Army Of The Winter Court (Skeleton Key) (15 page)

Pushing herself up on her hands and knees, Evvie scrambled to stand, stumbling over a loose pillow and falling to her knees. She hit hard, the crack of her bone against the hard rocky floor sent sharp pain through her legs. Her arms shook as they fought to hold her up.

“Evvie? What’s the matter?” Nolan’s voice sounded distant, even as he took her arm and helped lift her. The sudden movement made nausea roll in her stomach.

“You must be exhausted,” he murmured. “Let me take you back to your room.”

She felt herself being lifted off the ground and cradled by two strong arms, rocking her with the movement of his steps. Evvie struggled to move her limbs that felt numb.

Darkness overtook her, and unconsciousness took hold as a feeling of dread chilled her heart.

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A rough, hard surface pressed against her back, causing her to arch her spine.

“Mmm,” Evvie mumbled, unable to form words in her parched mouth as her dry lips threatened to crack even at such slight movement. The slow beat of her heart pumping blood through her body, hammered within her head.

Shuffling sounded from several feet away. Slowly, Evvie managed to peel open her eyes and blink several times in an attempt to focus. Dim flickering lights danced in the corners of her vision.

Trying to lift her hand to her pounding forehead, she was met with resistance.

The clack of footsteps on the floor echoed throughout the room as they approached her. Adrenaline spiked through her and she let her head flop weakly to the side. A tall figure moved from the shadows into view.

Nolan?

Desperately, she groaned, unsure why he was in her personal space.

Where is Auri? What’s going on?

“Ahh, I’m surprised to find you awake so soon,” he said, casually leaning over her as his cold fingers brushed a strand of hair from her face. Nolan ran his palm over the top of her head and around to the back to cradle it. Lifting her slightly, he pressed a glass to her lips.

“Drink,” he commanded.

Unable to resist, she did as he said.

Water. He’d given her water. Thankful, she let the liquid quench her thirst.

Instantly, her throat felt relief, and she let out a sigh as he gently placed her head back down on the hard surface.

“Wha—what happened?” she croaked out.

“You passed out. You are still quite weak.”

“Where am I?”

Her addled brain knew his face, knew Aurelian, but she couldn’t remember what she’d been doing before she woke up here, or where she was.

“You are safe,” Nolan said, his hand sliding down the length of her arm as he stepped out of view.

She tried to sit up, but her arms and legs felt like thousand pound weights.

“Why can’t I move?”

Silence greeted her and she wondered if he’d left her room.
 

Is this my room?
 

Her eyes darted around as she tried to see anything that would tell her where she was, but the lights were positioned near her, too weak to give her any hint at the location.

Think, Evvie, where could I be?
The haze that clouded her mind refused to lift.

The dim room brightened slightly as Nolan’s footsteps returned and he leaned over her once more. He sighed sympathetically, but something about his body language told her it was inauthentic and a sinking feeling settled in her stomach, making her heart race.

With a cat-like grin, he leaned forward until he was inches away and said, “That is a little more difficult to explain.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Evvie

“Why? What’s wrong?” Evvie said, panicked.

Nolan’s smile dropped from his lips as he let out an annoyed sigh.
 

“I was trying to spare you. But if you
insist
on knowing…”

Her stomach tensed, knowing that whatever words he was about to say would be the last thing she wanted to hear. The feeling of dread made her entire body quake.

“You are being restrained.”

The words fell so casually from his lips that it took a long moment for their meaning to register in her mind. Forcing her head upward, she looked down, noticing that a silvery glow hovered over her body.

“I… I don’t understand. Why?” She dropped her head back down onto the rocky surface.

“Evvie, you shouldn’t ask so many questions.”

“Let me go… I need to find Auri,” she demanded weakly. As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew it had been a mistake.

A sneer formed on his face, curling his lip back. “Aurelian isn’t here. I’m here, and that’s all that matters.”

