Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,134

and whom you will become will be because you chose her over this rage, trying to consume you. You are destined for her, as much as her destiny is to be yours. You can’t see it right now, but someday she’s going to walk in and knock you straight on your ass, and by the time you realize who she is, you won’t be able to walk away from her. Your attraction will be more intense than either of you will understand. You will fight hard against one another, tearing each other apart to reach the bare bones that you crave. Your laughter will be intense, as will the pain you will endure.”

“I don’t fucking want her, or that for myself. I love my wife.”

“Loved, as she’s dead, Knox,” Greer amended, unafraid to speak plainly or guard his words in my presence. If he had been anyone else, I’d have taken him to the courtyard for punishment. “The hardest part of losing someone isn’t saying goodbye. It’s learning how to live without them. You will not fill that void growing within you until your twin flame is born, and then you’ll become restless without ever knowing why. It will fuel you with the need to find her and claim her as yours. You will unleash this pain upon her because you won’t have healed by the time you find her. Her anger won’t stay long, but it will be sharp. She will have a warrior’s soul and a lover’s heart.”

“I have a mate,” I snarled, daring him to argue it again.

“So you did, and she was beautiful, and everything good in the world,” he stated, but there was a look of unease in his eyes as if he hadn’t thought so. “She was an amazing queen to her people and greatly loved you and your son, My King. At the end of the day, that is all that mattered.”

Killian stood in front of me when I opened my eyes, peering into eyes the same shade of blue as Liliana’s. Frowning, I exhaled as Greer exited the tent, turning to me with a tight smile. He nodded to a guard who slid into place at the front of the tent and moved toward me.

Greer didn’t speak because we didn’t need words. He did the same thing Aria did, speaking with his eyes; which was another thing I enjoyed about her. I didn’t need to tell her what I was thinking. She saw it playing out in my eyes in vivid, delicious details.

Greer, on the other hand, asked if I’d heard their conversation, and the quick nod of my head told him his answer. I didn’t drop my gaze, hating that he’d bring this shit back up now when Aria fit every fucking checkbox on my wish list.

I didn’t need to tell Greer that Aria wasn’t my twin flame.

He didn’t need to tell me to wake up and open my fucking eyes and see what was right in front of my face.

I didn’t need to tell him to suck a dick.

He didn’t need to tell me he would enjoy it immensely.

“Asshole,” I snorted.

“If you hurt her too much, you’ll lose her beyond anything you can repair. Don’t burn out that beautiful flame, because once it is out, that’s it. It’s gone forever.” Greer kicked a rock beneath his foot, which slammed into my knee, a sadistic smile playing on his lips while he tilted his head, shaking it. “You don’t fucking deserve her. She’s so much better than all of us. We’re all just too fucking jaded and fucked up to see it anymore.” He shook his head and moved toward the horses with the others, leaving me to retrieve Aria on my own.

I swallowed hard before entering the tent, stifling the wince that came at the sight of her swollen face and dented cheek that no amount of quick healing was going to fix.

“Not a fucking word, woman.” I moved to her, watching her slight flinch as I reached for the hood.

Ignoring her reaction, I pulled the hood over her head, hiding her identity while touching my mark that adorned her shoulder.

Frowning, I stepped back, turning on my heels to move out of the camp and past the high queen’s spies who continually watched our every move. We led Aria away from the war party she had engaged during her battles at several keeps she’d taken in the last couple of months.

Aria gasped, and my gut tightened, turning to watch her