Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,144

others won’t wish to return to it either. I need your blade,” I whispered, turning to see his eyes narrowing on me. “Cut my palm then,” I offered, holding my hand out to him.

Knox hesitated, staring at the broken skin on my wrist before reaching into his scabbard, withdrawing his sword. Candles erupted around us, sealing the circle we stood within, and Knox glared at me in silent warning.

“It’s a protective barrier to guard us against attack since we’re exposed and vulnerable during casting, which I’m sure you’re aware. Don’t worry, King Karnavious. I’ll protect you from the monsters,” I smirked, watching his lips twitch as I offered to keep him safe.

“Aria, I am the fucking monster.”

Knox response sent a shiver rushing through me. Lifting his hand as an invitation for mine, I studied it with a frown of indecision. The moment we touched, sparks tingled, and the witches rose, causing us to turn toward them as they closed in around us. They chanted, their words were ancient and of the First Witch, Hecate. Swallowing hard, I shook my head against their words. Bitches be crazy if they thought I was marrying his ass at their altar!

“What are they saying?” Knox asked, sliding his stare to mine.

“Oh, you know, things like goodbye, and that they’re thankful we’re here,” I offered with a frown, sucking my bottom lip between my teeth while still shaking my head as he studied me with a smoldering look in his eyes.

“Are you planning to marry me on this altar, Aria?” he asked, causing me to sink my teeth into my lip as my eyes turned to slits. Warmth spread through me, and I ignored it, stifling a groan at what it meant.

“Absolutely not,” I whispered thickly, uncertain why saying it created an ache in my chest. I started to pull my hand away from his grasp, but he held it tightly. “You know the first language, don’t you?”

“I know everything about my enemies, Little Lamb. I make it my business to know every detail about someone before I declare war against them.”

I shivered as he brought his sword up, slicing carefully through my palm before releasing my hand. Moving to the altar, I made a fist and grunted as pain slid through me, and the magic grasped for me, uncaring that I was weakened from my last attack.

“Aria?” Knox whispered, standing closer to purr softly beside me.

“I’m fine,” I replied, counting the blood droplets before it began flowing too fast.

I swayed on my feet and relaxed against the body that stood behind me. Knox offered me silent strength, which I wasn’t sure he intended, and yet I still welcomed it all the same.

“You’re not fine. You’re already weakened from the beating, removing your rib, and then being stubborn to prove you’re not weak. You walked over twelve miles through a mountain pass to reach this village.”

“I made it here, didn’t I?” I asked irritably, weakening from the blood loss. “Something is wrong,” I admitted thickly, turning toward Knox as he grabbed my hand, holding it against his mouth to lick through the wound. “That was just wrong.” Knox gazed up at me with black eyes, his mouth opened to reveal serrated teeth as his head tilted, smiling wickedly.

“You taste fucking delicious.” He pulled me closer, brushing his lips against my throat. “Who hurt you? I will rip them inside out, and bring you their heart, mate.”

“Well, that escalated quickly.”

His lips curled against my neck, sending everything within me, screaming for him to continue. My hand lifted, holding his mouth to me as the chanting grew louder around us. My body heated, burning with the need for his claim.

“So willing for me, Little Mate?” he growled huskily.

His teeth brushed against my flesh, and I gasped, turning my mouth toward his as black eyes turned to blue, and Knox watched me. Anger slithered over my skin as he studied me, reacting to his creature.

“He’d destroy you, Aria. He’d savage your pretty little throat and drink your blood as you bled out in his arms. Remember that. Finish the fucking spell and stop acting like a…” he paused, and I stepped back from him shaking off the haze of lust his creature had sent me spiraling into.

“A whore?” I asked, glaring at him.

“Like a feral bitch in heat, because my creature is becoming harder to control where you are concerned,” Knox corrected. “I’d hate to wake up to you dead beneath me, soaked in your sweet tasting blood