Tabi came through next. Her eyes widened for a second before she shot her magic into the ground and vines whipped around my mother’s legs, holding her down. Nova raced to my side. “What do we do?”
Niche pointed up toward the barrier. “Seal it shut and he will be powerless to get in.”
Nova gave a single nod. “Don’t worry, Zin. He won’t get your mom.”
“Damn straight.” I turned to face him. “You won’t get her!”
Alataris threw his hand out and pulled it back like he was yanking on the end of a string. My mother was torn from Brax’s grip and Tabi’s vines fell away. Her body flew into the air and an ear-splitting scream broke past her lips. Ophelia hung from her waist. Alataris waved his hand from one side to the other and my mom shook like a ragdoll in midair. Ophelia flew across the courtyard and smacked her back into a pillar.
Cross stopped firing his magic into the barrier and his eyes widened with panic. “Ophelia!”
He raced to her side and scooped her up in his arms. She looked so small curled in against his chest. A gash covered her cheek from her ear to her lip and blood ran down her neck. I screamed and threw my arms out at the barrier and let my magic slam into it. Alataris too let his magic flow over the other side of it. I felt him pull at my magic, siphoning it. Just like the first time we faced off against each other.
I gritted my teeth. “Not this time.”
Tuck flapped his wings and landed at my side. “You got the barrier. I’m going to put the fires out.” He ran toward where lava fires smoldered over the ground.
“On it.” I closed my eyes and held on to my powers. I’ll be damned if you get anything from me! I held them in check. We were playing a mystical game of tug-o-war. He wanted mine and I refused to give them up. Instead, I focused all my power on stopping him from taking any from the barrier or anyone else. Piece by piece the barrier knitted together, cutting the hold he had on my mother and any other magic flowing into the school. My mother hovered for only a moment then dropped to the ground. Alataris bellowed in frustration. “You will not use her against me!”
The cloaked figure standing next to Alataris threw his hood off. “Cross!”
Dario Malback, Cross’ father, motioned for him to move toward him. “Come, boy. We will leave this place.” His eyebrows furrowed over his sunken in eyes. Dark bags marred the skin under his eyes. Wrinkles fanned out around his thinned lips. His long black hair fell back from his face in a severe widow’s peak that blew in the wind.
Cross held Ophelia’s still form closer to his chest. “I think not.”
Alataris dropped his fight against me and turned to Dario. “Our children are disappointments, are they not?”
Dario arched his eyebrow. “Indeed.”
I walked over to my mother and helped her to her feet. “Mom, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She tilted her head back and glared up at Alataris. “You will never have my daughter or anyone else. I swear it. One way or another you’re going down, even if I have to do it myself.”
The muscle in his jaw ticked and his face turned red with rage. Magic exploded from his palms and latched onto two of his warlocks. The life drained from their bodies and they fell to the ground . . . dead. He shot a third stream of magic directly at Dario. Dario didn’t even bat an eyelash as he held his hand up and let the magic deflect off of his palm and shoot straight up into the air. Yet Dario didn’t even look in Alataris’ direction.
“I will not ask again, boy. Come now or don’t come back at all.”
Cross turned his back to his father. “Not at all.”
Niche moved next to me. “The barrier is intact. There is nothing left here for you to do.”
Dario placed his fingers on Alataris’ shoulder. “Let us retire.” He narrowed his eyes at Cross’ back. “Future strategies must not be overlooked.”
The other queens moved to stand beside me and my mother. “I’m coming for you, Dad.”
“I look forward to it.” He inclined his head and in a flash of smoke he was gone and the school fell in silence.
Chapter 25
Ophelia
Pain shot across my shoulders, up my neck, and into my head. A burning sensation covered the side of my head. Something warm and a little rough brushed over my cheek. I flinched away from the touch. “Ouch.”
“Shh.” Cross’ voice was low and calm by my side.
I blinked my eyes open. Bright white light flooded my vision and I squeezed them shut again. “What the hell happened?”
