Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,108

the mere fact that a Hecate witch had finally shown up to the party. They’d been gone far too long, abandoning us to the evil growing within the land. It was time to put up or shut up.

My one goal in life had always been to protect my baby sister, and I’d failed. Making my choice, I appeared in front of the palace. The guards raised their weapons until they caught sight of me.

“The high queen isn’t seeing her slaves today,” the guard snorted, spittle painting my face.

“Tell Ilsa that I know where Aria Hecate is, and who holds her.”

“There are no Hecate witches left within the land,” he snorted, his pig nose making gross noises while he looked down my body. “You smell nice, girl. Ever had a hog fuck you before?” he asked, and I swallowed bile, shaking my head.

“Tell the high queen that the King of Norvalla has Aria Hecate. Tell her I’m going in to get closer to Aria, and I’ll bring back her head. Tell the queen that when I come back, I hope she keeps our agreement to release my sister in exchange for the Hecate witch.”

“I’ll tell her, but I doubt she will care for your lies.”

“She’ll care because Aria Hecate just removed Lady Asil from power and took down an entire stronghold by herself. I know she felt it and will want to know immediately. She’ll probably reward the one who tells her greatly.”

The guards watched me, studying my lifeless eyes while they looked from me to where the interior gate was closing. Once the gate closed, it would seal for the entire night. Both of them rushed away at once, fighting amongst one another while they ran toward the high queen’s quarters, leaving the main entrance unguarded. The moment Ilsa discovered their failure, she’d slaughter them both.

Whistling, I started away from the palace. If Aria Hecate’s head was the price of Julia’s freedom, I’d pay it tenfold. Esme had searched for saviors endlessly, never finding one who could stand up against Ilsa and her power.

I doubted Aria Hecate was our newest hope, even if she’d done impossible things. Who said she was any better than Ilsa? We didn’t need to replace Ilsa. We needed a witch who didn’t care about the bloody throne.

We needed a witch who wanted to end the deaths of the innocent beings and would stand against all tyranny we’d faced in the last five hundred years.

That wasn’t a Hecate-born bloodline witch. They only hoped to rule over our kind without bothering to help. No, we needed someone strong enough to square off against evil, while never needing the darkness to fuel their light.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Aria

My fingers touched metal, and a violent shiver rushed through my body. The sound of men speaking in low muttered voices forced my eyes open, but my vision wouldn’t gain focus. My heart thumped rapidly against my chest, and sweat coated my palms.

My skin grew clammy, covering in goosebumps as the chilled air fanned against the sweat layering my body. A terrified scream began building deep in my throat at the memory of my last cage, where hands had pushed my legs apart, groping my body painfully.

I groaned, trying to escape their touch, escape the pain of them exploring my body roughly. The horrifying noise of their dark laughter caused my blood to turn to ice in my veins.

They held my mouth open, pushing something inside, even as my head shook to dispel the object as they shoved it deeper into the back of my throat, holding my mouth closed around it. Teeth pushed from my gums and howls of pain erupted as something slammed against my head. My body jolted as more pain assaulted me until finally, it abated all at once.

The sound of hooves moving over gravel filled my ears, and I yelled, a blood-curdling howl of fear mixed with remnants of pain. My vision blurred through the hot tears that pricked my eyes. I screamed and cried while my body convulsed.

Everything within me fought to live, fought to get out of the cell where death awaited me. Sobs rocked my chest. I begged for Garrett to stop hurting me, and for Amara to stop him.

The scream ripped from my throat, filling the cell as his inhuman cock aimed for my flesh. I sat up, pulling magic to me, and yet nothing came. My only defense was gone, just as it had been in the dungeon cell.

“Aria,” Knox’s deep, rich baritone filled