Royal Enchantment (Skeleton Key) (6 page)

“Before I found the skeleton key and entered this world, I found out that my business partner was killed. I was sadder for his wife than myself. Does it make me a horrible person that I don’t mourn his death?” Once the words had left her mouth, she realized that she hadn’t grieved for her parents either. Well not for a long period of time. Sure, she was sad—she’d even cried—when they died, but she didn’t mourn for them like other people did. Like
humans
did.

“We don’t see death as an end. It is the beginning of their next journey. So no, you are not a horrible being.” Finn faced her and placed her hand over his heart. “I miss my parents every day, but I know I will meet them again. If not in the afterlife, then in the next one.”

That is how she felt, but didn’t know how to explain it. “I guess I kind of knew something was going to happen. I mean, Jeff had been acting strangely for a few weeks before his death. I guess it was why I’d started to pull away from the business, like I was looking for something else.”

Finn began to walk, tugging her along with him. “I’m not surprised you have strong intuition. You could have gotten it from your grandmother on your father’s side.”

Ava nodded. Now that she knew that her father’s mother was a seer, a lot of things made sense to her. “Why was the Calim King unforgiving? I mean, he was a Calim Elf.”

“The differences between the Calim and the Morna are not good versus bad. It’s in our magick. The Calim get their powers from the sun and all things ruled by it. My people and I are ruled by the magick of the moon, the darkness.” Finn glanced at her briefly. She swore she saw a flash of concern in his eyes. It was his next words that confirmed what she saw. “You are both. Therefore, you get your powers from both the sun and the moon.”

“Making me more powerful than any elf alive.” Suddenly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be there anymore. “No wonder your uncle wants me dead.”

“Sana is also a hybrid. And she’s had her whole life to hone her powers.” Finn spoke low, and his tone had a hint of a tremble to it.

“Who says I haven’t? I mean, I may have lived in the human realm, but I can’t believe my parents would leave me defenseless. Even though they lied to me about who I am.”

With a gentle tug, Finn pulled her into his warm arms and stopped walking. “They wouldn’t. They would make sure you had what you needed. My guess is they might have prepared you all along, waiting for the day they would reveal everything.”

Ava let out a sigh. He was right, but she was too tired to think anymore about it. “Tell me about your childhood.”

“I was born months before the war broke out. Most of my life was spent in a safe shelter in the Wastelands, where I trained until I was old enough to fight in the war.” He smiled at her, apparently sensing her horror at his upbringing. “We were at war. Besides, all our children are trained at a young age to fight, hunt, and survive.”

She wasn’t sure she liked the idea but let it go for now. “So I guess you didn’t have time for fun.”

“I did. It wasn’t always work. But life in the Wastelands is very different.”

“Are they as dark and dead as they sound?”

Finn chuckled. “Yes. The Calim are powerless there, for there is no sun and very little light.”

Ava frowned. “The perfect place to hide your children and females during a war.”

“I regret nothing about my childhood. Besides, the training aided me while claiming the throne. I defeated my uncle then, and will again.” A flash of inner light, or was it more of a glow, lit up his emerald eyes. He turned away from her too fast for her to study his reaction. “Quinn warned me when I banned him from my kingdom that he would return and challenge me.”

Ava huffed out a low growl. “That man…er elf…will not rule. He’s evil.”

Finn faced her again, a seductive smile curving his lips. “Rule with me. Say yes and be my Queen.” He snaked an arm around her and tugged her close so their bodies meshed together. “The human world isn’t your home. Edra is.”

She studied him for several long moments. There was nothing waiting for her return. Her career was ruined, and she’d have to start over anyway. However, there was something in his tone that told her he wasn’t sharing everything. “What are you not saying?”

He closed his eyes briefly and inhaled slowly, releasing the breath just as slow. “I must take a bride to keep the throne. They were Quinn’s last words when he left.”

“Like a curse?”

He nodded. “A challenge, threat, whatever you want to call it.”

Crossing her arms, she scanned his features. “With me here, you fear he’ll make good on his word to claim the throne?”

“Especially if he indeed marries Sana. He’ll be too powerful to defeat.”

