Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,125
to see a fist flying toward my face.
Pain ripped through me as the warrior continued his attack, slamming his other fist into the side of my face as the world spun around me. I blinked stars as pain so brutal and debilitating smashed into my head with each punch he landed.
I dropped to my knees, sucking in air as he kicked my stomach, continuing the assault as I fell to the ground, curling into the fetal position. He savaged me, hissing and grunting as he continued landing blows to my body.
If the warrior spoke, I couldn’t hear him over the blood pounding in my ears. It wasn’t until something slammed into him and then turned to cover my body that I cried out in pain, closing my eyes as some semblance of protection was offered.
“She’s not to be touched, by the king’s orders!” Greer shouted.
“Fuck that! She needs to learn a lesson!” the warrior snarled.
I didn’t move, gasping and wheezing for air as Greer shielded my body. Blood dripped from my face, and I didn’t need a mirror to know he had savagely beaten me within an inch of my life. I tensed as heavy footfalls sounded, and Greer lifted from where he’d used his body as a shield to protect me.
“Who fucking started it?” Knox’s angry tone echoed through my head.
“The bitch on the ground, Sire,” one warrior answered.
Knox grabbed the chain on my arm, dragging me to my feet. He growled, forcing me to run or be dragged behind him as everyone watched. Knox never looked back at me, causing my aching body to move without choice.
Greer rushed after us, staring at me with wide, horrified eyes as Knox hauled me behind him.
“Knox, stop!” Greer demanded.
“Not now, Greer,” Knox snarled in warning.
“My King, you need to stop!”
“Go handle the other rabid bitch, Greer,” Knox warned, pushing me into the tent before he spun around to deal with Greer. “Not another fucking word about Aria, or you can join her in her punishment.”
I pushed off the floor and crawled onto my knees. I didn’t move from where I’d landed, unable to keep my balance, staring at the tent that spun in my vision. Warmth spread down my face, and I noticed the cuffs had cut into my arms when I’d fallen.
My ribs burned, aching to the point of feeling as if they were in danger of pushing through my flesh. Breathing had become increasingly difficult past the swelling in my face, and my lungs refused to expand fully.
“What the hell was that about, Aria?” Knox demanded, and I shook my head, sending black dots swimming in my vision. “Fucking answer me, woman,” he ordered coldly from behind me.
“They’re children, and you’re allowing your men and your witches to hurt them,” I whispered, still staring away from him. “They’re just babies.”
“They’re witches,” he snorted, dismissing their worth or concern for their safety.
“Oh, my bad! I forgot that’s what makes them not worth caring about their mistreatment. What would your wife say about your whores? How would she feel about the abuse of women and children you allow within your camp, at the hands of your men?” I demanded coldly, wanting to hurt him as much as me.
“Careful, Aria,” he warned, barely above a whisper.
“How would your son feel about you allowing your men to harm children for their enjoyment? Do you allow them to rape the children as well? Does it make you feel better to know they’re hurting?”
“That’s enough. You don’t want to go there,” Knox hissed, and his rattle started low in warning as anger pulsated through the tent, stifling the air.
“What would they think about you now? Would they be proud of the man you’ve become, fueled by your grief? Or would they hate you as much as I do for how you treat other beings?”
“Aria, shut the fuck up now!”
“That’s right. Your wife and your son wouldn’t think anything because they’re fucking dead!” I snarled, turning around as his hand landed against my cheek, sending my body spinning to the ground once more.
Gasping, I blinked past the pain in my face while blood poured from my nose and mouth, covering the carpet of the tent. My shoulder sent pain echoing through my body. I inhaled, unable to do more than gasp for air.
I felt his stare burning into my spine. I gulped greedily for air, unable to get enough into my lungs past the pain ripping through me.