As Wicked As They Come

by Emma Dean

  “This island is yours, and so are those who stand behind you.”

  Mika stared down at the stone and stifled her sigh. She’d tried, but it seemed certain aspects of her destiny were unavoidable. For the time being, she was the last blood witch. If she ever found another, she could yield the crown to them.

  “The school board might argue with you,” Mika murmured.

  The goddess laughed and it made her shiver. “I look forward to that.”

  She heard Corbin curse under his breath behind her, and Mika knew they all felt what she was feeling.

  A crossroads.

  This was one of those moments in life that would change everything. Nothing after this would be the same for any of them. With the Morrigan free, everyone’s lives were going to be affected, not just hers.

  “Mika, I gift you the sword I created, the sword I tasked my cousin to protect, the Lady in the Lake. May you use it to protect your territory with honor.”

  She took the offered sword back from the Morrigan, sheathing it on her back. Then Mika looked up at the goddess, holding her breath.

  “I gift you the power to see as the ravens do, the power to hear as the banshees can, and the speed and strength to rival those who challenge you. And finally, I give you the gift reserved for a queen – the ability to shapeshift at will.” The Morrigan’s touch on her forehead was gentle.

  And at first, she felt nothing.

  Then it was a roaring in her head.

  Mika ripped off the sight and sound charms as quickly as she could.

  Blessed silence before…the owl in the forest hooted and she could hear it better than she’d ever been able to with the charm. Not only did she hear the sound, but Mika could tell how far away the owl was from the auditory ripple, the direction he shifted in by the sound of his feathers, and the meaning behind his call thanks to whatever little bit of extra allowed her to understand the Morrigan’s creatures.

  She looked up at the goddess and blinked. Was this how Corbin saw the Morrigan?

  With the new gift she could see the Morrigan wasn’t mortal. Her skin glittered like diamonds under the moonlight and there was an aura of power around her that eclipsed the moon until it seemed as though the goddess was the true source of all moonlight.

  The crown she saw in the memories of the other queens appeared and the Morrigan handed it to Morgana, who was actually able to take it in her ghostly hands.

  Slowly Morgana moved before her as the goddess made room.

  Mika felt panic rise at the sight of that dark crown. The black spikes, the deep red rubies, the power radiating from it – everything it symbolized…

  “Wait,” she begged. “I don’t think I can rule, please. There has to be another way.”

  The others shifted behind her, and Mika knew they would support her decision no matter what it was. That gave her strength. She also knew they would be there to help if she was crowned. That knowledge was the only thing that kept her from getting up and running as far and as fast as she could.

  “You were born a queen,” Morgana murmured. “You will not fail.”

  “What if I can’t protect them?” Mika asked, thinking of the potential blood witches out there in hiding, some possibly still just children. “What if…what if I’m truly the last one?”

  “You are not alone,” Morgana reminded her. “This crown is not power. You are. It simply reminds others what you are capable of, what you will do to protect your own. Whether that is five people or five thousand. You will protect what is yours with blood.”

  Mika thought of Cassandra, of whoever it was who locked away the goddess.

  She was going into this with enemies already waiting for her to falter. If she took the crown, she had one more playing card, two if she counted Aine.

  “It is yours by blood, Mika,” the Morrigan reminded her. “You are the only one prepared. Would you rather me hand the crown to a child? To a witch just now realizing her power? Or perhaps someone like your sister, Claire?”

  The sorrow when the goddess spoke Claire’s name was the only thing that kept Mika sane. She had no access to her magic, and it was strange not to feel it rise in rage and indignation. She was simply…

  Heartbroken.

  “No,” Mika admitted. “I do not wish this burden on anyone.”

  “So, would you rather have someone else suffer in your place?” the Morrigan asked, raising a brow in question.

  She turned from the goddess to Morgana, and the ancient queen smiled down at her sadly. “None of us ever wanted to rule. Only to protect.”

  Fuck.

