Royal Enchantment (Skeleton Key) Read Online Free Page B

inside.”
    “What is it?” she asked again, a little louder.
    Just then, a man…no, an elf stepped out of the shadows as if appearing from the darkness. He was about a foot taller than Finn with long, black hair that blended with his tunic and leather pants. His dark gaze met hers, just as a creepy smirk tugged at his mouth. Suddenly, the fear in her gut morphed into a need to protect herself as well as Finn.
    Before she could form words to question Finn again, the man spoke. “She has returned, but she is weak.”
    Kellam let out a low growl a moment before Finn replied to the man’s taunt. “I claim her as my bride.”
    “But she doesn’t accept.” The man laughed. The sound made Ava’s skin crawl.
    Finn’s body tensed, his muscles going rock-hard under where she rested her hands on his biceps. “She has agreed to courtship. You have no business here.”
    The other elf stepped closer, ignoring the warning growls from Kellam while his gaze fixed on Ava. She started to back away but straightened her spine instead. Something told her she was safe with Finn and his guard. “My nephew has forgotten his manners. I’m Quinn, the rightful King of the Morna.”
    Ah, the pieces connect. Ava narrowed her gaze on Quinn and opened her mind’s eye. His aura was a much darker green than Finn’s, with a layer of black closest to his body. Dark power . The words were a whisper in her mind.
    Without warning, Quinn thrust one hand toward Kellam, throwing the large bodyguard several yards into the forest. Ava gasped and flinched as Quinn gripped Finn by the neck. “I could kill you now.”
    No . Ava shook. Warm, electrifying energy flowed around her, fueling her fear that was now like a wildfire inside her. “Let him go.”
    She almost didn’t recognize her own voice. The heat within her grew, and her hands began to glow.
    A moment later, Quinn held up his hand and a dagger formed in it. Dread sliced through her. Before she could react, Quinn sank the blade into Finn’s stomach and released him. Finn fell to the ground, coughing. Ava’s heart hammered in her chest as she glanced from Finn’s still form to Quinn’s evil grin. “What did you do?”
    She ran to Finn but didn’t make it. Quinn grabbed her by the waist, tightly banded his arm around her, and held her back to his chest. His hot breath brushed against her cheek as he growled out, “Something I should have done a long time ago. Bow to your new King.”
    Oh, hell no. The earlier energy, or power, or whatever it was flowing around her intensified. The glowing beneath her skin turned blue, then took on an orange hue, like the color of flames. It wasn’t around her, but rather inside her. Confused and desperate, she welcomed the new power and used it to try to break Quinn’s hold on her. “Let. Me. Go.”
    As soon she grabbed his wrist and pushed at him, he cursed and let her go. She stumbled a few steps before regaining her balance and then rushed to Finn’s side. Relief filled her when she saw his chest rise and fall with shallow breaths.
    “Bitch!”
    Quinn’s snarl drew her attention up in time to see the elf storming toward them. She threw her hands up out of instinct, and an iridescent dome formed over her and Finn. What? Just then, Kellam barreled into Quinn. The men rolled on the ground, and then Quinn was gone, obviously teleporting away.
    Ava focused on Finn. He’d lost a lot of blood. “You’re not healing. Why?”
    “Not enough magick. Too weak.” He coughed again.
    She framed his face in her hands and stared into his green eyes. Compassion mixed with a familiar sense of belonging swam in her mind and heart. Even though she didn’t know Finn, she cared whether he lived or not. It was as if he died, so would she. Odd .
    “I don’t understand any of this,” she whispered before leaning down to kiss him.
    Warmth and magick surrounded them as their lips touched, soft at first. The energy within her lessened, and when she broke the kiss, she