Phantasma (Wicked Games, #1)

by Kaylie Smith

“When Jasper revealed what happened to your parents, when you said we were repeating history, I realized you were right in asking for space. There can be no ‘we’. We’ve been flirting with danger a little too much. It’s my turn to try and be the responsible one.”

Except when he’s making grand speeches about every little thing he admires about me, or making the voice in my head shut up, or giving me the sort of unearthly pleasure that makes me see stars.

“You let him kiss you.” He looked devastated.

“Not with him. He will never touch you again.”

“I can’t stand it,” he told her, his voice deepening as he fought for control of his emotions. “I can’t fucking stand the thought of him—of anyone—pleasuring you except me. I’d rather cease to exist than know you’ve looked at anyone else the way you look at me when I’m touching you.”

“God fucking damn it, I don’t know.” His eyes fluttered closed as he searched for the words. “I know this is a dangerous path. I know I should have enough self-control to just stay the fuck away, but you are the only thing that’s ever made me feel even a semblance of hope in this eternity of Hell. The dream I’ve been looking for—the one to wake me up. The thought of wasting another second when I will lose you forever in only three days has ruined me. You are the closest thing I will ever get to experiencing heaven, and I’m not ready to let it go.”

“I need you to know that you are the only person who has ever made me feel like I am capable of anything,” she lamented. “The only person who has ever made me feel truly seen.” She swallowed. “Sinclair’s touch meant absolutely nothing. That’s why I let it happen.”

She wanted to beg the Devils, the Angels, the universe, to let her keep him for just a bit longer.

“But your touch?” Her voice broke now. “Your touch means fucking everything. And that’s why we c...

“In a different life, in a fair one, I would’ve kept you until my eternal soul withered away to dust,” he vowed to her.

“Have I ever told you how much I adore a woman who isn’t afraid to get her hands bloody?”

“Watching the light drain from his eyes would have been worth the risk of you hating me for doing such a thing.” “Is that why you spared him?” she questioned, shocked.

Ophelia found that she liked the blood on her hands just a little too much.

“He will always come to me,” she whispered. “We find each other every time. And you cannot stand that, because it means I’m no longer alone with you.”

“Angel,” he breathed, voice thick with relief as she came to. He gathered her up into his arms and crushed her into his chest, burying his face into her neck. “I thought I lost you. I thought…”

“But I felt you calling. I’ve never had that sort of connection with any other contestant before. I told you before that nothing would ever stop me from getting to you if you needed me, and that will remain true forevermore. I would tear the universe apart at its seams if I must.”

“I would stay on my knees all night if you wanted,” he vowed, heat sparking in his eyes. “Just let me stay. Let me hold you.”

“Now, beg,” she told him.

“Wicked angel,” he told her, his eyes blazing with want. “Please

neither of us will be able to tell where I end and you begin.”

Be a good girl and say the word.”

“That’s my good girl,”

Oh, how she loved having a Ghost as a lover.

“Yes, Miss Grimm,” he drawled. “Your every wish is my command.”

“You’re a menace.” “Only to you.” She grinned, smug. “And it’d better stay that way,”

“I never want another soul to touch you like this. Only me.”

“I will fuck you until you tell me you can’t remember a single other lover’s name.” Out. “Until you can’t remember your own name.” In. “Until nothing else exists but this.” Out. “Us.” In.

“There’s onl...

“Blackwell. Blackwell. ...

“In all the darkness, in all the loneliness, you have been my o...

“My soul will go to its grave with your name echo...

“What are your intentions with my sister? Besides fucking her stupid, I mean.”

“She much prefers me in that position instead.”

“He’s the only one I enjoyed kissing,”

Two more levels and she would be free. But he wouldn’t.

“Do you truly believe we can always find our ways back to each other? You’ve said before nothing would ever stop you from getting to me if I needed you. That you would tear the universe apart at its seams to keep that vow. Do you still mean that?” He reached up to grasp her face in his hands. “With every ounce of my soul. When you go through that door, it will not be the last time I see you.” “You promise?” she whispered. “I swear, angel,” he vowed.

“My name is Salemaestrus Erasmus Blackwell, Prince of the Devils. But you, angel, may call me Salem.”

But the moment he realized she had been taken… That was an agony unlike he’d ever known.

He could not be tamed. Would not be. Except by her

“I love you, Salem,” she whispered.

“I love you,” Salem choked out. “I’m sorry you ever met me. I’ll never forgive myself.”

Angel.

“You tricked me,” she whispered.

“I really thought… I thought I could save you. I thought I was getting close.” “Me too, angel.”

“Was… was any of it real?” she whispered. “As real as it could’ve been with only half my memories,” he said,

know I should be furious at you, murderous even, but I…” “Don’t,” he ordered. “Don’t waste any of your emotions on me. This is where we must part ways, and feeling anything for me at all isn’t worth it for you. It would be best if you just forgot me altogether.”

“Everyone who falls in love within Phantasma is cursed… because falling in love is what got you into this in the first place,”

“I want you to know that it was all very real for me. It still is. I was going to ask to use my Devil’s Grant to find and break your tether.”

“You would have done that for me?” “Of course,” she said. “You don’t get it. I⁠—” “

“It’s true, though.” A single tear slid down her face. “And I know it’s foolish, I know we’ve spent this entire time making sure we avoided this very thing. Does it really matter if I say it aloud or not? You’ve changed me.” She took a deep breath, reaching up to hold on to the locket beating wildly around her neck for comfort. “Even the necklace has always seemed to know it. My heart is completely and utterly…”