the night air on bare skin. It was delicious and forbidden in a place so open to the elements, but Corbin didn’t seem to care anymore as his hands traveled up her back to unclasp her bra.

  It slid down her arms and Mika let it fall to the floor next to her other clothes, holding Corbin’s gaze the entire time. Silently she reached for his pants and he grabbed her wrists again, stopping her.

  She stared into those ruby red eyes of his, watching as he struggled with something. “Are you okay?” she asked.

  Corbin pinned her wrists above her head against the armoire and her breath caught. The witchlight cast strange shadows on his face, but he was beautiful this way – strong, barely more than his animal side, and desperate for her.

  The feel of his dick against her stomach made her ache for him worse. Mika was ready – she was one step away from begging if that’s what she had to do.

  “I’ve wanted this for a long time,” Corbin confessed with that growly voice she couldn’t get over. “Something about right now, in this place…it feels fitting. You’re not the poised little high society princess you pretend to be.” His knee shoved between her legs and lifted her up, so her toes barely touched the floor even in her boots.

  Mika wanted to ask him what he thought she was, what he wanted from her now that he had her like this, but she couldn’t stop staring at him long enough to form words.

  Corbin took both her wrists in one hand, freeing up the other. “You’re a wild, vicious, feral thing that strains against the leash of society, of what is expected of you.” He used his other hand to pull down his pants just enough to free his cock.

  She couldn’t help her curiosity. Mika looked down and bit her lip when she saw the sheer size of it. Why did all shifters have massive dicks?

  Then she looked up at him, relaxing completely – giving all of herself over to his control.

  “What is it you expect of me?” she asked, widening her stance ever so slightly.