Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,102

stones on either side of us, sending more rocks down the mountain in an avalanche of deadly debris that crashed loudly against the ground below.

I shivered against the realization that I may very well die before we made it to the top. Purring started, and I realized in embarrassment that I was crying and choking Knox out as he held me tightly beneath him.

He’d used his body to shield me from the rocks and was now fighting to calm my fears. My lips brushed against his softly, thanking him for understanding that I was losing my shit.

After a few more moments had passed, he stepped back, jumping to the next tier of rocks, and then the next. He climbed as if created to do this from birth.

Every time we’d catch up to the others, he’d pause again, purring softly as he noted my reaction. His purr was a sedative, calming everything within me. I purred in response, replicating his.

Knox jumped to the next rock, and I screamed as it gave way, sending us crashing down the cliffside. I held onto to him tightly, while he reached blindly for anything to stop our fall. Shouting sounded from above, and I breathed him in, remaining perfectly still as he fought to save us from death.

His legs hit something solid, and he pushed up, forcing me back against a jagged rock that bit into my flesh. Pain coursed through me, and I gasped as he cradled me, turning us so I wouldn’t crash into the rocks.

“Aria,” he whispered, using his fingers to lift my chin to see my face, which I’d buried against his chest. His purr sounded again, filling my body and calming my racing nerves and pounding heartbeat echoing in my ears.

“I’m okay,” I admitted, ignoring the pain in my side.

After a moment of catching his breath, Knox stared upward and then back at me. “Hold on tight. I’m getting us the fuck up this cliff before it ends both our lives.”

Knox didn’t wait to see if I did as he’d asked. His muscles bunched, and his scent increased until I could not stop myself from rubbing against him, heat blooming in my cheeks. If he noticed, he kept it and his taunts to himself until finally, Brander helped us up the climb’s last crest.

“She’s bleeding,” Brander pointed out, touching my side. I jolted and tightened my hold against Knox’s throat, which didn’t go unnoticed.

“You’re safe, Little Monster,” Knox hissed. I noted his men behind him, watching cautiously as Brander sliced through the rope holding me to him.

“The rock scratched up your back, but it’s nothing that won’t heal on its own,” a warrior stated, glaring at me. I lowered my legs to stand on firm ground. “There’s a trail ahead. Luckily, it’s not as lethal as the last.”

“Walk, woman,” Knox demanded, ignoring Brander, who stared at the blood painting my dress. “Run ahead, Brander. Have our men ready to move when we reach them. It’s time to leave this cesspool and head toward the mountains. Have Aria’s cage readied as well.”

A cage? I turned, glaring at him as he smiled.

“Don’t worry. If you’re a good girl, I’ll take you out often and play with you.”

Knox’s men laughed as angry tears pricked my eyes. I glared at him, his eyes narrowing on me as if he didn’t like the flash of pain he saw. Dismissing him, I walked past, uncaring that my sensitive feet were sore and that every inch of my body ached in pain and need.

The sooner we reached Norvalla, the sooner I’d be able to put distance between us again. This man made my brain turn to mush, and everything within me wanted him, except, well, me. One minute I wanted to rip off his cock, and the next, I wanted to ride it.

I couldn’t make my creature realize the error of belonging to Knox, or that he didn’t really want me other than for what I was and what I could do for him. I was his weapon, one he intended to use against my people. And for the moment, I was helpless to do anything since he had placed magic nulling cuffs on me. On top of that, I’d expelled the magic I held to save my family from ending up beside me in cages.

Chapter Thirty-Four

I started up the narrow trail that followed the river, leading us back to the castle. I pushed past Knox, who insisted that I move faster, his men grunting in agreement.