Army Of The Winter Court (Skeleton Key)
Page 13
“Morning sweetie,” her mom announced cheerfully. “How are you feeling? I heard you moving around, so I made you some tea.” Her mom stood and walked around the counter, reaching in the cupboard for a mug.
“Hey, stranger!” Silvia said as she buzzed around the kitchen.
“Hi Silv,” Evvie said warmly to her roommate, before turning to her mom. “Uh, thanks, I thought I’d go out for coffee. I could use some fresh air after being cooped up for so long.”
The effort of trying to hide her disapproval was evident, but she didn’t press the issue.
“Okay, just take a warm jacket. It’s chilly outside, and I don’t want you getting sick again.”
Evvie nodded and grabbed her warmest jacket as she headed out the door.
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Walking aimlessly, Evvie sipped her coffee as she let the sun soak in. She’d been surrounded by darkness for too long and the bright light of day felt healing.
The sun was almost overhead by the time her legs started to tire. Glancing around at her surroundings, Evvie realized she’d walked clear across the city, only to end up at the fountain at the base of the tower.
“Auri…” she whispered.
Closing the distance, she stood in front of the bubbling pool, watching as drops of water splashed, creating infinite ripples. Sitting on the edge of the stone, she let the soft music of the water surround her. Evvie reached into her pocket and pulled out a shining, copper penny. With a wistful smile she flipped the coin into the air and closed her eyes as she listened to the plop of it hitting the water.
The soft scent of roses in the glass garden drifted on the gentle breeze. For a moment, she could believe that Auri was standing next to her.
“Mind if I sit here?”
Great, now I’m hearing his voice… she thought. Nodding her head, she didn’t bother to look up, the disappointment of seeing a stranger’s face would be too much to bear. So much had happened in the span of a few days. She was exhausted, emotionally, to a point she didn’t realize she was capable of feeling. Her heart ached.
“What did you wish for?” the man asked as he settled down next to her.
Evvie sucked in a breath and held it before turning to the man sitting next to her, ready for disappointment.
Blinking several times, she squinted up into his face. The sun positioned right behind his head created a halo of blinding light. Shielding her eyes with her hand, a chill ran through her as she stared, open-mouthed at the man before her.
Instead of the clean-cut look he had when they’d first met, he looked more like the Aurelian she’d come to know and, even though the tips of his ears stuck through his hair, they weren’t pointed. The jaw line, the perfect bridge of his nose… his hair styled just as it had been when she last saw him.
“Auri?” her voice caught.
He turned his face toward her. “Pardon?”
“Auri?” she asked again.
Smiling warmly, he said, “No, I think you have me confused with someone else. My name is Ian.” He held out his hand.
Reluctantly, Evvie placed her hand in his. The feel of his touch and the way his fingers wrapped around her felt familiar.
“Is something wrong?” His brow furrowed.
Evvie clamped her mouth shut, realizing she’d been gaping at him and cleared her throat.
“Uh no, sorry… You just look like someone I used to know. I'm Evvie, by the way.”
“It’s not a problem.”
He let go of her hand and faced forward again.
Minutes passed as she continued to watch him from the corner of her eye and his gaze followed small groups of people walking past.
How can this man look just like him and not be him? Did Auri possess his body?
The thought was a little creepy. She had no idea if fae could take over a person’s body like that and part of her just didn’t want to know.
“Uh, excuse me… Ian, was it?”
He faced her, an expectant look on his face.
“I know this might seem crazy but…” her face burned.
I can’t believe I’m doing this!
“Would you like to… uh, maybe go out for… coffee or something. Not right now, I mean, obviously, you’re busy… but sometime, maybe soonish?”
Shut up, shut up, shut up!
“I would love to.” Ian slipped his hand into his suit jacket and pulled out a small business card. Every movement he made was graceful, exactly as Aurelian’s movements had been. Evvie licked her lips nervously and took the card.
“I look forward to hearing from you.”
With that, he walked away, leaving her sitting on the edge of the fountain.
She couldn’t let him go. He might be human and he might not remember anything they’d gone through together, but she knew without a doubt it was the same man. His movements were too similar, his voice too uncanny. Everything about this man was a reflection of Aurelian. She wouldn’t let him get away. Waiting another day would be stupid. The card could get lost in that time; she could lose her nerve… a million things could happen to keep her from seeing him again.
Standing, Evvie ran after him. He stopped walking and turned to look at her as she placed a hand on his arm. A look of concern pulled his lips into a frown.
Evvie racked her brain trying to think of an excuse for her strange behavior but her mind remained blank. There was nothing she could say that would make sense.
Evvie had freaked him out and now there wasn’t a shadow of doubt in her mind that he wouldn’t want to see her again. Letting that fact fill her with an uncharacteristic confidence, she reached up and grabbed the lapels of his jacket, lifting herself on her toes and pulling him toward her. If nothing else, she would have this last kiss. A kiss that would allow her to say goodbye to the man who’d stolen her heart, and kept it by winning her over.
