by Kate Sparkes
“The key returns with you,” I said. “It’s not safe otherwise.”
Zinian let out a long breath. “I know that’s the right thing,” he said. “But it’s not what I wanted to hear.”
“I’m not finished. I just need a minute to think.”
I had come back to Fairbrook out of a sense of duty, giving up my own vague dreams and hazy plans because I couldn’t think of anything better to do with my life. And maybe things would be better now if I stayed. But there was another world open to me. Life in Elurien wouldn’t be easy for a human, especially one in love with an amalgus. But it would be a life that was worth something. In a world that was busy reinventing itself I could do the same, carving out a position in the city, preserving history and then completing it by recording the other side of the story.
I looked up at Zinian, who watched me with patient expectation. For the first time in my life, I knew what I wanted. No hesitation. No fear.
I stepped closer and placed a hand on his chest. I let my fingers slide over his warm, smooth skin and around his waist, and pulled him to me. “I want you, more than anything,” I said. “If you’re not too embarrassed to be seen with a human in Elurien, that is. The key returns with you, but so do I.”
His smile sent warmth radiating through my chest that was almost painful in its intensity. Maybe we’d face opposition, but we’d change their minds. One at a time if we had to.
“Where will we live?” I asked. “I can’t abandon the library, and I’ve got some ideas for helping out in the city. But you—”
He brushed my hair back and kissed my forehead. “I’m free now. I’ll brave the city. I can endure it with you by my side. But perhaps, when you’re not too busy, you can see the rest of the world with me.”
“Deal.” I pulled him into a long, deep kiss and ran my nails over his back from wings to waist. He shivered. “But let’s not make it a plan. Let’s just see what happens.”
We walked through the park together, passing under the crisscrossed shadows of nearly bare branches, and I drank in the beauty of my world for the last time. Leaving it would hurt, but I was ready to let go and leap.
I had other places to be.
* * *
Late that night, we followed Jaid to the utility shed in the park. The door had been transformed from a dull metal thing with flaking green paint into an ornate wooden door covered in carvings of birds. I traced my fingers over its surface and tried the purple glass knob.
Locked.
Excitement filled me until I thought it might lift me off the ground. This is it.
“Everyone ready?” Zinian asked.
“I was ready before we got here,” Jaid said.
Auphel grunted. “I’ll still stay at the library?”
Zinian smiled up at her. “I’ll see to it that you’ll do as you please. You’ve won your freedom. No more fighting.”
“And no Kringus?”
“And no Kringus,” he agreed, and reached for my hand. “You’re sure about this?”
I grinned back at him. For once, I didn’t feel like I needed a lucky charm to get me through. I had everything I needed right there with me.
“Absolutely,” I said.
He slipped the key into the lock and turned it. The door swung inward, revealing a dark and foreboding space beyond.
“Ready to fall?” Auphel asked.
I grabbed onto her hand and Zinian’s, and he took Jaid’s.
“No,” I said, and squeezed Zinian’s fingers tight. “I’m ready to fly.”
Hands in claws, we stepped through the door.
~The End~
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my Skeleton Key novella!
All reviews are appreciated.
If you would like to read more from the Skeleton Key series, please click on the link below:
Skeleton Key Website
About the Author
Kate Sparkes lives on the magical island of Newfoundland, where she’s always checking wardrobes, locked doors, and interesting caves to see whether they lead to new worlds. She passes the rest of her time hanging out with her family, reading, walking her dogs, and writing fiction that lets her come very close to escaping reality.
She likes sending treats to newsletter subscribers, so be sure to sign up for bonus content, sneak peeks, advance review copies, news about future books, contests, and more! Visit www.katesparkes.com for details.
Find Kate here:
@kate_sparkes
katesparkesauthor
www.katesparkes.com
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Also by Kate Sparkes
The Bound Trilogy
Bound
Torn
Sworn
Bound Trilogy Prequels
At Any Cost
The Binding (available exclusively to newsletter subscribers)
Acknowledgments
Can I just thank everyone? No? Okay.
The first big thank yous go to Scarlett Dawn for organizing this amazing book series, and Anthea Sharp for suggesting that I should be a part of it. Without these wonderful writers I never would have met Hazel, Zinian, or Auphel, and I think that would have left my life incomplete.
Next, to the first people who read this story for me and offered reactions: Krista Walsh, Shannon Andrews, and Kathy Dunlavey. Your enthusiasm and suggestions were so helpful. And my beta readers, Stephanie L. Young, Laura Kammerman, Justine Blaber, and Melissa Werbowsky were all so helpful in catching those post-editing glitches. Thank you.
To my editor, Sue Archer, thank you for fitting this one into your schedule and doing such a thorough, thoughtful job on edits. I know the word count limit probably made it tough, but you helped so much.
To my cover designer, Jennifer Munswami, thank you for the gorgeous cover art and for your boundless patience.
To my family, thanks for listening to me blabber on about monsters and edits and deadlines, and for letting me get ‘er done.
And to my readers… my wonderful, amazing, mind-blowingly enthusiastic readers… thank you for being here, for reading my work and becoming a part of it, for spreading the word about books you love, and for leaving the reviews that are so important to a book’s survival in the wilds of book retailers everywhere. You’re so incredibly important and appreciated. May every door you open lead to magic and adventure.
-Kate