“You went for a little flight, bumped your head.” He scooped a white salve from a jar and rubbed it over the side of my face.
“What is that crap?”
“I’m not sure. The doc gave it to me. He’s kind of got his hands full with the attack on the school. Smells like ass, though.”
“Yeah, and you keep rubbing it on my face.” I wrinkled my nose and turned away. The pillow cushioned my head and the smell of sanitizer permeated the air. The clinic wing of the school was bustling with activity. Every cot that lined the center isle was taken. Doctors and nurses hovered over the students with medicines, mending wounds, and checking their injuries.
“Because it’s actually helping. The gash in your cheek in nearly heeled.” Cross leaned in closer to me and the smell of the ocean surrounded me. “You had me a little worried there for a minute.”
“Only for a minute? I’m losing my touch.” The pounding in my head didn’t stop and the smell wasn’t helping, but I couldn’t just sit here and do nothing. “What happened after?”
“After your father threw you into a wall?”
“He’s done worse. I’ll be fine.” I ran my tongue over my lips, wetting them. Cross’ golden eyes lingered on my mouth and there it was, that spark between us. A connection, a sizzle that ran over my skin and left goose bumps in its trail.
Cross sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I know. And I-I regret not being there for you, O.” He shoved his hand into those black locks that fell to his sexy chin and pushed them back from his face only for them to fall right back into place.
I’d spent too many years alone in my room back at my father’s castle to let a single tear drop now. Though I felt them prickle my eyes and had a ball of nerves in my throat, I didn’t let a single one fall. “We were both kids. There was nothing you could do.”
“Ugh, enough of this already. Let’s go. Just you and me. We can disappear, get away from them.” He reached out and wrapped his hand around mine.
They were the words any girl would love to hear from Cross Malback. Come away with me. Hell, he’d probably said them before. But this was me and I didn’t run. I pulled my hand free of his. “Words any girl would love to hear.”
“Come on, O. You know it’s not like that.” He looked away. “Hasn’t been like that for a while.”
“You and I had a deal. If you want to back out on that now then that’s fine. But I have a destiny to fulfill. And it isn’t to run away.” I lowered my voice. “No matter how bad I want to.”
The corner of his mouth turned up and he shook his head. “I’m not backing down. I’m just tired of seeing you hurt.”
Aww, I may have just melted a little. “Comes with the territory. I’m a queen. I’m lucky I made it this long.”
Cross grabbed my hand and pulled it toward him. He scooted his chair closer then opened my hand and pressed it to his chest. “I need you to make it further.”
I wanted to pull him closer to press my lips against his to tell him I’d made it past sixteen, but in truth I just didn’t know if I would. “Does this mean our deal is still on?”
He leaned in closer. “Once my father is brought down and your father is brought down . . .”
I sucked in a deep breath, taking in his ocean scent. “Then we’ll see where the chips fall.”
“Oh, I know where the chips will fall. With the two of us winning and you’ll be my reward.” My fingers slipped from his chest when he rose to h
is feet and placed his hand on the metal headboard. His whole body leaned over mine.
“Is that how you see me? As a reward?” I tried to sound annoyed, but in truth I couldn’t. Because being with Cross sounded like a pretty good reward myself.
“No, you. You’re so much more than that.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine, so gentle, so fearless. I reached up and wrapped my fingers in his hair, holding him closer.
The sound of a throat being cleared made me pull away from him. I looked toward the foot of my bed. There stood Nova flanked by Serrina and Tabi. All but Zinnia.
For the first time ever Nova’s pale face held a tinge of pink. “We need to talk.”
I rolled my eyes. “Your timing is impeccable.”
Chapter 26
Tuck
The day after Alataris’ attacks the school was back in full swing. Everyone who’d been injured was heeled. Yet I felt no relief. Even now Zinnia’s emotions twisted inside me like a whirlwind. Fear, anxiety, longing. For what, I didn’t know. But if I could help her in any way, I would, and right now I was sitting in the library surrounded by stacks of books. Zinnia couldn’t move forward until we severed the soul mate link between her mother and Alataris.
