would have prevented a normal witch from casting or holding a spell, but it didn’t stop me.
The creature narrowed his eyes as he brought my hands to his face, slowly studying them. He pulled me against him, claiming my lips in a sinful kiss, producing a moan that escaped me. When he pulled back, his eyes slid from the castle to the men, still floating in the air.
“You’re not of Hecate, Aria. You’re of them. You’re… very special. Your father must be very proud of the little monster he helped create, isn’t he?”
“I don’t know who my father is,” I admitted breathlessly, swallowing hard as heat rolled through me.
Knox’s scent was overpowering, pushing the other away, even from outside the barrier. He forced my attention to him. Midnight skies had replaced ocean-colored eyes, and the fires burning within them threatened to consume me. His power wafted over me, bypassing the barrier to carry his scent to me, creating a mass of emotions throbbing through me.
My shoulder pulsed where the mark once was, and I wanted to beg him to replace it, to mark me again. Lips curled into a devilish grin, as if he sensed my need and approved my instinct to be reclaimed by him alone.
“No, but you will soon. Your father is very aware of you, Aria. You weren’t just something that he accidentally created. He wanted you. He’d have felt the war coming and designed what the world needed to protect against the destruction coming. Even so, only you can choose the path you will take. It’s curious, though, considering who you’ve allowed to mark your body.”
“Choose a path? How am I supposed to know what path to take? I was living a normal life until all hell broke loose, and I ended up here. My mother slept around a lot. I don’t think anyone designed me. I think I’m an accident that she wanted to erase, and she tried her best to accomplish that goal.”
“Not an accident, Aria Hecate. Your father doesn’t make mistakes. He creates solutions for what this world needs in times of crisis. Make no mistake, this world is in crisis, and you’re here to be the deciding factor on who will win the war. You are needed. Your choice of lovers, however, may cause you many problems.”
“Just because Knox gives good dick doesn’t mean he’s anything more than that. King Karnavious tried to murder the only mother I have ever had, and his dick isn’t good enough to lose my head over,” I muttered, and the male laughed as if I was delusional.
Violet eyes searched mine before he exhaled, sliding his attention to where Knox prowled outside the barrier. His hand slipped around my waist, causing Knox to snarl his annoyance at another male touching me. The creature leaned down, nuzzling his nose against my ear. Knox’s scent struck me without warning.
Knox’s power echoed through me with a deep, rumbling rattle that filled my ears, calming my response to the male holding and touching me. I frowned, sliding my gaze to Knox, purring huskily for him as his eyes heated, and a knowing smile spread over my lips.
“His mark isn’t just for claiming you, Aria. The mark on your shoulder, yes, that was a mark of ownership and a warning to others that you’re his and untouchable,” he said softly. “He didn’t just claim your flesh. He claimed your soul. The mark on your thigh, placed there by his blood magic, is deeply embedded into your soul, not even I can fully remove it.”
“I’m aware of the mark on my thigh, very aware of it,” I swallowed, unable to look away from Knox or the intensity burning brightly in his eyes. “I’m working to remove it now.”
“You can’t remove it, woman. No one can, but the one who placed it. Right now, Knox is planning to mark you much deeper than that. He doesn’t lose control, but he’s fighting for control over his beast because I merely touched you. He didn’t much like that, or that my lips brushed you, kissing your pretty mouth. Not to mention, I just ripped his mark from your shoulder by force, and you both felt that down to the very fiber of your beings. Let me show you the future, should you sway from the path he created you to take.”
“If I agree, will you allow me to take the power of your element?” I asked, watching as he swallowed hard. The tick in his jaw