Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1)

by Kaylie Smith

“Go home,” the stranger advised. “A house of Devils is no place for an angel like you.”

“A heart and a key would set me free,” it said. “But you should hope we do not meet again, angel.”

Others would probably describe him as being very tall, but at five feet and eleven inches herself, he only had about three and a half inches on her. He had shocking white hair and bright jewel-green eyes. The rest of his facial features were almost as sharp and delicate as her own—except he managed to look less gaunt than she did.

Even if he did, he spoke in too many circles and she couldn’t figure him out. His mouth much too smart.

My achilles heel on a handsome face

“Ophelia,” he repeated, tasting every syllable. Her name on his tongue sounded like a wicked prayer. “You are exactly the person I’ve been waiting for.”

A surprised laugh fell from Ophelia’s mouth, and Blackwell turned his face just enough to wink at her.

Ok he charming

I’ve worked with, and every city we’ve traveled to, but nothing outside of Phantasma’s competitions. A shame, too. I feel robbed of my first time laying eyes on you.”

“So again. Who did that to you?” “The one named Cade,” she admitted. “Happy?” Without another word, Blackwell disappeared.

Goodbye, Cade. Nice knowing you.

Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing.

Me to me thinking about the past:

Blackwell took a deep breath. “I knew something about you was special the very first time I saw you. Of course, I know I do not remember our true first meeting, but I suspect if I was somehow a different being then, one with all my memories, I was clearly still enamored with you enough to tell you about the key that would bring me my freedom. Something about you calls to me in a way I cannot explain, and your essence has always felt familiar, but I couldn’t figure out why. You mentioned you were looking for someone named Gabriel”—he took another deep breath—“and things slowly began to click.” Her gaze was razor sharp as she asked, “Who is Gabriel?” He winced. “Gabriel White is your father.”

“Forget what I said, I’m going to fucking kill him,” Blackwell snarled as he began to shift into his corporeal state.

A split second before she could throw her punch, however, someone tapped her on the shoulder. She whipped around to find the most handsome man she had ever seen. With eyes of crystal blue and dark hair that curled onto his forehead.

Oh hey Rhysand

“Finish that sentence and I’ll fucking kill you,” Blackwell threatened. Ophelia was ashamed that all she could think of in this moment was that Blackwell had been right before—jealousy was a sexy color. Genevieve, now realizing something much deeper was going on between the three of them, glanced around in shock. Leaning into Ophelia with a proud grin, she whispered, “Please tell me they’re fighting over you.” Ophelia threw a severe look at Genevieve that only made her sister’s grin grow wider.

“Ophelia I… I am so fucking in love with you. I think I fell in love with you when you asked me how you could help me that first time we met. Prince of the Devils, and you wanted to save me. Maybe, somehow, I knew then that you could be the one to set me free. And I meant what I said that night, that you should hope we never met again, and I fucking hate that this is what it’s coming down to. But… every single second I’ve spent with you has reminded me what it’s like to be alive. And I would trade every other soul in the world if it meant I would get to keep you forever.”