Unlocking Adeline (Skeleton Key) (18 page)

A
s I begin to wake, I wonder what time it is. My eyelids don’t detect sun, so it has to be early. Opening my eyes to investigate, I jump, head butting Ellie. “Jesus, what the heck are you doing?!” I yell as we both cradle our foreheads.

“I was waiting for ye to wake. Ye are being beckoned again. I must have ye ready before morning ends.

“By who?” I ask.

“By Sir Locke, Miss.”

Again?
I thought after yesterday and the way he shut down on me, he would want nothing to do with me. I take a second to remember his gentleness last night. The way he smiled unexpectedly throughout the day; the alluring scent of him.
Yum.
Sooo much yum
. I throw my blankets off me, being more careful this time, and pop off the bed.

“Well, I guess if he
is
beckoning I should probably get ready.” I try not to act excited. I hate this place, so I speed walk, instead of run, to the bathroom and go through my morning routine.

“Sir Locke told me to let ye know this is another town’s visit. He does not want ye mistaken like yesterday.” A little slump of the shoulders at her clarification, but I get over it quickly. I don’t plan on staying here much longer, but until I find a way home, I might as well learn a little bit more about my dad’s hometown.
Yep, that’s what we are chalking this up as.

Dressed and ready to go, I hear the knock on the door. I take a deep breath, and without looking too eager, I ask Ellie to get the door. It’s when she does and the man who walks through the door, that my stomach does that funny thing again. Locke stands tall, looking casual in a pair of brown pants and a loose white shirt. His hands are once again in his pockets, his face unreadable.

“I see ye are ready. We need to get going, or we will miss the show.”

“Show? What show?” I ask, my ears perking up.

“Ye will have to wait and see.”

Ugh, a man of few words. He holds the door for me then escorts me, just like yesterday, through the corridor to the entrance of the castle. It’s then I notice only one horse. He sees the questionable look on my face.

“I figured it would be best. I imagine the day will be long, so we will ride together. That way, I don’t have to worry about ye taking a nosedive off poor Cherry.” With a wink and a smile that leaves me breathless we start our next journey.

Day two with Locke was just as amazing as day one. We traveled to a small village, and Locke introduced me to the head horseman, Silvio. He was in charge of breeding all the livestock from the surrounding villages. He also trained horses. When Locke said we were to see a show, boy did we. Locke took me to an arena of sorts, and Silvio and an army of other villagers performed what he explained was a game of jousting. As I watched in amazement, the men galloped at high speed right toward one another and struck with such an impact, their long swords clashing together. Locke explained it was considered a martial art of their time. I felt like I was at the real life Mediaeval Times and I didn’t even have to pay extra to sit with the winning team!

The day turned into night, and before I knew it, just like last night, Locke was carrying me to my bedroom and gently laying me down to bed.

By day three I don’t need assistance waking. I am up and ready before the knock on the door even sounds. I open it instantly, shocking Locke. “Ready?” I pounce, almost mauling him as I race out of the door.

“I will take this as a good sign, then?”

“That what?” I turn, giving him the hurry up look.

“That ye haven’t gotten sick of me yet?”

“What? No way. What do you have planned for us today? Are we going to the same town? Does it have anything to do with the kids? The animals?” I’m babbling so fast, I almost miss the opportunity to enjoy when Locke begins to laugh.

“Ah, sweet princess, in due time ye will discover my almighty plans for ye today. But until we get there, it is a surprise.”
Surprise?
Pfft. “Oh, come on. Just tell me, so we can talk about it before we get there. Is there anything that I need to know? Names? Laws?”

Locke smiles, catching up to me and taking my hand into his. The warmth of his touch ignites everything inside me in an instant. “Be patient. We will be there shortly. And all’s ye need to know is that I will guide ye the entire way.” Our eyes trapped in a moment. One I cannot explain; as always he breaks away first. We head out. One horse, just as the prior day.

The ride starts out silent. I’m trying not to bounce in my seat. The anticipation just might throw me off this horse. It also doesn’t help that every time I get too bouncy, Locke tightens his grip around my waist, pressing our bodies strongly against one another.

“If ye don’t calm down, one of us is going to have to walk the rest of the way.”

“Why?” I turn, worried that I’m annoying him with my excitement.

“Because all this bouncing against me is causing my pants to get very tight. I am not sure I can manage the remainder of the trip if ye keep this up.” My cheeks flush instantly. I accidently look down, checking out the pants in question. Then blush a billion times more, embarrassed that I just peeked at his junk.

“Oh. Sorry.” I twist, quickly facing forward. Scrunching my eyes tightly shut, I try and not make my humiliation obvious, or let him know my heart rate has picked up.

I feel the warmth of his breath hit my ear. “Don’t be shy now, Princess. Consider it a compliment of what a beautiful lady like yerself does to a man.”

Oh, holy boy
. I swallow, my whole neck contracting
. So not smooth
. “Oh yeah, um okay.”

That’s when his hands squeeze just a smidge harder, his thumb strumming my ribcage. My eyes fall shut, focusing on the feel of his touch. His grip slowly slides downward, pressing his hold down my hips at the base where my hipbone meets my thigh. My lips part slightly and without acknowledgment, I lay my head against Locke’s shoulder, allowing his mouth to skim the exposed skin of my neck.

“Addie?” he says my name, so deep and seductively.

“Yes?” I moan.

