Army Of The Winter Court (Skeleton Key) (11 page)

Aurelian froze. He’d assumed he had walked in before Nolan had claimed her... but had he come across them after the fact instead? If his brother had kissed her, then the fight was already lost.

“He kissed you?”

“Are you kidding me right now?” Throwing her hands in the air, she groaned. “Why are you acting like this?”

“Did he?” Aurelian demanded.

“Whether or not he kissed me isn’t important.”

“Answer the question, Evvie.” He cleared his throat nervously.

The scowl dropped from her face and turned to a look of curiosity.
 

“I don’t know what the stakes are between you two, but I’m going to find out.”

“Evvie… please…” he begged.

“I know, Auri.”

His question was shoved from his mind as the words fell from her lips. It felt as though a had hand reached up and wrapped itself around his throat, cutting off his air supply.

“What do you think you know?”

“I know what you want from me.”

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Evvie

“And what is that?” Aurelian asked as he took a step back away from the pale moonlight that shone through the window and shrouded himself in shadow.

She looked up at him and his face, a neutral mask half hidden in darkness, matched his emotionless tone. Was this reaction because he had tried so hard to hide the truth from her? He had purposely misled her since the moment they had met, even after he said wouldn’t lie to her and promised to protect her. Evvie hated that what he wanted from her was something she could never give him.

What had happened to the sweet man she was getting to know? The moment he’d walked out of her room last night was the moment that person had disappeared. Though, looking into his eyes, her heart didn’t want to believe it.

How stupid am I? I hardly know him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded.

“Tell you what?”

“That you want my blood.”

Evvie watched Aurelian, curious if he would lie to her. Even if he pretended he didn’t know what she was talking about, deep down it wouldn’t change how she felt. He wanted her blood, and it hurt to know that he wanted to use her for his personal gain.

 
“Yes,” he said, stepping forward out of the shadows. The tone in his voice was unapologetic; he wasn’t even trying to hide his intentions.

“Well, I hate to disappoint you, but I’m using it right now and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”

Aurelian watched her a moment, before a loud laugh burst from him, a rare smile gracing his lips.

Her forehead creased in confusion as she took a step back.
He’s crazy…

“I told you that I wouldn’t lie to you—”

“But you haven’t been entirely honest either.”

His eyes darkened, but it was impossible to tell if she’d struck a nerve or made him angry. Her heart cracked in her chest. Why did she continue to feel something for him? Evvie searched his face, hurt and betrayed. It would be an easy choice if she could separate her heart from the decision. What if it had been Nolan who’d come to her first? Nolan who’d embedded himself on her mind and in her heart instead of Auri?

“I haven’t lied,” he said heatedly. “I told you I would always tell you the truth, but I would withhold information if I needed to.”

“Information like if I chose wrong, it would cost me my life?”

“I didn’t want it to play a factor in your decision. You need to choose based on who will be the best to rule.”

“You don’t think whether I live or die should play a role in my choice? Because I think it should. I happen to like living.”

“Good.” He nodded once and turned away from her. “You should want to live.”

“You—you don’t care what my decision is then?”

He faced her, a sneer forming over his lips. “Of course I care, but I can only try to persuade you to make the choice I want you to. I can’t force you. I want you to
choose
me.”

Tears stung her eyes. How could he want her to choose him when it meant giving her blood… her life?
 

“I feel sick…”

“If you are ill, then—”

Evvie held up her hand as he reached out to her.
 

“No, stay away from me. I… I need time to think—away from you.”

“Very well, but—”

I can’t listen to him anymore… I need to get away from him.

She could feel the panic rising up inside of her. Turning on her heel, she ran down the hall away from Auri and the hurt look on his face, away from Nolan, and away from the decision they were forcing on her.

Throwing the red curtain aside, she burst out into a large room and the vast open space caught her off guard. Slowly, she came to a halt in the center of the perfectly symmetrical space. Two thrones made of tangled, black thorny vines were up against the wall. The floor was made of small, intricately laid tiles in a circular pattern, starting in the center of the room where she stood and radiating outward.

A few flakes of ice floated down around her and speckled the floor like glitter as chimes softly echoed throughout the chamber. Evvie glanced around looking for the source of the noise, stopping when she saw Aurelian standing under the arch she’d run through. His face was contorted into an emotion she couldn't place. The sound grew louder, drawing her attention overhead. Tilting her face up, her gaze met the baroque chandelier hanging above, swinging on its chain as it glistened with frost.

Her eyes traced the path of a single crystal as it fell, shattering at her feet.

“Evvie!” Aurelian’s voice called to her.

Frozen to the spot, she watched as the thousands of delicate crystals shook. He called her name again as the large fixture snapped off the thin rope that held it overhead.

A scream ripped from her as she squeezed her eyes closed and covered her head with her hands in an attempt to provide some semblance of protection.
 

Blinding light surrounded her, sending her flying backward.

Gasping, her hands clutched at her chest as she struggled to breathe, her back arching with the effort of trying. Aurelian’s face hovered over her, but the ringing in her ears blocked out his words. He placed a hand over her chest and the pain eased, allowing her to draw a breath.

“Wh—what happened?” she stuttered.

“Shuush,” he cooed. “Don’t try to speak yet.”

Gently, he lifted her up and carried her around the countless shards of fragmented ice littering the black stone floor like millions of stars in the night sky.

Her body shook as tension took hold.

I almost died…
The thought echoed around the inside of her skull. Evvie glanced up at his face, watching him as he stared, straight ahead and determined.

Blinking rapidly, she looked around as he sat her down on the soft bed. Evvie wondered if she'd blacked out because the walk to her room should have taken much longer.