She gulped.
 

“You said I could go…”

“I said if you choose
one
of us you, could go. I didn’t say which one.”

“Aurelian… I pick Aurelian.”

He let out a sudden barking laugh.
 

“It’s too late for that now. I don’t need you to decide. It was only my dear brother who needed you to pick him.”

“Let me go,” Evvie pleaded. Tears prickled her eyes, stinging.

“I can’t do that.”

“Why?”

“I still need your heart.”

Evvie squeezed her eyes shut, trying to focus. “This isn’t the way…”

Cocking his head to the side, Nolan said, “It is the only way. No matter, I will have your heart soon enough…”

“I’ll never love you,” she spat.

“Love? Did you think I meant love?” His laugh chilled her down to her marrow. “I am a Prince of the Winter Court. Love is not on my agenda and before you ask; no, it was never in my brother’s plan either, in case you were wondering.”

“I… I thought you said I would live. You said only one choice would cost me my life…”

“I believe I said, ‘One will cost you your life, the other will cost you a lifetime beyond anything you have ever thought possible.’ Or something along those lines.” He waved his hand dismissively. “I didn’t say which choice would allow you to live. You assumed I wanted your heart metaphorically.”

Understanding hit, making her sick.
 

“Then I never would have lived?” she asked.

“Oh, you would have lived if you’d chosen Auri.”
 

“But he wanted my blood… I don't understand.”

“He wants your blood. To be more specific, he wants your bloodline. It was all a matter of word play. Details left out to ensure that you would misinterpret. After all, it would have been no contest if you knew everything up front, would it?”

“He… doesn’t want to drain me of my blood?” Evvie knew there were more important questions she should ask, but her mind was stuck on Aurelian—he didn’t want to kill her as she’d assumed.

“No, his plan is much slower than mine. If you had chosen him, you would have been the next Unseelie Queen.”

“Why didn’t he just tell me?”

“It was against the rules, and he always played by the rules. He could have been stronger than me, but his warped sense of principles always got in his way. Aurelian never had the strength to just take what he wanted. It makes him weak. He doesn’t deserve to be King.”

“This is crazy… you can’t do this.” Evvie shook her head, disbelieving.

“Enough, time is wasting and the sooner this is over, the sooner I will have my army.”

Nolan’s fingers traced along her neck and collar bone, his hand stopping over her heart as he listened the beat. Evvie squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out his touch.

“Your heart is strong,” he said.

His fingers pressed into her skin and a sharp pain burned its way across her chest as her heart ached, pounding as if he already held it in his hand, squeezing. Nolan’s fingers pressed harder into her flesh, his nails, sharp like iron, burned her as they pierced her skin.

Evvie cried out in pain, arching her back in an attempt to free herself from the powerful force keeping her pinned down. The pain stole her breath, cutting off her scream. Tears forced their way out from the corner of her eyes as her body writhed from the pain.

Loud metal clanged as light flooded the room.

“What are you doing? You need her willing—” a shrill female voice shrieked.

“No, I don’t, Lilith. It is only Auri who does. As long as I have her heart, it will work.”

Her body went limp as Nolan removed his hand from her chest and turned to the woman, leaving Evvie panting for breath.

Their sister! Had she come to save her?

“You’re not playing by the rules…” Lilith admonished.

“I’m done playing by your rules. Without them, he doesn’t stand a chance against me. If he can’t win against me through his own power, then he doesn’t deserve the throne.”

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Aurelian

The moment Lilith had told him to stop fighting the claim, Aurelian could feel the words resounding in his heart. Feelings that only days ago he would have mocked and laughed at, became an inseparable part of his being. He knew his sister had been right and, as soon as he’d accepted that fact, the pull toward Evvie had become unstoppable. The rules didn’t matter anymore.

No longer in control, he raced out to the gardens, an unseen force leading him to her.

