Free Magical Acts: (Skeleton Key) by Michele Bardsley, Skeleton Key Page B

in deep breaths, anticipation rippling through her. They were frantic, starved. Her orgasm burst suddenly, erratically—undulating sensations that seemed connected to every nerve in her body.
    Auron’s fingers dug into her skin, and he gave a final, deep thrust. He groaned as he found his release.
    A moment passed before he separated from her. Then he fell next to her and gathered her into his arms. He kissed her forehead. “I look forward to a lifetime with you, Natalie.”
    “The hell you will.”

Chapter 9
    R in stood in the bedroom , a wizened crone, eyes blazing. “You will not have happiness, Auron.” She pointed an arthritic finger at the couple.
    Natalie would not let the bitch harm Auron ever again. Before he could stop her, Natalie dove off the bed and knocked Rin off her feet.
    She may have looked old, but she was spry. She rolled Natalie onto her back and squeezed at her neck.
    Auron grabbed Rin by the shoulders and pulled her off. He held her by the hair with one hand, and in the other, he conjured a blade made from blue crystal.
    Rin cackled. “Harm none,” she cried triumphantly. “No mage may kill. Or you break the laws of the Goddess.”
    Auron’s hand trembled, his furious gaze on the woman who’d brought so much pain and sorrow into their lives. Natalie knew he was contemplating slashing her throat anyway, but she couldn’t let him do it.
    She grabbed his arm and pulled the blade from it.
    Rin’s black gaze held arrogance and hatred. “Harm none,” she repeated gleefully.
    “Guess what, bitch?” Natalie plunged the blade into the hag’s black heart. “I’m not a mage.”
    Rin’s eyes widened, and blood began to pour from her wound. But she pointed a trembling finger at Natalie and released a black cloud of awful magic.
    “Natalie!”
    Rin fell to the floor, dead. Natalie dropped the blade, her terrified gaze on Auron. He tried to reach for her through the magic, but he could not break through.
    “Auron,” she screamed. “Auron!”

    * * *
    N atalie bolted upright , dropping her tablet onto the floor. Confused, she looked around.
    I’m home?
    Had she experienced a vivid dream?
    Or had she truly been transported into another world?
    She grabbed the tablet and swiped it open.
    No book.
    She looked in her downloads, in her cloud, and in her backup book files.
    Magical Acts had disappeared.
    An ache welled in her chest, and she pressed her fist to her mouth. Tears fell.
    She would never see Auron again.

    * * *
    T he next day , Natalie returned to the shopping district and hurried to the place called Strange Magic. She needed to buy another key. Tara must surely have more than one. It was the only way to get back to her love. She believed now. She believed with all her heart that she’d been transported to the Barrows and had fallen in love with a mage.
    And she wanted him back, damn it.
    Strange Magic was gone.
    Not an empty, abandoned storefront.
    No, it was like the place never existed.
    She sucked in a shuddering breath. No book. No key. No hope.

    * * *
    N atalie wore a black miniskirt with no stockings and black stilettos. Even her underwear and bra were new, black lace thongs and a barely-there bra. She’d taken a spa day with Eliana, even agreeing to a spray tan, and she felt utterly pampered by the time they’d slipped into their party clothes.
    But her heart still ached for Auron.
    She didn’t want to be here, but she’d promised Elaina.
    Hot Pepper was packed with people drinking, dancing, and groping. She’d gone to the VIP room and stepped onto the balcony for some fresh air. She was alone, thank goodness. The party scene wasn’t really for her.
    “Natalie.”
    She turned and found herself looking at Tara. The woman wore a black sheath dress and high-heeled boots. Her hair was piled in ringlets on top of her head. Her amber eyes gleamed and still had that amazing gold tint.
    “Hi,” said Natalie, incredulous that Tara was standing less than a foot away. Was that a