“We’re here.” My eyes fly open. I look around and notice a small town approaching, people scurrying all over the place, tending to their daily duties. Smoke from the outdoor fires are in full swing, small children running through the main street, kicking a small ball to one another. The closer we get into the town; the townspeople begin to line up outside their homes and storefronts. As we trot through, people wave, smiling brightly at Locke. We stop in front of a larger home, a gentleman, one of stature waiting for us.

“We will stop here,” he says, halting and guiding me off the horse.

“Ahh, Sir Lockelan, it is always a pleasure to have ye visit,” the man addresses Locke. They meet and shake hands. Holding out his hand to me, he pulls me to his side. “Fredrick, I would like to introduce ye to Adeline McAllister, Princess of Wren.” He smiles. Fredrick’s eyes widen a bit, and then smile just the same.

“It is a pleasure, Princess Adeline. I have heard from the winds that ye have been making a grand impression on the neighboring towns and villages. I look forward to yer visit and company today.”

He shocks me a little bit that he has heard about our past few days. I look at Locke, who looks happy, possibly proud. I smile back. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Fredrick. Locke hasn’t told me what we will be doing today, but I look forward to making a difference any way I can.”

He looks from me to Locke, who shrugs, then back at me. “Sir Locke runs our construction plans in Drumberg. He is responsible for all the improvements of our homes and stores. He brings us new ideas on how to make our structures more sturdy and safe during poor weather. He has decreased our losses, due to natural disasters, immensely in the past years.”

I turn to Locke, surprised. “You’re a laborer?”

“I wouldn’t say that. I just take what I’ve learned on my travels and help the people who need it. Some of them don’t have the resources, so I help them use what they have. Consider it efficiency training.”

This shocks me. Not because of the kindness, but because Locke doesn’t seem like the guy who spends his days working to better things, coming across as the rough dark man that he is.

“Shall we?” he asks, snapping me out of my excitement. I nod and Fredrick leads the way to an open area of land, where Locke and the townspeople discuss possible building structures and more efficient farm fields to hold more crops.

“Locke, thank you. This shall build the space we need for the medical huts for the townspeople. Mary Ellen has been studying her skills and would make a nice nurse to the smaller children.”

Fredrick goes on and on, how Locke’s insight will better the village and how grateful they, once again, are for his knowledge and skill. And with that the entire town went to work to build a better place.

There is something so rewarding with working with your hands. I know I do it a lot serving food, but this is different. I wasn’t strong enough to help with the large beams that were being placed into the ground for the base of the next upcoming cottage. However, while I helped paint and handle smaller projects, I watched as a shirtless Locke work his magic. His muscles stretching with each pole as he lifted, with ease, the weight over his shoulder. His brawny back contracting as he carried the material over to where each pole needed to be placed. I mean, not that I was ogling, but it’s hard not to admire him. And stare. Nothing that good looking can be real. I think about the last three days and how different he has been with me. Gone is the roguish beast that I first met. In his place: a kinder, gentler man who, hidden behind his tough façade, is actually a selfless man spending his time helping others. As it’s been for the last three days, a fluttering feeling fills my chest, thinking about him. About us. How in some crazy sort of way we would actually make a really great team. Just as those thoughts flow through my mind, Locke turns, catching me staring and winks. And my heart melts.

I want something from him, but I just don’t know what it is. Is it to ask me to stay in the end? For him to tell me he feels at all for me what, if I admitted, I feel for him? And I do feel. God, do I. The way my skin warms when he holds me on our travels back and forth. The way everything he does affects me. I can’t stop reliving the moments where his lips were on mine; his hands roaming my needy flesh. I wake up every morning in a pool of sweat, being ripped away from the dreams in which he takes me fully, demanding that I succumb to him and, in my dream, I do. I beg for him to touch me in places that I would never admit out loud. I dream he holds me at night, whispering the words of love and admiration.
God, I sound like a sappy teenager.

I laugh softly to myself at the crazy thoughts. Because they
are
crazy. No way could I see myself staying here and actually building a life as a princess. With Locke. Again I look at him, standing, wiping sweat off his forehead. Our eyes catch and the most magical thing happens. He smiles and it almost sends me to my knees. I go to lift my arms to wave, when I hear screaming.

“Help! Someone help!” I jolt to my left to see a woman running toward us. Everyone stops, catching sight of the frantic woman. She makes it to me first.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, trying to reach for her but she is completely irrational.

“My son! The children were playing in the armory and it collapsed! My son, he is stuck in there, and there is only one cracked beam holding the roof in place! Ye must hurry. Please! Save my son.” The woman begins running back toward where she came, and I run with her. I don’t think, I just run. I hear Locke shouting my name, but I can’t stop now. We hit the corner and before us is the destruction of the armory.

“Oh my God,” I breathe as I stare at the collapsed building. There are dust clouds forming around the pile of the destruction. ‘Where is he?” I ask, no time to think about what I am about to do.

“He was just inside the doors. I can hear him, but I cannot see him! Please, we need to get him out before the building collapses.” I hear the rest of her story as I’m running toward the wreckage. I know time is very limited, because the sounds the building is making is a sure tell sign that it’s soon ready to fully collapse. I make it just to the fallen front as I dive to the ground, ready to crawl inside. Years of playing forts with my brother taught me how to army crawl, so I pull myself inside the small opening. I hear Locke screaming my name but I can’t answer him. I need to focus. I pull myself in and look around, not seeing her son.