  Mika sighed. “Fine, get on with it.”

  The crown was heavy when Morgana placed it on her head. “I, Morgana Le Fay, pass my burden to you, Mika Morganna Gabrielle Marshall, and crown you Witch Queen.”

  “Turn and accept your court,” the Morrigan instructed.

  Mika stood and turned to face the ones she cared about most in this world.

  Corbin dropped to one knee instantly. Ethan and Lucien were next.

  It felt weird and awkward. Mika didn’t want them kneeling before her.

  But then Malachi knelt, and Audrey.

  Behind them, the hellhound stood in nothing but pants with bare feet. His hands and forearms were still black, glittering veins of hellfire matched his eyes. Armad stood beside him. Then they too dropped to one knee.

  Mika couldn’t breathe as she took in those before her, as she watched Morgana walk around her to kneel next – as Aine suddenly popped into the temple from nowhere, dressed in the warrior armor she’d seen in the memories, and knelt as well.

  Eisheth appeared next – as though everything in the universe attuned to the Morrigan suddenly felt the goddess’s presence.

  The demon grinned at Mika and gave her a wink before kneeling as well.

  All of them, hers to protect.

  “I accept this burden,” Mika whispered. “I accept my court.”

  27

  The Morrigan was free.

  But Mika still had to go to class, she still had to be normal.

  Despite destroying the spell Eleanor had created to purge any memory of blood witches from the universe, nothing had really changed – at least not yet.

  Mika still took her hunter classes. She trained with Morgana every midnight. She helped Audrey with her language classes and went to every game the other witch had. They all still had dinners together on the weekends and trained together on Fridays and Sundays, sharing whatever it is they’d learned, whatever it was Corbin was willing to teach them that weekend.

  They were all closer than ever. As friends, as family…as lovers.

  Mika couldn’t help but feel a certain heat when she watched Malachi interact with Ethan, Lucien, and Corbin. She couldn’t help but feel a warmth in her chest that made her want to hug them tight.

  Life and classes went on like normal despite her new gifts and status.

  But now Mika knew when the hellhound was following her, when he spoke to Corbin, and where exactly Armad was when he watched over her. She knew the instant Armad would rest and switch with Corbin.

  Her new senses had opened the world up in a way she was still trying to figure out.

  Mabon celebrations came and went without much fanfare. Too much of the school was in preparation for Samhain and Homecoming. There was a small wine festival in the dining hall, but Mika and her little family killed three bottles of wine she’d ordered from San Francisco in the comfort of Oleander House.

  Training on her own with Morgana using real battle magic had her at the top of her witch hunting class. Every other class she took with Lucien. Malachi was in one, and Ethan in the other.

  The professors made sure to pair them up with strangers as much as possible. They knew each other too well, but none of the other students were really good enough to hold up against any of them.

  Especially now.

  It wasn’t easy holding back. Mika couldn’t use her full speed and strength in class, or the
professors would start to suspect she was cheating, or something worse.

  She was fast. As fast as Lucien or Hunter. And strong, even against a fox’s crazy strength. Corbin and Lucien tested her at every opportunity, but only the raven could make her really work.

  It was bizarre, and a little bit scary.

  Every move a witch made was as slow as if she’d still been a normal witch and they were nothing more than a mundane human with no trace of magic in their veins at all. Mika could hear every breath they took and every beat of their heart. It made it easy to anticipate their next move thanks to all her training.

  It almost felt unfair.

  But she had to remind herself she wasn’t going to be fighting a normal witch or shifter one on one. If she was lucky, she would never have to go up against a shifter. But a witch? Every single member on the Council was powerful and strong.

  Whoever had locked up the Morrigan was a god, and Mika had no doubt she’d have a hard time fighting one of those, even with her new gifts.

  Thanks to the Morrigan wiping away the Purge of Memory like an annoying spiderweb, Mika had moved all her blood magic books and rubies to the temple, then she’d put up a ward so strong even Eisheth would have a hard time getting through it.