When he’d caught up to Evvie, he had been relieved to find that Nolan was nowhere near her. Before he knew what he was doing, Aurelian found his arms wrapped around her and his face buried in her neck, inhaling the faint scent of roses that emanated from her smooth skin.

Her hesitation was evident in the tense muscles of her body. Gradually, it faded and Evvie had relaxed into him. The look of concern in her eyes as she had pulled back to look at him crumbled the layer of ice that had surrounded his heart for as long as he’d been alive.

Emotion overwhelmed him as it flowed through his veins. Leaning forward, he had pressed his lips against hers, giving her every part of his heart and taking anything she was willing to give no matter how small. Everything he never knew he could possess was in that kiss—love, hope, sorrow and a longing for a future he could never have with her. The return of warmth that had been long repressed came back, it was slow and uncertain, but it was there nonetheless.

Pulling away, Aurelian scanned her face, hit by the realization that, knowingly or not, she’d opened herself up to being claimed by him in return. This whole time he’d been fighting her claim on him and yet he’d failed to notice that it was so much more than that.

It was plain that she had no idea what had transpired between them. But he knew he would die to give her what she wanted most and the words came tumbling from his mouth as he gazed into her bright emerald eyes.

He’d promised her the impossible… swearing his life to her at that moment, knowing that she couldn’t understand the significance of his words.

A sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach tore him from his recent memory. Something was wrong.

“Evvie…” his voice came out a hoarse whisper.

Blinking, Aurelian looked around. Lost in his thoughts, he’d ended up in the furthest reaches of the castle. Spinning on his heel, he ran through the halls, leaping down the stairs and into the castle’s bottom most lair.

Murmurs at the far end of the passage caught his attention and a dim light flickered through an open doorway. His feet pounded against the stone floor as he raced toward the room where he could feel Evvie’s presence.

His hand grabbed the black iron handle and jerked the door open.

Nolan stood over Evvie as she lay on a ceremonial table, held in place by his brother’s magic. Nolan turned to face Aurelian as he stood, panting in the open doorway, a menacing grin formed on his lips as he greeted him.

“The claim has made you weak, brother.”

Aurelian’s heart raced.
 

“Don’t be absurd.”

Years of dealing with his brother made his voice low and calm as he attempted to hide all traces of what was going on under the surface.

Nolan laughed, a loud, sharp noise that echoed off the walls.

“You can deny it all you want, but it remains true. The lost, forlorn expression that’s been plastered all over your face since she’s been here has given you away.”

“It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. It was necessary to bring her here.”

“Yes, and it is quite fortunate for me that it was you who brought her here. I was wondering how long it would take you to find her.”

“You knew where Evvie was?” Aurelian asked in disbelief.

“Of course, I did. I had faith that you would find her in time, and if not, I would have dropped you a hint. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that. What a disgrace to our bloodline it would have been.”

“You found her? Then why didn’t you claim her then?”

“I would never have risked claiming her and weakening my powers,” he mocked, though no humor permeated his tone. “You actually stood a chance at winning this until the moment you claimed her.”

Willing himself to stay calm, Aurelian spoke with slow, measured words, “Let her go—this instant.”

“Are you going to make me?” Nolan mocked.

“I won’t let you take her heart. I will make sure you will never be King.”

Nolan burst out laughing. “There’s nothing you can do to stop me, little brother,” he spat. Deliberately, while keeping his eyes locked on Aurelian’s he moved his hand to hover over Evvie’s chest. With lightening quick reflexes his hand connected with the area just above her heart, causing her to cry out and arch her back until she went limp, unable to stand the pain.

A shard of ice flew past Aurelian, striking Nolan in the shoulder. He spun around, noticing Lilith at his side for the first time, her face twisted in fury.

“Lil?” Aurelian asked, but she ignored him and her eyes focused on their brother as Evvie’s voice faded from the hoarseness of her scream. She was still in agony even though the hit had knocked Nolan away.