Free Army Of The Winter Court (Skeleton Key) by Skeleton Key, Ali Winters Page A

had to be a dozen pillows layered against the headboard. A thick, fluffy comforter topped the mattress and she was willing to bet that if she lay down on top, she would sink into the blanket and it would surround her like a giant, cloud-like nest.
    The entire room was minimally decorated in shades of black and the darkest reds with silver flourishes accenting the room like a thin layer of frost. Every detail was perfectly arranged, making the room a beautiful piece of art.
    She crossed to the center of the bedroom and turned slowly to take it all in.  
    “This is… my room?”
    “Yes, I hope it is suitable for your needs,” he said.
    “This is more than I expected… I don’t need anything this big.”  
    “Think nothing of it. It was designed with you in mind.”
    Torn between being upset with him and amazed by the room, she turned to him and eyed him suspiciously.  
    “Why?”
    “What do you mean?” he asked with a tilt of his head.
    “I mean… why design this for me? Why bring me here? I don’t understand.”
    He stood, silent for a long moment, watching her until she shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny.
    “You should clean up and get some sleep. Everything you need is in this suite.”
    “Aurelian, tell me why I’m here,” Evvie demanded in a slow, even tone as she tried to push her anger back down.
    “Rest first.”
    “No,” she said firmly. “Tell me, now.”
    His jaw ticked as indecision darkened his features, then, dropping his gaze to the floor, he said, “Very well. The Unseelie King is dead and, by the Winter Solstice, a new Ruler must be crowned. You are the key to that decision and you must choose between my brother and me.”
    “Why can’t I just make that decision now and go home?”
    “It must be a fair decision because it will affect your future. You know me, but you do not know him.”
    “I don’t understand…”
    “There will be time enough to explain in more detail once you're fully recuperated,” he answered sharply, turning and striding out of the room before closing the door behind him with a soft click.
    Evvie blew out a puff of air in frustration.  
    I’m the key? What’s so special about me? Wait… he has a brother?  
    A million questions raced through her mind. Opening her palm, she examined the skeleton key in her hand. Why had Aurelian given this to her? He seemed to know a lot more about it than she did.
    She placed the black, glass key on the coffee table and crossed the room to the inner set of doors.
    Inside was a much smaller L-shaped room. Polished silver lined the wall just inside the doorway, serving as a mirror above a long counter with a sink. The reflection that greeted her was pale and ghostly in the cold, dim light of the room. Dark circles had formed under her eyes, making it look like she hadn’t slept in weeks. Placing her hands on the black granite counter, Evvie leaned forward. Her skin appeared almost translucent and she was gaunt—much thinner than she remembered. It was a wonder that she could even stand on her own with how sickly as she looked.
    She reached toward the sink to turn on the faucet and paused. It was a simple silver bowl with thick, black, thorny vines holding it into place and setting it into the counter. A large leaf curved from behind the basin, the center, a tall arch where a faucet would be in a standard sink. Touching the leaf with her fingertip produced a gentle stream of flowing water. Evvie placed her hands under the current and splashed the water over her face a few times, gently scrubbing. A quick glance at her face in the mirror told her it hadn’t helped, not that she’d expected a miracle cure. She tapped the leaf once more and the flow of water ebbed, slowly trickling to a halt.
    Shaking her head at the girl staring back at her with an unearthly gaze, Evvie followed the silver-tiled floor around the corner until she came to an oval, ground level tub which was large enough to be a small swimming pool.