by Renee George
“What are you doing?” someone said.
“She’s going to kill him,” another voice added.
“Let her work,” Keir said. “She is Tol’s best chance.”
More protesting ensued, but Emma ignored it as she carefully examined the wound. If there were holes, she thought, they needed to be plugged.
“Heal, damn it.”
Aerina’s voice entered her mind. Push your magic into his damaged skin and will it to health.
“Heal,” Emma said, this time with less frustration. The knitting bone tickled her finger as the expanding lung pushed out against the tip. She yanked her finger out of Toland’s chest and watched with a mixture of astonishment and horror as the muscle and skin closed until all that was left was a pale pink line where the dagger had entered.
Toland’s breath evened out, his pulse getting stronger by the second. “Keir,” he said weakly when he began to rouse.
“Easy, my friend. Rest for a moment.”
“Amile.” He shook his head. “She’s betrayed…”
“Shhh,” Keir said. “It’s over now.”
Emma watched Toland’s heartbroken brother gather his strength. “I’m sorry, Tol. I didn’t know. I swear it.” He looked at Keir. “Forgive me, Domiscin. I will accept the consequences for my mate’s action.”
Keir nodded then turned his attention back to Toland. “Let’s get you up. There is someone you should meet.” He looked at the two women. “Emma is my domiscina. Do you accept her authority as my own?”
Both women had sour expressions, but they nodded.
“I hate to spoil this kum-ba-ya moment, but I don’t think I can walk back to the cottage. I’m zapped.”
“I’m Mika,” one of the women said. “I’ll help you, so Keir can assist Toland.
Emma smiled. “Thanks, Mika.”
“How is it that you are wolfkind,” the other woman said. “And you can spell cast?”
“Leave her alone, Jaylinn,” Mika said.
“It’s a long story,” Emma said. “But one I’ll tell you if you help me up.”
The woman Jaylinn tapped her chin for a long moment of consideration then nodded. “I accept your terms.”
Emma resisted rolling her eyes. “I’m so glad.”
Chapter Fourteen
Emma watched Keir as he directed his people, no, she amended to herself, their people, to assemble in the cottage’s field. Rows of permanent homes were being built in and around the area. Finally, after six months of hard negotiations, the settlement was looking like a real town.
It took amazing savvy by both queen and alpha to broker peace between the two races. Emma was living proof that biologically they all came from the same maker. She mused that it was the reason the children of both were not much different from normal humans before puberty.
“Friends, kinsmen, welcome to Wallen Valley,” Keir said. Emma's chest warmed every time she heard the new town’s name. It had been her father’s secret place to meet with the love of his life. She’d been born here. It made sense to name the place for him.
“Today,” Keir continued, projecting his voice out to the crowd. “We are here to commemorate a new beginning. One where witches…”
There were a few boos in the group, but mostly, the wolf clans kept respectably quiet.
“….and wolfkind.”
The witches remained silent.
“This land has been granted to us as a good faith gesture by Queen Aerina Lockside. It will be a new beginning for both our people. We no longer have keep moving our families to stay one step ahead of death.”
Cheers rose up from the gathering.
“Aerina has promised that no witch will come into Wallen Valley without permission until a lasting trust has been built. I know it will take a long time to overcome prejudice. Many of you have lost family to the war. On both sides,” he added. “But the reasons for this war no longer exist. Let us celebrate as we usher in a new century. One where we can teach our children to farm not fight. To thrive not merely survive. To love,” he said at last. “Not to hate. Let this be our legacy. A better world for our children.”
The witches and wolves shouted it back, “A better world for our children,” their voices echoing throughout Wallen Valley.
She rubbed her swollen belly. “You hear that, little one. Daddy is making the world better for you.” Emma had grown to love the area. Its heavy growth of witchvine made it a perfect safe haven for the wolfkind. Although, because she was Aerina and Wallen’s daughter, it didn’t stop her magic. “So nobody better get out of line,” she told the baby.
“Are you talking to yourself again, cousin?” Toland sat next to her on the porch.