  The history and clan books were scattered all over the world. There was nothing Mika could do about those. If someone remembered blood witches existed – say the Head Witch – then it would be easy enough for her to look through Mika’s clan history and see her origins.

  Her own copy had altered as had the one she’d stolen from the San Francisco library.

  If someone came looking, it wouldn’t matter if they never saw her do blood magic. They would know what she was.

  Mika didn’t want to know what the Morrigan was up to as the weeks went by without all hell breaking loose. She knew through updates from Eisheth that the goddess was staying with Lucifer while she caught up on the last few centuries.

  The Morrigan was a goddess of war and death. She wasn’t about to step on the battlefield without having done her research and making a battle plan. Mika was confident of that at least. She only hoped that the Morrigan would keep her apprised before she did something world changing.

  How much longer did she have here at the university? Part of her felt the sands in the hourglass dribbling away. Part of her knew, but she tried not to focus on it too much. Not with Samhain coming up.

  Mika’s favorite holiday came with a ball.

  This year she would get to spend it at the University of Morgana instead of alone in her room in San Francisco.

  It was strange to think a year ago her entire life had changed. That she would lose more than just her brother and father before gaining the family she’d always wanted.

  And this year, things were about to change again. Samhain truly was the beginning of the new year in so many ways.

  With Samhain came Homecoming.

  It was just around the corner, and Mika felt flutters of anticipation – some kind of awareness leftover from the goddess’s blood maybe.

  Audrey was nervous as hell for the Homecoming dodgeball game so Malachi and Mika worked with her whenever they could to help ease some of her anxiety. But the girl didn’t need their help. She was amazing all on her own.

  The British branch of Morgana was going to be the competing team this year, and suddenly a tent city was up between Oleander and Sage House. Strangers started pouring through the portal, as well as tons of witches with alumni pins.

  It felt as though she’d blinked, and it was the week before Homecoming.

  “It’s always like this,” Ethan murmured, watching the British team and their fellow students shout and yell as they played something called ultimate frisbee. “There are a lot of activities, and people seem to come out of the woodwork. The last two years I stayed in the conservatory or Sage House until I could go home for Samhain.”

  “Last year I ended up in a duel and I kicked his ass,” Lucien admitted. “Just a reminder. They don’t just bring witches. There’s a whole group of hunters that come too. We have our own events over at Wolfsbane House since we aren’t really as celebrated or acknowledged like the witches are.”

  Corbin crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the tent city. “I don’t like it.”

  Mika smothered a laugh. “I’m pretty sure no one’s going to try and capture me or take me out during Homecoming.”

  “Mika Marshall, a pleasure to see you again.”

  Her blood went cold at the sound of that voice. Slowly Mika turned and locked eyes with the Head Witch. “Madam Jadis.”

  Cassandra smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She reached out and kissed Mika on both cheeks. “I’m disappointed that I won’t be seeing you on the battlefield this week.”

  She jolted, and Mika had to remind herself she meant dodgeball. “It was for the best.”

  Did Cassandra remember what blood witches were? That she’d tried to kill them all a hundred years ago? Did she recognize what Mika was? Had the Head Witch seen the change in the books?

  Corbin bristled at Cassandra and Lucien growled, too low for any witch to hear but she nudged him anyway. Ethan though, Ethan had this icy look in his eyes and suddenly the temperature dropped ten degrees.

  The Head Witch wrapped her scarf more tightly around her. “They say it might snow this Samhain.”

  “It usually does,” Ethan snapped. “What can we do for you, Madam Jadis?”

  She didn’t even look at Ethan despite him asking her a direct question. “Will you be staying here for Samhain, Mika?” Cassandra asked.

  Mika felt rage trickle through her veins. “My boyfriend asked you a question. It would be rude to ignore him considering he’ll be joining my clan in the future.”