“Wait…” she said weakly, grabbing on to his arm as he moved to leave.

His blue eyes darkened as he looked down at her hand. “Rest.”

“What happened?” Evvie asked as tears filled her eyes. It still hurt to breathe, she felt disoriented and lost. She wanted comfort and to not be alone.

Aurelian sighed and sat down at the edge of the bed and placing his hands on either side of her face, he closed his eyes and concentrated. The pain eased as his magic flowed through her.

Opening his eyes, he let his hands slide down and rest on her shoulders.

It was impossible to know what was going on. Aurelian had said he would protect her, but he wanted her blood… and now this. Evvie threw her arms around his neck and pulled him to her.
 

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

She inched back until she could look him in the eyes again.
 

“For saving me,” she replied.

Aurelian leaned his forehead against hers and sighed. Evvie closed her eyes. His closeness was intoxicating, casting a thick fog over her mind that blocked out the rest of the world. She felt his lips brush against hers, like a ghost of a whisper. Once. Twice.

Slowly, she melted against him as he wrapped an arm around her back and one hand cradled her head. She wanted to pull away but her body ignored her and followed his lead. Before she could convince herself of the stupidity of her actions, she pressed her lips against his.

If he was crazy… what did that make her?

He was a magnet pulling her toward him by forces she couldn’t identify. Evvie tried to deny her attraction to him even as he moved in further, reaching the recesses of her heart. She wanted the Auri she knew from before. The one without the agenda, the one who was kind and the one that made her heart beat furiously against her chest like the thundering of a million drums—the Auri he seemed to be as he kissed her in this moment.

Pulling back, he broke the embrace, gently lifting her hands from the back of his neck and set them down in her lap. One hand reached out and stroked her hair.

Abruptly, he stood and took several steps back.
 

“You should get some rest. I will see you when you wake.”

She sat curled up on her bed and watched wordlessly as he closed the door behind him.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Aurelian

Aurelian closed the door softly behind him. The warmth in his chest grew in intensity with every second he was near her.

“I want my time with her too.”

Sneering in disgust, Aurelian turned to face his brother.
 

“You will get your time.”

Nolan narrowed his eyes, “When? You still haven’t told her anything about what she needs to do. I want my chance. The Solstice is fast approaching.
 

“Tsk, tsk, Auri. You haven’t explained her duty to spend an equal amount of time with both of you?” Lilith chimed in.

“It is hardly my fault she always comes running to me,” Aurelian said through gritted teeth, though it didn’t bother him in the least that he was the one that Evvie’s ran to… it was better than her going to Nolan.

“You wouldn’t be trying to persuade her to avoid me now, would you?”

“Of course not.”

“Then you wouldn’t mind giving me some space,” Nolan said, his tone dangerous.

“You’ve had space. I can’t be blamed if you don’t take your chances.”
 

“I will wait here until she wakes up. You can disappear.”

“Not on your life,” Aurelian growled, clenching his fists.
 

“Now Auri,” Lilith said, placing a hand on his arm. “You’ve had the advantage of bringing her here…”

He looked from Lilith to Nolan. There was no way he would win this argument.
 

“Very well.”

Nolan’s lips twisted into a self-satisfied smirk.
 

“I will wait here until she wakes. Don’t worry, Brother, I will make sure she is taken care of.”

Spinning on his heel, Aurelian stormed down the hall before he did something he would regret, like making them think he felt more for this halfling than he did. She was just a way to get what he wanted—the throne.

“Oh, brother!” Lilith’s voice sang as she caught up to him.

“What do you want, Lil?”
 

She fell into step next to him, her hands clasped behind her back. “You know the rules—”

“Whose side are you on? I thought you didn’t want him to get the crown.”

“You know I don’t, but the rules were agreed upon.”

“And I never should have agreed to them.”

“Don’t sulk, Auri. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you had feelings for her.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“Am I? Or is the claim finally starting to affect you?”

It wouldn’t affect him—ever—not if he had anything to say about it.

“Make no mistake, I will get that crown and I will get my army. Now, leave me alone, Lilith.” Turning on his heel, he walked swiftly away.

“Keep your distance until Nolan gets his time with her,” she called after him.

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Evvie

Steady pounding dragged her from her dreamless sleep. Evvie groaned and then rolled to her side, pulling a pillow over her head. A knock on the door sounded again, louder this time. Propping herself up, she scanned the room. It wasn’t her tiny room in her apartment. Sleep clung to her, as she tried to remember how she had gotten there.

Aurelian… something about an army and fae…

The knocking persisted, growing impatient. She slid off the bed and shuffled her way to the door opening it just enough to look out with one eye.

“Yeah?” she asked, groggily as she stared into warm, amber eyes.

“May I come in?” Nolan asked, bowing.

Blinking rapidly Evvie stared at him through the narrow opening until he raised an eyebrow.

“Uh, I… right now isn’t a good time.”

“Are you all right in there? Is something wrong?” he asked. It was hard for her to tell if he was concerned or angry.

“No, nothing is wrong. I was sleeping and I would like to take a bath before I see anyone.” She paused, watching him stand there. Without moving or speaking, he portrayed a sense of determination and insistence. “Maybe later?” she asked, hoping it would be enough to get him to leave.

With a heavy sigh, he agreed.
 

“That will do. I will meet you in the gardens below. If you have trouble finding them, I will come for you.”

“Ah, I think I’ll be able to find it just fine. I’ll catch up to you later.”

Weird… He doesn't really understand boundaries,
Evvie thought as she closed the door.

She hadn’t noticed before but there wasn’t a lock, not that it would matter. She supposed that they’d be able to unlock it with their magic.