Emma smiled fondly. She’d never had blood relatives before, but now she had two. Her mom and Toland. Her father had been his uncle. His and Thadeus’s. She still felt guilt over Toland and Keir’s loss of a brother. Thankfully, he’d only been exiled and not killed for his mate’s treason. Still, he’d have to spend the rest of his life alone with a woman who betrayed her own kind.
Amile had been in contact with a guy named Renald. They’d agreed that if Renald killed Toland and Keir, she would give them information about the tribe’s movements. When Thadeus had found out that she’d meant to kill his twin brother, it had been too much for him to forgive. On earth, he could have just divorced her and moved on, but in this world, a mating was permanent.
“Emma,” Toland said, snapping her from her reverie.
She glanced at him and grinned. She patted her stomach. “The baby likes it when I talk to him.”
“Him?”
Emma shrugged. “Maybe.” Her psychic powers had given her insight to the pregnancy, but Keir wanted to be surprised. “I’m thinking Wallen Luer D’San. What do you think of the name?”
Tol smiled. “It’s perfect.”
“Speaking of perfect,” Emma segued. “How is your mate? Will he be joining us soon?” Emma had grown to love both Toland and Lis. They’d had a double mating ceremony with Emma and Keir. And in that, he’d kept his promise to Keir that he’d mate when his friend did.
“Lis is excited. Your knowledge of medicine, even beyond what your magic can do, has made his life an adventure. He’s found an area full of the lavender. I can’t believe it works on headaches.”
Emma couldn’t believe she’d actually remembered that tidbit. One of Mike’s girlfriends had been seriously into holistic medicines. She missed Mike, but not as much as she thought she would. Her other medical knowledge consisted of things she’d learned while watching bad medical dramas on television. She didn’t miss that as much as she’d thought she would either, though maybe a bit more than Mike.
Every once in a while, she’d zap a charge into her phone and look at pictures. They were mostly blueprints of the Lucinda Mowry’s home, but some weren’t. Like the picture she’d taken of the St. Louis Arch. The expression on Keir’s face when he’d seen how tiny the people were standing next to the structure had cracked Emma up. She had a feeling he was plotting to build his own monstrous monument.
Keir sat down on the other side of her. “Well, that went well,” he said.
Emma kissed him. “You were awesome.”
“I was bad ask,” he replied.
“Bad ass,” Emma corrected. She’d explained “awesome” to Keir, along with some other slang… that he constantly got wrong. She suspected he did it on purpose just to yank her chain. “And you definitely are all that and a box of chocolate.”
“How are you feeling, love? You look tired.”
“I’m six months preggers, so tired is about right.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she snuggled into his warmth. God, he smelled good.
“Do you want to go lie down?”
She glanced up at him, his golden eyes catching the sun’s rays in a spectacular fashion. She wiggled her brows. “I’d like to go to bed, but not to sleep.” She didn’t know about other pregnant women, but damn, after
the first trimester of morning, noon, and night vomiting, she’d turned into morning, noon, and night horny.
Keir laughed.
Toland stood up. “That’s my cue to leave.”
“See ya, cuz,” Emma said without taking her eyes off her delicious man. “Well?”
“I love you, Emma.”
“Is that a yes?”
He grinned. “I’m always a yes.” He bundled her up in his arms, easily lifting her from the porch. “I never thought I’d be this happy,” he told her.
Emma looped her hands behind his neck. “You’re are my home, Keir. As long as I have you, I won’t ever want for anything more.”
He kissed her. His lips melding sweetly to Emma’s as he carried her into the cottage.
Thank you, Aerina, Emma thought. Thank you for saving me for him.
She didn’t expect a reply but wasn’t surprised when Aerina said, You’re welcome, my daughter. Live and love. That is all I’ve ever wished for you.
As Emma stared at the wickedly naughty expression on her husband’s face as he dropped her pants, his erection springing forward like a divining rod detecting gold, Emma nodded, her throat tight with lust.
“Wish granted,” she said. “Totally.”
The End
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my Skeleton Key novella!
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About the Author
Renee George is a USA Today Bestselling author of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, erotic romance, contemporary romance, and romantic comedies that highlight varying themes. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, man-child son, two sweet dogs, and a senile cat.
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