  The Head Witch froze, realizing her misstep. She looked from Mika to Ethan, and then to Corbin and Lucien standing slightly beside her. “Is that really the right choice as Matriarch, dear?”

  Mika clenched her hands into fists, breathing evenly to keep from lashing out at this bitch. “Is that really any of your business, Madam?”

  Maybe she should take Cassandra before the Morrigan now.

  Corbin’s hand on her shoulder was the only thing stopping her from doing so. “As an assassin, I can confidently say Mika is very good at removing obstacles from her course. By any means necessary. She will do whatever she thinks is best for her and her clan.”

  Cassandra went white when she saw Corbin’s eyes turn red.

  How was she going to be able to get through this week with this alumnus here for Homecoming? Mika would have to watch every single word that came out of her mouth. She would have to consider every move and action.

  If Cassandra knew what she was, she’d be waiting for her to reveal her true power. Or, she’d simply try to kill Mika like she had all the other blood witches before the Purge of Memory. At the very least she’d hate Mika for trying to buck the tradition she herself had created.

  Marriage to one male.

  For what purpose though? To stifle the repopulation of witches? Mika had no idea.

  “Will you be attending the alumni events?” the Head Witch asked Mika, abruptly changing the subject.

  Did Cassandra think Mika hadn’t seen her with Claire at the challenge? Did she think Mika wouldn’t know there was something between them? Maybe instead of avoiding Cassandra, Mika should make a point to spend as much time with the Head Witch over the next week as possible.

  After all, Cassandra had a blood debt to pay.

  “I was thinking about attending the rally tonight,” Mika said, taking Ethan’s hand. “But my boyfriends will be with me. Will that be a problem, Madam Jadis?”

  The Head Witch had the sense to keep a neutral expression, something Claire had never been able to master. “Of course not, I’m sure it will be an eye-opening experience either way. I’ll save you four a seat next to me.”

  “It would be five,” Ethan said, crossing his arms over his chest. “But Malachi
is on the dodgeball team.”

  Mika elbowed Ethan, hard. “Sometimes he joins us.”

  Corbin chuckled and threw his arm over Mika’s shoulder. “More often than you’d think.”

  The Head Witch actually blushed. “Well then, I look forward to seeing you at the rally tonight, Ms. Marshall.”

  “Madam.” She watched the Head Witch walk toward a group of alumni who were practically drooling at the chance to talk to the older witch.

  “I don’t like her,” Ethan stated.

  “Neither do I.” Lucien growled in annoyance. “Do I have to sit next to that bitch tonight? This rally is supposed to be fun. Dealing with her isn’t going to be fun.”

  “You don’t have to,” Mika told him, narrowing her eyes as she watched Cassandra giggle like she was still a teenaged witch and move on toward the university. “Did Jess ever say anything about the Hellfire Society members on the school board?”

  “Yeah, she’s rooted out the members on the council and the school board.” Corbin turned back to the tent city. “Everyone’s trying to keep what Jess is doing on the down low. They don’t like Lucifer making his presence known in this realm, and they really don’t like Jess working for him – well, with him now.”

  Mika could see that. Jess couldn’t be controlled. She wasn’t part of any coven, and she worked as a freelance hunter. No one owned her which meant she could work for anyone, including the prince of hell.

  “They quietly replaced the members who ‘disappeared’ with recommendations by an anonymous party with a complete background check that looked like it had been done by a private investigator of the highest caliber.” Corbin snorted as members of the British team fell into the mud, fighting over the frisbee. “Every time I forget how ridiculous witches are, I’m quickly reminded.”

  “Not all of us are young and carefree like they are,” Ethan muttered. “I’ll be there tonight with you Mika.”

  Lucien sighed loudly through his nose. “Fine, I’ll be there too, but I won’t like it.”

  “Maybe it would make more sense to stick with the hunters,” Corbin suggested. “You could get chummy with the British hunters and keep an ear to the ground.”