The power the two elves would form after the union would be too great for Finn to fight alone. He needed Ava to protect his throne and people. Willow did say that Ava had already started the bonding. And the more she got to know Finn, the more she wanted to be a part of his world and life. Plus, Edra was her parents’ home. “What would being your Queen mean for me?”

“You would rule by my side, be loved by our people, and become the most powerful elf in Edra.”

She smiled, hearing the teasing tone of his voice as he said the last part of that statement. “I don’t want power.”

He closed the gap between them and heat rose within her. “That’s what makes you the perfect Queen.” He dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers. An inferno raged to life in her core, then spread throughout her body.

Pleasure consumed her, making it hard to think straight. In that moment, she wanted him like she’d wanted no other. It was crazy. She didn’t believe in instalove, but there was no denying the feeling that she belonged to him, in this place.

She let out a soft groan as he broke the kiss. A dark presence touched her awareness. Even the hair on her body stood on end. Whirling around, she came face-to-face with Quinn and a female. The female looked a little like Ava’s mom, telling her that this was her sister. However, it was obvious it wasn’t going to be a happy family reunion. Sana was so full of hate, anger, and regret that she’d allowed it to darken her heart. Her aura said it all.

“We finally meet, sister.” Sana’s cool taunt was spoken on a chuckle.

Ava narrowed her eyes, which she never took off Sana, because deep down, Ava knew her sister was the real threat. “He’s just using you.”

It was a weak attempt to fire back at her, but it was the first thing that popped into Ava’s mind. Suddenly, she heard Sana speak, but the female’s mouth never moved. The words were sent telepathically, for Ava’s ears only. “You are wrong. It is I who am using him.”

Visions and images of the Calim palace consumed by flames flashed in Ava’s mind. An army of Morna storming the kingdom, killing everyone in their path. Bodies of the Calim littering the forest floor and village streets… The images flashed faster and faster through the horrid event. A future event where Sana controlled an army to wipe out the Calim.

The images cut off abruptly, leaving Ava to stumble a step backwards. Finn touched her lower back with his hand, but it did nothing to soothe the rage building inside her. Cutting her evil sister a glare, Ava snarled, “You will not get away with it.”

If the bitch could get inside my head, then I can get in hers
. Ava focused and sent her a message, checking to see if she could telepathically communicate with Sana. “
I will not allow you to hurt anyone.
”

A raise of a brow told Ava she was heard. Good. “
You are weak, little sister. I’ve had my whole life to strengthen my powers, while you were hidden in the human realm.”

Sana didn’t hide her jealousy very well. Ava smirked. Gotcha. “
I’m sure you had a good upbringing. What made your heart so dark?
”

Rage swirled around Sana a moment before she charged at Ava, much too fast for her to track. Sana tackled her to the ground before a shimmering bubble formed around them, leaving out the men. Ava glanced to Finn and spotted fear in his green depths. Flicking her attention back to Sana, who had her pinned to the ground, Ava grabbed her sister’s face and cupped her head while staring into her eyes. Flashes of Sana’s childhood ran through Ava’s mind.

“You were loved.”

Sana snarled and gripped Ava’s throat. “I was thrown away like trash. My own mother ordered me to be killed.”

Ava didn’t react to Sana’s outburst. Instead, she continued to sift through Sana’s memories. As soon as she touched on a name, like a whisper in her sister’s mind, Sana released her and jerked away from Ava. She then stormed toward Quinn, breaking the circle Ava had created around them.

A moment later, the two dematerialized.

Finn was at her side in an instant, helping her up. “Are you okay?”

Ava nodded. “I’m telepathic.”

“Only with family. It’s common among close families to develop the power.” Finn ran his hands up her arms, then around her back as if searching for injuries. “Did she hurt you?”

“Only my heart.” Ava hugged him close. “While Quinn wants your throne, Sana wants all the Calim dead. Let’s go find Kellam and then I’ll explain.”

They had to find a way to stop Sana before she made good on her threat. Because Ava couldn’t allow the future Sana had showed her to come true. Sana and Quinn had to be stopped. And Ava was going to make it happen.

Chapter Six

Finn led Ava and Kellam into the study as fury mixed with confusion filled his head. His uncle had gone too far by bringing Sana to the palace. He turned to Ava at the soft click of the door. Before he could speak, she held up a hand. “They have to be stopped. Sana shared her vision of the future. She plans to kill Willow and destroy the Calim kingdom. The bitch is crazy.”

