Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,172

that he’s impatient to tell us what he discovered. Any other questions, Lore?” Killian asked impatiently, his eyes daring him to speak more in front of the lord’s presence. “No? Then pack up as we’re leaving directly.”

When Killian said we were leaving directly, he meant it. Less than ten minutes later, we watched Lord Andres departing with his men, while we went in the opposite direction.

No one spoke as we rode the horses at a rapid pace into the dark, narrowing road that would take the army hours to navigate, which was why we were leaving them behind and heading out in front of them.

The ride through the countryside was silent, or it was until we approached a fork in the road covered in downed trees. Killian slowed the horse he and I rode on, holding me tighter as we stopped in the road.

“That is a problem,” he grunted, turning to peer down the other direction.

“It looks like someone placed that tree there,” I stated, and he tightened his hold on my chest painfully.

“We’re taking the alternate road into the pass,” Killian announced.

“That will add an hour to the ride,” Lore grumbled.

“We’ll cut through the forest and slice off the time we added. It’ll be midnight before we reach the woods, and the weeping willows will be asleep, right along with the flame-tailed foxes and miscreants that hide within it. It is, after all, the witching hour.”

We moved down the road at an easier gait, and I adjusted my rear in the saddle, causing Killian to tighten his hold. Anytime I moved even the subtlest motion, he would pull me closer against his enticing scent.

“Hold still, witch.”

“My ass hurts, not to mention other parts of me.”

“You keep moving against me like that, and this ride will take a very dark turn, woman. I’m fighting your scent, and everything within me wants to dominate you something fierce after you issued your little challenge, which was fucking stupid to do.”

“I don’t understand half the noises I make, Killian,” I admitted softly, feeling annoyed at being forced to endure his company for the trek to Knox. Killian seemed to deflate a little at that, realizing I really didn’t have any clue what sounds my beast made.

I also hated that I was excited to see Knox after being away from him for nearly three weeks. It bothered me more than anything, the butterflies at the idea of smelling his enticingly male scent that both calmed and soothed my unease like a balm against my soul. I also welcomed the thought of a full night of dreamless sleep, where the nightmares couldn’t touch me.

A thick fog slipped from the forest floor, flooding over the path. Killian slowed the horse, following the fog with his eyes into the dark forest. Growling erupted from the surrounding woods, gradually growing in volume.

We sat in the middle of the road, staring at the downed trees that once again blocked our path as shadows slipped from the forest, moving toward us.

Killian turned to Lore, speaking in the language they used when they didn’t want me to understand what they were saying.

All at once, Killian, Lore, and Greer dismounted with the other men in the group, closing in around the horse where I remained until Killian reached up, pulling me down beside him.

“One wrong move, Aria, and you’re dead. I won’t hesitate to end you. Do you understand me?” Killian warned with a low purr, enhancing his meaning. “Don’t give me an excuse, woman.”

“I understand.”

“You better pray that this isn’t a rescue party coming to get you.” He watched me, drawing his sword as he and the others formed a circle around me.

Power slithered through the area, enhanced by magic, sending it rushing toward us. My eyes moved to the source, finding a hooded figure standing deeply within the shadows, surrounded by red eyes.

A singsong voice echoed a chant, and the fog increased as giant dogs lunged toward us. Knox’s men all swung together in synchronized movements as they fought off the attack. An arrow shot from the woods, slicing through my arm as it grazed me.

Men rushed forward from the side of the road in an ambush, and I felt my nails sliding into place as Knox’s men moved apart, swinging their swords as the other men lunged, deftly attacking without fear.

I felt witchcraft in the air, the call to use my magic against the hooded woman as she watched me standing like a stick in the road, unable to