Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,170

unless you plan to earn your way on your back.”

“I heard the king has a thing for witches,” I snorted, moving to one of the brewing potions, cupping my hands to bring the smoke to my nose.

“Not since he brought the Hecate witch to camp, he hasn’t. Heck, even before then, he stopped taking them to his bed.”

I paused, turning to look at her. “So he’s bewitched by her?”

She scoffed and grunted. “No, just today she was beaten by the guards. She attacked another witch who was hurting one of the witchlings. I say she did what we all wanted to do to Bekkah for a long time. Goddess bless her. Aria gave her an ass-whopping she won’t soon forget. She might even think twice before beating another witchling within the camp.”

I turned that over in my head, frowning at the idea of Aria accepting a beating to protect a witchling.

“Was she fond of the witchling?” I asked snooping.

“Had never clapped eyes on her until she watched the poor thing hit by Bekkah for not casting, or so they say,” Maize stated, shrugging. “I don’t heed rumors. But she hadn’t been here more than a day before she defended the chit. Couldn’t have known her for long enough to care if she lived or died.”

“And the king allowed it?” I asked, watching her eyes growing sad.

“That he did, and we have not seen her since.”

“I just saw her entering the tent. She couldn’t have been hurt that badly,” I stated, and watched her shaking her head.

“She had blood pouring from her face and a lame arm that hung in her chains. Bekkah made certain everyone knew how badly they had beaten Aria. If she wasn’t bad off now, it’s because the king took her up to the village with the healing pools.”

Why would he care if she were hurt? Why take her to the village unless he cared? The king was notorious for bedding witches, uncaring if he harmed them in his playtime.

Why stay with only her? Better yet, had she felt the power hidden within the caves? If so, was that the loss of power I’d felt? If Aria was strong enough to free those souls, she might just be strong enough to face Ilsa.

Not that it mattered. Nothing mattered except getting Julia out of the Kingdom of Vãkya and away from Ilsa. I couldn’t trust someone I hadn’t met.

I wouldn’t play games with my sister’s life. Not even for a Hecate-born witch, especially not one who was dumb enough to sleep with the opposing side’s king. If Ilsa’s message was right, then Aria would be dead soon enough, anyway.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Aria

I stared off into the early morning skies, recalling Knox’s loathing look as he rode out of the camp. He had left before the sun rose two weeks ago, leaving me with Lore, Killian, and Greer. I’d spent most of the first morning stuck inside my head, trying to ignore the pang of unease and regret that I’d felt.

Knox wasn’t happy since I’d refused to discuss the other male in the cavern, but I was still pissed at his caveman antics, bringing me to an orgasm as the other Aden had watched. It may have made total sense to Knox to lay claim and put on the alpha display, but that didn’t mean I was happy about it.

I’d slept that first night, cuddled in the furs that held Knox’s scent, bathed in their warmth as my mind rushed with what had happened in the cavern. How had I ever thought the sliver-haired men were trying to protect me?

They’d set me up to battle against a female like me, but older. They hadn’t cared if I survived, which meant they were no better than Knox, or anyone else for that matter. No one around me cared about me, which sucked. I’d gotten so used to thinking of myself as a tool to be used that I’d stopped seeing that I was worth anything more.

On the second week away from Knox, I’d started to wish for his return. It was one thing to be here with him, and another to be among his people watching me with unguarded hatred burning in their stares without him to protect me.

I also missed him being near to keep the nightmares at bay, which seemed to reoccur nightly without him. The warmth of him against me as I slept was something I’d enjoyed. That also bothered me.

Then there was Lord Andres, who seemed to watch