Royal Enchantment (Skeleton Key) Read Online Free

about the couple and the war. It didn’t answer any of her questions.
    “The war went on for decades, and used up a lot of the natural magick. We grew weak, both the Calim and Morna. Our ability to self-heal and remain ageless decreased to almost nothing. Then the plague fell upon us, killing most of our people, my parents included.” Finn set his fork on the table and rose to stand in front of the window.
    Her heart broke for him, even though she could sense a wall go up around his. He most likely hid behind that barrier. She felt the need to comfort him. Instead of reaching out to him, she shared her own loss. “I lost my parents a few years ago. My dad fell ill. Doctors said it was pneumonia and that he was too old to fight it off. Well, they didn’t say that exactly, but I got the message. Anyway, a few months after Dad died, Mom passed away. It was as if her mourning sent her into a deep depression and she willed herself to die. She didn’t love me enough to stay.”
    Finn was at her side in a flash. Ava didn’t even see the man move. Kneeling at her side, he took her hands in his. When she peered into his dark green eyes, she saw the first signs of tears. “That is not true. When elves mate, it’s for life. One dies, the other will follow into the next life.”
    Confusion rolled through her mind like storm clouds. “Elves? My parents were human.”
    His eyes sparked like an inner light had been flipped on behind his pupils. After a moment, he drew his brows together. “After Willow, the Queen of the Calim, and I ended the war, a seer prophesied that the child of the lovers would return to us and restore the magick of the land.”
    “And you think I’m that child?”
    A sensual smile lifted one side of his mouth. “You are no child. But yes, you are the one who will forever link the Morna and Calim and restore the magick to Edra.”
    She tugged her hands free and shook her head. He’d told her the story because he believed the lovers were her parents. That made her half Morna and half Calim. Still, she wasn’t sold. “If I am this hybrid elf, why don’t I have any powers?”
    “Our magicks are limited in the human realm.”
    He seemed to have an answer for everything. “My parents never had any either, and they didn’t have a reason to lie to me my whole life.” Anger fueled the pain of loss that surfaced when she first mentioned the two people that had meant the most to her. She pushed her plate to the center of the table and stood. “Thank you for the food, but I need to get home.”
    By the time she reached the door, Finn was there, blocking her exit. “I can’t allow you to leave.” He raised one hand and caressed her cheek with his knuckles. “Not yet.”
    With pursed lips, she stepped back and stared at him, seeing his energy flow around him. Just because he believes what he said doesn’t mean it’s the truth. She crossed her arms. “So you have the power to control my free will?”
    A frown formed on his perfect, handsome face. “I do not.” The muscle in his temple twitched as if he ground his teeth. “I ask you to stay. With me. We can get to know each other, and you can learn about our realm.”
    She didn’t fail to notice that he referred to Edra as if it were her world instead of just his. “Why? I didn’t ask to be here. I was comfortable in my life where I was.” With the expectation of the most recent events, that was.
    He opened his mouth, then closed it again. A moment later, he broke the eye contact and threaded his fingers through his long, dark hair. “I believe you are who I said you are, and I’d like a chance to show you the truth. Besides, if I am right, then you are in great danger.”
    “Danger?”
    With a short nod, he held out his hand. “Even though Queen Willow and I are bound to a peace treaty, the rebels will kill you to keep you from uniting the two kingdoms.”
    There it was. The ripple in his aura. He didn’t lie to her, but he didn’t tell her