Unlocking Adeline (Skeleton Key) Read Online Free PDF Page B

find a Stepford bride elsewhere!” I turn to run, but he catches me. Pulling me to him, he lifts me up, my feet leaving the ground. I begin to scream, hitting him in rock hard chest while my dad sobs, begging for forgiveness. From me or Lockelan, I’m not sure.
    “Put me down, you big ol’ jerk!”
    “That I cannot do, princess. In winter’s light, for one god to unite, show me the portal of Wintesfill blight. ” I hear him chant a few more non-English words and with a blast of wind, a gust of color appears in the center of our living room. My mouth drops open as I become stone still at the vision before me. In front of my eyes, a tornado of iridescent appears like a blast in the solar system. Gaping at the color of fog coming together, I realize it is forming into a door.
    “What in the…” I exhale, unable to grasp what I am witnessing. He twists me around, giving me a little push. “Now go,” he demands pointing towards the door.
    Nope. “No way, man.” I am not going through that. Wake up, Addie. Wake up. This has to be a dream. I did not just witness a door magically appear in my living room, because that’s impossible. It’s when I am swiftly lifted off my feet and over Locke’s shoulders that I kick back into action. I begin jerking and banging on his back to let me down.
    “Aye, ye are. And if ye don’t stop kicking, the second we get home I am going to tie ye up and gag ye until ye learn to be a good little girl.”
    “You big ugly ogre, put me down! DAD!” I scream and scream and scream. The closer he gets to that glowing door, the more I panic. I’m struggling to breathe. I know if we walk through that opening, I am done for.
    “No! Please, take me! Take me, please!” My dad cries.
    “Dad! Let me go, you beast!” I yell, taking my fists and beating on his back, fighting to get free. Startling me, he quickly flips me upright, sliding my body down his hard frame. My feet are barely dangling off the ground as he brings our faces together. His warm breath hits my nose as I steady my vision to connect with his. Still in his tight hold, I make contact with his frightening, but strangely familiar, eyes. I’ve stared into these golden orbs a million times over. But how? Was it in my dreams? So many nights after I would lay my head down and lose my day to sleep, I would dream about a man. The one who would come for me. Every morning, when I woke, I would fight to keep the image with me but his face would fade, and so would the emotion that I felt when he came for me. An acknowledgment deep inside awakens in me. This cannot be real . I break our connection, trying to break from his clutch, back to struggling in his hold. His grip only strengthens.
    “That is yer last warning, sweet girl. My patience is running quite thin with ye.”
    “Well then, maybe you should let me go,” I say, trying to act brave. I bring my eyes back to his, silently begging the strange feeling inside me to go away.
    “Now why would I do that? I am becoming quite fond of yer fiery mouth and the way yer tight little arse keeps wiggling in my arms. There isn’t a chance now I would even think about letting ye go.”
    It’s then I notice he is right. Our bodies are pressed tightly together, and his heat is radiating into me. His chest feels tight. Pure muscle, I would imagine. He bends down so his lips are brushing my earlobe. “Ye are just making it better for me, princess,” he hums. My eyes close, the familiar scent of spice and leather assaulting my nostrils. Stop, Addie. I’m starting to scare myself. You don’t dream of someone, and then they show up in your house. I rip my eyes away from him, breaking our connection. I don’t do myself any favors though by staring at the beating pulse in his neck.
    “Enough ogling, it’s time to go.”
    With not a second to spare, he walks through the door.

Land of Wren, Lifetimes ago.
     
    I wake up with a start. My body flies upward, and the dizziness sends me straight