In truth, when I attended my training back in Cindelore, I wasn’t equipped with knowledge of old magic or even basic information about soul mates. It was just something that was as old as time itself, especially in Evermore. I grabbed up the book next to me and dropped it on the table with a resounding bang. Everyone in the library looked up and started at me.
I shrugged. “My bad.” I flipped the pages of the ancient book and particles of dust rose up, tickling my nose. “Crap.”
Just as I turned the next page a small hand with black polished nails slid in the middle of the page. I glanced up, meeting Ophelia’s eye. “O? Everything okay?”
Nova, Tabi, and Serrina stood beside her. Ophelia glanced at the others at her sides. “We’ve been talking and there’s something we’ve decided.”
“What’s that?” If one more thing was laid on our plate it’d crack.
Ophelia pulled a piece of paper from the back pocket of her jeans and handed it to me.
I carefully unfolded it and couldn’t even fathom what I was looking at. “What is this?”
Nova sat down next to me and rested her elbows on the table. “Tuck, we’re all getting stronger. Our powers are growing. But Zinnia, have you seen her lately? Alataris can’t even siphon magic from her.”
I motioned to the paper in my hand. “But this, are you sure?”
Serrina pursed her lips. “We’ve talked about this a lot and this is the only way. Can you make it happen?”
No. “Yeah, I can.” I don’t want to. “As long as you all are sure.”
Ophelia sighed. “We’re sure . . . now all you have to do is tell her.”
Riiiggghhhtttt. “Me? Why me?”
They all rose to their feet at once. Nova crossed her arms over her chest. “You know why.” She looked down at the cuff covering my soul mate mark then back up at my face.
They all turned to walk away, leaving me with my books and the paper.
Tabi glanced over her shoulder at me. “Good luck.”
Yeah, I’m going to need it . . .
Chapter 27
Beckett
One day after the attacks and everyone was back to their studies. Like nothing had changed, like Alataris wasn’t getting crazier by the minute. I was in the middle of the courtyard helping to clean up the debris from the night before. It was midday but a cool chill hung in the air. Winter was coming and with it some unknown threat we weren’t ready to face. I felt in my bones, the world would soon forever be changed. I just hoped it was for the good. Niche stood by my side and pointed to a piece of the roof that’d fallen in. “Can you move that one?”
Ever since I let my warlock powers out everyone acted as though it was normal. But my powers were anything but normal. They were part of the reason why I’d left my home, left my demons behind to come here. Now the closer we got to taking Alataris down, the closer I came to slipping back into my old life. My secret . . . I liked the power. “Sure, no problem.”
I let my blue smoke roll across the ground and surround the stone chunk of the roof. With the flick of my wrist I lifted the piece off the ground. I rotated it and put the stone back together like puzzle pieces. Another younger student rushed across the roof. He was only four feet tall and had bright red hair that stood out even from this distance. He held his hands over the piece, and I felt the weight of it lift off of my magic as it was sealed right back onto the wall.
Niche patted my shoulder. “Thanks. That would’ve taken forever if we had to get someone else to do it.”
“True enough.” I looked around, making sure we were alone. “Niche, why haven’t the Fallen come back to help with the school?”
“The final battle draws near. They aren’t permitted to interfere with our mortal matters. If they do, it could set them back hundreds of years. So, I believe they’ve chosen to leave to let what’s to come play out on its own.”
I peeked around at the other students flitting from one class to another. Their lives mattered. They needed protection. Yes, last night we held our own, but that was nothing compared to what was to come. Even now with the sun hanging lower in the sky I looked up at the layers of colors in the sky and wondered what tonight would bring. Would we finally get the rest we all needed?
