Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,27

dream with Knox and our doppelgangers. My body was a mass of welts and bruises and a few cuts here and there. I’d survive the pain because whatever lived within me, she’d gone ten times harder against Knox, and we’d survived. A fist lifted, slamming against my nose, causing lights to explode in my vision.

I dropped my head back, laughing softly until it bubbled up in my chest, escaping louder until the witches stopped assaulting me. They stood quietly, watching what they assumed was a nervous breakdown unfolding.

“You thought you could pass by our land without offering tribute to us?” one witch snarled, and I turned my attention toward her, laughing harder at her narrowing glare.

“Couldn’t get past the crystals,” I admitted, letting the laughter subside.

“What are you talking about?” she demanded through blackened teeth, threatened to disintegrate if she ground them together too hard.

“I couldn’t get into the castle to murder you because your wards and protection spell prevented it. So, what’s a girl to do? I let you assume you’d captured me so I could gain entry,” I laughed, yanking on the rope that held me, inhaling the scent of fire as it burned the ropes that secured me to the ceiling.

I smiled coldly, watching the panic igniting within their eyes, and laughed soundlessly. These witches screwed up and walked me through the front door, and I was about to bring their house down on their fucking heads.

Chapter Nine

Black magic rushed toward me, but I sent it right back at them by simply lifting my hands. I stretched my arms, cracked my neck, and smiled at their horrified looks as my teeth slid free, along with razor-sharp claws. I watched the witches slowly backing away, prowling closer, I smiled coldly.

“Sometimes, you just have to play a damsel to create some distress. Anywho, you’ve been charged, judged, and I’m here to execute you all. Who wants to die first?” I asked, watching them tremble as the Hecate insignia glowed brightly on my forehead.

I studied the witches as they ran from me, dark magic sizzling around them as their panicked minds searched for an escape from the monster they’d brought in through the front gates. Their screams never escaped past their lips as my power rushed through them, shattering them, painting the walls in blood. The hallway emptied of living witches, and I smirked, heading toward the potion room, knowing what I needed was within.

Stepping through the entrance, I paused, letting my gaze slide over the potions brewing, sending steam billowing into the air. It smelled of lemongrass and sage, an enticing combination. Tiny round vials filled with glowing liquid piqued my interest. Lifting one bottle to my nose, I inhaled and frowned.

Still holding the bottle, I spun as a single witch entered the room, her dress flowing behind her. She lifted her hand to draw magic, but she wasn’t quick enough as mine held hers in check. I tossed the bottle at her, watching the horror play on her face as it slammed against her body. I ducked the moment it struck. The room shook with an explosion, forcing me to lift from my hiding place behind a table. I peered over it through the remainder of magic vials.

“Holy shit.” I watched as the witch continued staring at me with a horrified expression as her body melted.

I could see through her stomach to the rest of the wall still behind her. My attention slid from the dying witch to the pile of bottles next to me, carefully stepping further away from them. On the far shelf that lined the back wall were ancient tomes. I moved toward them, ignoring the witch behind me, as she slowly and silently got her goop on with the floor. Talk about a hot mess!

My fingers brushed over the leather spines of the books, and a smile played on my lips. I loved books and the scent of melting witch in the morning. Actually, the witch reeked, causing my eyes to water and my nose to wrinkle at the stench.

“Book of Potions?” I asked the witch, turning to find her head gone, and her organs slowly bubbling over her hips bones. “Bad day, huh?” I asked the room, frowning as I heard footsteps shuffling above me.

I had no idea how deep into the castle I was, but I could sense enough to realize I was underneath at least one or more floors from the ground level. The decay of earth was rife, and like