Curse of the Undead Dragon King (Skeleton Key) Read Free

leading to the blanket I asked Belen to make sure was set out, along with a basket of food, mostly Zanta’s favorite sweets such as chocolate-covered strawberries.
    “That felt wonderful. And all of this . . .” She waves her arms, spinning around to take in the surroundings. “Is absolutely beautiful!” She turns to me, her smile wide and contagious. “Thank you!” She jumps into my arms.
    “You’re welcome,” I say directly in her ear.
    “How did you set this all up?” She kisses me on the lips before lowering her feet to the ground and stepping back, taking in the whole scene.
    “I had a little help.” I grab Zanta’s hand, leading her toward a small clearing on the other side of our picnic, away from the cliff’s edge where Father and I sat, instead going in the opposite direction to somewhere more peaceful, where water cascades down the rock, passing over the arch, creating the perfect waterfall. I lead her through it to the other side where forest surrounds us.
    “And what is the occasion?” She brushes stray hair away from my eyes.
    “I have to ask you something, love.” I fall to one knee.
    Zanta gasps, her hands going to her face as she covers her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.   I slip the ring from my pocket and hold it out to her. “Be my wife. Please?”
    “Yes. Absolutely!” She beams down at me, tears of joy spilling over her cheeks.
    Before I can stand, she falls to her knees and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. Our lips meet and I embrace her, holding her close, never wanting to let go.
    Finally, we break apart. “Thank you,” I whisper, staring into her eyes.
    “For what?” she asks.
    “Everything.”
    “You’re welcome.” She bumps her shoulder against mine.
    “Shall we dine, my soon-to-be queen?” I can’t wait for the moment when there will be no need to clarify ‘soon-to-be’.
    But she stops moving, just looking at me with concern. “Queen?” she asks hesitantly.
    “One day I will be king. Perhaps sooner than I’d like.” I look at the ground, not wanting her to see the pain in my eyes.
    But being so observant, smart, always understanding, she acts as if nothing happened, like there isn’t a care in the world, returning to her happy self. Playing along and letting me forget my foolish slip of the tongue. 
    “Yes, my love. Let us dine.”
    She takes my hand and pulls me after her as she rushes through the waterfall to the basket, where she situates herself on the blanket, leaning her head on my shoulder, and proceeds to fill a plate with desserts.
    “As is tradition, tomorrow we travel to Fabulum, so it would be wise that we retire early tonight.” Not that I want to. But as every king and queen before us, upon getting engaged, we are to travel from kingdom to kingdom to announce our union, invite those we wish to, and celebrate in each royal family’s customs. Starting with the fairies.
    Her eyes widen. “We’re visiting Fabulum?” Her voice fills with excitement.
    “Yes. And then Miraunus. And after that, Seroceanus.”
    “Could this day get any better?” She laughs.
    I pretend to be bothered. “Truly, that is what you’re most excited about? If I wasn’t so sure of your love, I’d almost wonder if you were using me for the benefits of traveling.”
    She bops my nose with her strawberry. “But you are sure,” she says with a smile.

 
     
     
     
     
    “BEFORE ALLIANCES WERE made as the kingdoms formed, dragons would slaughter their enemies. No mercy, and never fighting in human form. It was easy to conquer when your enemies were –though human size – at least ten times smaller. When fairy and dragon-human shifters formed a friendship and began working together, a promise was made that should we enter Fabulum, we will only do so as humans, as friends, because in our other forms, we are seen as enemies.” Aurelio looks down at his hands, fidgeting as he explains why we must travel by carriage rather than flying to