I looked back down around the school and spotted Tuck stomping across the courtyard. Judging by the hard look on his face, the way his eyebrows were drawn low and how the muscles in his jaw ticked, I’d say no one was resting tonight. Sparks flew out behind him with every step he took. The other students stopped what they were doing to watch him. He pulled a paper from his back pocket and scowled down at it. He didn’t even look up when four students jumped out of his way.
Sometimes the dude didn’t even realize how powerful he was or the way the other students revered him, the way everyone revered him. I turned to Niche. “I understand. Do you need any more help here?”
“No, I think we’ve got it.”
“Great.” I turned and jogged after our leader. “Tuck! Hold up.”
Tucker spun on his heels. “What’s going on?”
“I had an idea I need to tell you about. You got a minute?”
“Yeah, just a few.” He stood, waiting for me to begin.
“I’ve been thinking. If there was a way to protect the queens without letting them come to harm, would you use it in a battle?”
“If there was a way to do it, then absolutely.”
A group of girls walked by, openly gawking at Tuck. They waved and smiled, but he didn’t even see them.
“All right, I’m on it. I just need the right supplies.” I followed his glance down the hall. He was jittery and on edge. “You look like you’re on a mission.” I motioned to the paper in his hand.
Tuck waved for me to follow him from the courtyard into one of the more secluded hallways. He leaned up against the wall, then handed me the paper. I looked down at it, then back up at him. “Wow.”
“Yeah.”
“I mean, who gave this to you?”
“Ophelia.” He leaned his head back against the wall. “And Tabi, and Serrina, and Nova.”
“And Zinnia?” I handed the paper back to him.
“She doesn’t know yet. I’m not really sure how she’s going to take it. Considering all the issues she has with Alataris. But I have to talk to her about it. I’m on my way to her now.” He shoved the paper back into his pocket.
“Yeah, I know, but, Tuck, it’s a smart move. Like brilliant. I mean, he just tried to summon Lucifer. It doesn’t get worse than that.” When I looked down the hall, I saw Catherine, and her two big round eyes widened at my words. She pressed her hand to her mouth and turned to go farther down the hall. Her shoulders quaked as if she was crying. “Listen, I gotta go take care of something. Meet up tomorrow mornin
g to discuss this? I think everyone has got to get some rest tonight.”
Tuck pressed his lips together and nodded. “Yeah, catch you tomorrow.” He spun around and walked across the courtyard toward the dorm rooms.
Something in my gut told me to follow Catherine. She wore one of Zinnia’s hoodies and a pair of beat-up jeans. She was just as small as Zin and blended in with the other students. When she pulled the hood up over her head, I knew something was off. “Where are you sneaking to?”
I followed her at a distance, letting her weave her way through the school. Down the hall and into a broom closet? I hurried behind her and yanked the door open and found . . . nothing. Absolutely nothing. I stood there surrounded by wooden shelves lined with cleaning supplies, mops, brooms, and even rolling garbage cans, but no Catherine. What the hell? There had to have been another way out. I sent a puff of my warlock smoke up into the closet and waited for it to fall or be blown into a different direction.
The smoke drifted between a crack in the wall and a set of shelves. “Bingo.” I shoved my shoulder into the shelves, forcing them back just enough that I could slide through. A set of dust covered stairs went up from the door. Only one set of footprints disturbed the dirt. I stepped in and climbed the stairs, making sure to keep my footsteps light and soundless. It was hard to do as I moved over old, wooden planks. What is she doing up here?
When I got to the top of the stairs, I peeked over the edge up into an old attic. Exposed wooden beams ran the span of the rectangular room. The ceiling sloped up into a triangle. Catherine stood at a table, staring at a vial with bright green liquid in it. She hunched over a piece of paper and scribbled something across it. A single tear slid down her cheek and she swiped it away.
Catherine gathered up the vial in both of her hands. “I’m so sorry.” She uncorked it and held it to her lips.
I didn’t know what was in that vial and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, but I had to stop her. “Catherine, stop!”
Wicked Queen (The Royals: Witch Court Book 5) Page 14