Ava started pacing, anxiety rolling off her in waves. Finn reined in his own fears and anger. “What else did she say to you? Show to you?”

Ava shook her head. “Nothing. But I did get the name of someone. A woman. Kenia.”

“Don’t know the name.” Finn met Kellam’s stare. The male shook his head.

“I need to find someone who knows about Sana’s birth. Like where she was taken. Who raised her? Something tells me it’s this Kenia woman.” Ava paced as her words faded to a mumble as if she were trying to figure it out on her own. Then she stopped and faced Finn. “Fern said her mother worked with my mother in the palace.”

That was news to him since he’d been a baby when the war broke out. He moved to his desk and pressed the call button that would send his message to all the staff’s earpieces. “Fern, I request your presence in my study.”

Ava hugged her waist, but Finn sensed the electrifying power around her, angry and waiting to be unleashed. Her hands fisted as she spoke. “She has to be stopped. I keep seeing the Calim kingdom destroyed. Buildings burned to the ground, the elves…all dead.” A sob escaped her, breaking Finn’s heart.

He went to her and drew her into his arms. “Shh, that will not happen. We will stop her.” He met Kellam’s pissed-off gaze. “Contact Willow and let her know she is also a target.”

Kellam gave a short nod and left the room.

A moment later, Fern entered. Finn offered her a gentle smile. “Can you call your mom on video conference? We have some questions to ask about Ava’s mother.”

With a quick glance to Ava, Fern nodded. “Yes, my lord.” Then she moved to the monitor on the wall between the bookshelves and touched the screen. It fired to life, revealing the keypad to dial out. After she’d typed in her mother’s number, Fern stepped aside.

Crystal answered on the first ring, her face lit up with a bright grin until she noted Finn. She forced a smile, but worry still creased her forehead. “My lord.” Then she saw Ava and gasped. “Ava.”

It was a whisper, but he heard it and knew that Crystal indeed knew Faylan well enough to know her secrets. At least, he hoped Crystal did. “Cry, I hope you are well. We are sorry to bother you, but hoped you could give us information about Faylan and the child she ordered to be killed.”

A frown wiped away Crystal’s happy greeting. She glanced away from the screen as if wishing she had never answered the call. After another moment, Ava said, “Anything you can tell me about my mother will be greatly appreciated.”

“The child from her rape is alive and has targeted the Calim Queen for assassination,” Finn offered in hopes of swaying Crystal to volunteer what she knew.

With a heavy sigh, Crystal dropped her shoulders and lifted her gaze back to Finn. Sadness moved into her grey gaze like storm clouds. “Faylan was so in love with Jandar, and he with her. The day before her rape, she’d told me Jandar had proposed marriage. She said he would do anything to be with her, even denounce the throne.”

Crystal’s gaze fell slightly and a single tear rolled down her cheek. Ava moved closer to Finn, and he linked their fingers together. “Cry, please continue.”

“After the rape, Faylan retreated to her quarters and wouldn’t talk to anyone, not even me at first. When she found out she was pregnant, she left the palace and went to stay with her aunt in the Wastelands.” A sob escaped her. “It doesn’t surprise me that she’d order the child be put to death. Anyway, it’d been a year since I’d seen her when she snuck into the palace to say her goodbyes. She said she and Jandar were leaving Edra.”

Ava tensed slight and asked, “What was her aunt’s name?”

Yes, Finn wondered about that, too.

“Kenia.”

Ava faced him, hope lighting up her face. “We have to go to the Wastelands.”

His first instinct was to say no, that he wasn’t going to risk her life by taking her to the darkest and most dangerous place in Edra. However, he couldn’t deny her her family, and they did need to find out more about Sana. He nodded to Crystal. “Thank you. You need to visit the palace more often.”

Crystal smiled. “I will.” The smile faded. “My lord, should I be concerned?”

“Not yet. Fern can keep you updated.”

“Thank you.” Crystal ended the call.

Finn tugged Ava to the sofa and sat down. “The Wastelands isn’t what it used to be. Many of the rebels live there, and they will capture and kill anyone loyal to Willow and me. We will need to travel with a guard or two and in disguise.”