Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,126

I had to stand back up, and when I did, I refused to face him. My head hung in defeat, and my body screamed in agony as blood dripped from my face, staining the already soiled dress even more.

“Look at me, witch,” he demanded, and slowly, I turned to face him, watching as his eyes widened in shock at what he found. “What the fuck?” he whispered, staring at the multitude of damage done to my face. “Brander, now!” he shouted, and no sooner had he called for his brother, Brander entered with Lore, Greer, and Killian on his heels.

Every one of them stopped dead in their tracks the moment they caught sight of my damaged face. I could feel it swelling, and knew that Knox had added little to the damage, since he’d pulled back before striking me, yet his anger was what I had wanted. I wanted him to hurt and feel rage like I did for what was happening outside the tent.

“Gods damn. What the fuck, Knox?” Brander whispered, slowly stepping closer to where I stood.

“I barely fucking touched her,” Knox stated, still staring at my injuries in horrified shock.

My arm hung limply at my side, dislocated from the warrior’s kicks and Knox dragging me behind him during his rage. My face steadily poured blood from my nose and mouth. I could feel the gash in my lip, and multiple lumps forming on my body as Brander moved to stand in front of me, silently gazing at the damage while trying to figure out what part of my body to address first.

They waited for hysterics, which didn’t come. It was internal. Fear ripped through me as I realized I could actually fucking die here. I swayed on my feet, staring through them as Brander shook his head.

“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me she was hurt, Greer?” Knox snarled, turning his anger on Greer.

“With all due respect, My King, you refused to hear me. One of your warriors attacked Aria for assaulting Bekkah. She took quite the beating from him before I shielded her with my body to prevent even more injury to her person. So, to answer your fucking question, you weren’t hearing me when I told you to stop, adding to her injuries by dragging her through camp.”

Knox swallowed audibly, dragging his hand over his mouth before turning to look at me again. “Brander, do something.”

“It’s too much fucking damage to heal on my own,” he stated, lifting his finger to my chin, staring at my injuries. “He crushed her cheekbone and shattered her nose. The veins in her eyes have ruptured, and her arm is dislocated or it’s broken. That’s just what I can see without knowing her internal damage. I’d need to see her undressed to know about her other injuries. Judging by her shallow breathing, there’s something else going on with her lungs we’re not seeing.”

“Maybe give her some privacy?” Greer asked, but my claws extended, and I used my good arm to drag the dislocated one to the lace strap, severing it and the other tie to let the dress drop to the ground. “Or not. Peasant, we can allow you your dignity.”

“I’m a prisoner, not a fucking guest,” I stated, wheezing the words out as Brander hissed, staring at the rib pushing through the skin beneath my breast at an odd angle.

“That’s not good,” Brander groaned, lowering his hand to touch the taut skin. “Lore, grab my med-kit. We need to heal her enough to get her to the village up the mountain. There’s a healing pool there,” he stated, turning as Knox exhaled, glaring at Brander for even considering using a magical healing pool.

I stared down at the rib protruding from my flesh, pressing against my lung. Using my nail, I sliced through the skin while everyone else stared away from the sight of my naked body, trying to decide how to heal me correctly.

I slid my fingers in around the offending rib bone, gathering my strength before I snapped it off. Crying out, Brander turned around, his mouth falling open as he watched the bone slip through my bloody hand to land on the ground. I grabbed my limp arm, pushing it up forcefully. I ground my teeth together. Screaming past the tears as it burned and ached, popping back into the joint.

Everyone stood, silently gawking at me. I walked carefully to the brazier and grabbed a lump of burning coal with my bare hand, pressing it against