Chapter 44
Natasha was the first to storm the conference room. She came out with her brass knuckles blazing, and landed one good kick on Abdul before he slammed her into a wall. She crumbled into a golden heap on the floor.
Katja approached next. No one but Malek seemed to notice her as she drew her dagger behind Anthony, ready to stab him in the neck.
She only managed to nick his sleeve before Abdul caught her and tossed her into the other wall.
Blood stained the white on her blouse and turned her blond hair into a matted mess.
William slithered in without anyone but Malek realizing he was there. He grabbed the gun that Anthony had dropped in his haste to toss the jewels and Caspar out the window, then aimed it directly at Anthony. He fired once, hit Anthony clean through his thigh, and sent him doubled over in pain.
William’s celebration was short-lived as Anthony kicked him swiftly across the face. He followed up with another slam to his ribs. Water shot across the floor, causing Anthony to slip and fall down, but not before William dropped the gun and watched it fly out the broken window.
The crown tumbled out of Anthony’s hands and rolled across the room.
Malek lunged for it in a desperate attempt to hold on to some kind of power.
His mind wouldn’t—couldn’t—process Caspar’s fatal plunge.
He needed to focus on his crown, and maybe, just maybe, he could use whatever magic he had to bring back the only thing he ever wanted.
But Abdul held out a hand and sent the coffee table flying across the room, tripping Malek and blocking him from the crown.
Malek’s ears rung as he hit the floor. It took him several moments to realize that Anthony was wishing for the coffee table to block him, so he could then pick up Malek’s crown and claim him next.
“Oh, I wish, I wish…” Anthony rubbed his hand along the edge of a necklace, not the crown, and Malek realized he still hadn’t used up his final wish with Abdul. There was still time. “I wish to be restored to full health. Perfect health.”
And it happened. Before Malek could do anything, William moaned in pain on the floor as glass cut his chin and water mixed with the blood.
Curses filled the air. The bullet that had once torn through Anthony’s leg, which was now healed, went through Malek’s thigh.
Blood bloomed like a flower against his suit.
Pain blinded him. Reconstituted matter… that’s all wishes are.
If Anthony was going to be in perfect health, then everyone else was going to suffer the side effects.
Malek’s mind flashed to a scene years ago, when Abe struggled for breath before Odafin landed the final blow and took him out of commission.
The scene would always be dead. The ending was always the same.
Everything Twigs had told him was a lie—or maybe it was just a nice story to think about while the life force drained from him.
When Anthony stood over Malek, his smile was menacing. The crown was tainted with blood, but on his head again.
“You want me to wish you back to life?”
“No. I’d rather die than serve you.”
“Seems to be the common goal here. Too bad I have the crown. Too bad you have no choice.”
Malek let out a pained groan. Anthony tossed off the necklace that once belonged to Abdul, but didn’t hand it back. Anthony couldn’t use the token to enslave Malek, but maybe later, like always, Anthony would get another three wishes.
“You can’t keep doing this,” Malek said.
“But I already have.”
Anthony went to rub the crown. He’d timed everything down to the last minute, only becoming vulnerable after everyone had been taken out. Malek wished for something—anything—to happen so Anthony could be killed, but his body was too weak.
So he closed his eyes and prepared for his fate.