The kiss ended before she would have liked, but she couldn’t stand here in public kissing this stranger. Pulling back, Evvie lowered herself and stepped backward, horrified that she’d made such a spectacle, but not regretting it in the least.
He stumbled back two steps, a look a shock on his face, then confusion. Lifting a hand to his forehead, he massaged his temples. When he met her gaze again, the corner of his mouth lifted into a crooked smile.
“I’m so sorry, Ian…” she mumbled apologetically, an unwelcome blush creeping into her cheeks.
“Call me Auri.”
“What? But…” Evvie shook her head, not understanding.
“I didn’t remember before.”
“Before?” she said frowning.
Instead of an answer, he stepped forward and gathered her into his arms, murmuring her name into her hair.
“How is this possible? You died,” she choked out, pulling back enough to meet his eyes.
A slow smile formed on his lips as he considered her question.
“Lilith was right… opening myself to the claim kept me with you.” He laughed. “That sneaky sprite! She planned it this way all along.”
“What?”
“It’s not important. I’m here now, with you, and I never plan on letting you of ever again.”
“But how are you human? Did you just leave this body parked somewhere? Is it even your body, or did you take it?”
“No, the claim you had over me, kept me alive long enough to remove my fae blood and heal my injuries. By turning me human, Lilith made sure that I would never be able to return to the Winter Court.”
Evvie wasn’t even going to pretend to understand everything that had happened.
“So, you didn’t just leave this body parked somewhere waiting for you to return?” she asked, picturing a seemingly lifeless body sitting around for days or weeks at a time as people walked passed.
“This is the same body I’ve always had.” He smiled, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
For the first time since meeting him the air around him was light, as though the weight
of the world had finally been lifted from him, giving Aurelian the freedom to feel and breathe.
Evvie opened her mouth to speak, but before she could ask anything more, she was silenced when he held a finger to her lips.
“Stop over analyzing, Evvie. It’s magic. Just accept it.”
He was right. What could she expect from someone who tried to kill her as if it weren’t a big deal, then discuss it nonchalantly? They might never know what went on inside Lilith's head, but it didn't matter.
Aurelian tightened his embrace around her, crushing her to him and pressing his lips against hers. When her knees threatened to buckle from under her, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Evvie pulled back to look at him; his knuckles caressed her cheek as he gazed into her eyes with more love than she had ever thought possible. She let out a contented sigh as he rested his forehead against hers.
“Auri…” she wanted to tell him everything she felt.
His eye’s sparkled as they filled with love.
“I know,” he whispered. “I love you too.”
Her heart welled up, overflowing with more emotion than she knew how to handle. Aurelian’s words were etched into her heart at that moment and she knew they would remain until her last breath.
Pushing up on her toes, she kissed him, savoring the moment. One of many she knew the rest of her life would be filled with. She would never let go. Her wish had come true in the least likely of places. With him, she had gone into darkness, coming out once more into the light and bringing him with her.
Skeleton Key Series
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read my Skeleton Key novella!
All reviews are appreciated.
If you would like to read more from the Skeleton Key series, please click on the link below:
Skeleton Key Website
Soundtrack
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Immortalized - Disturbed
The Devil Within - Digital Daggers
Sway - Bic Runga
End Of Me - A Day To Remember
Your Surrender - Neon Trees
Sleepless - Kate Havnevik
High & Low - Eza
I’ll Keep you Safe - Sleeping at last
Poison & Wine - The Civil Wars
Haunted - STWO feat. Sevdaliza
All I need - Within Temptation
I Don’t Mind If You Don’t Mind - Ron Rope
You ruin me - The Veronicas
Hunting Happiness - W. Darling
Stay - Ember Island
Sky full of stars - Coldplay
I Found You - Ag + Silver
Other Books By Ali Winters
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The Hunted Series
The Reapers
The Exodus (Late Fall 2016)
Flirting with Death (A short story)
Force Of Gravity
Star Dust
Acknowledgements
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Sometimes as a writer it's hard to not feel alone. There are moments when you just want to give up on everything you're working on, but then there are the people who are always there when you need them the most. They might not always realize how perfect their timing is. They are always there to pick you up and dust you off. I might thank the same people over and over and over again, but it's because I can never say thank you enough for the support, love, and encouragement.
Thank you to, my parents, Kristy, Winters, Erin, Annie, Konstanz, Erin, Riley, and Terence. You were all there for me through the various stages, of not only this book but my previous ones as well. I never would have made it this far without any of you.
And again, to Michael, for all the time you spent me with when we visited. You could have done anything else, but you made a little girl feel important. The books you shared with me have stayed with me all this time and will always stay with me. You had a bigger impact on my life than you will have ever known.
About The Author
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Ali grew up in the Pacific North West. She attended Oregon State University for photography. After many adventures, she moved to Colorado, earned a second degree, and met and married her husband.
She currently lives in windy Wyoming with her husband, and two dogs. When not writing, Ali is either, photographing, knitting, reading, dancing, or staying inside where it’s warm with a hot cup of coffee. She dreams of traveling the world someday soon.
Connect with Ali online
www.aliwinters.com
or
www.facebook/authoraliwinters
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