Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,60

you.”

“I know you won’t, Soraya. Julia is all you have left, and she belongs to me now. If you bring me back the head of this witch or the King of Norvalla’s, I would willingly allow you both to live freely under my rule.”

There was no freedom under Ilsa’s rule. The chances of her freeing us were zero, and we all knew it. Her version of freedom was to be added to her grid, feeding her power. I won’t let her add my baby sister or me to that grid.

My eyes slid toward Julia, who continued silently screaming in her mind, stuck in the darkness that fed on her soul. Tears pricked my eyes as I moved past her, not stopping to say goodbye, because if I did or if I showed an ounce of weakness, Ilsa would use it against me.

I made it outside the doors of the palace before I emptied my stomach onto the debris-covered road. People moved around me, turning to glare at where I retched until nothing but bile escaped my lips.

Wiping my mouth, I turned to the miles of tombs spread through the hillside’s expanse that peered out beyond the palace. It was a morbid reminder that we were nothing more than fodder for Ilsa to wield against her enemies, of which there were many.

I’d escape this place with Julia one way or another, even if I had to bring Ilsa the heads of her enemies. Staring out over the endless killing fields, where bodies waited to fuel the grid, I shivered with the reality that we may all end up part of the grid fueling the evil bitch.

Chapter Twenty

Aria

Something touched my fingers, and I groaned. Prying my heavy lids open, I peered up into startling blue eyes that threatened to drown me in their churning sea-colored depths. I smiled sleepily, sliding my fingers through Knox’s, pulling him closer. He hissed, and I yawned as sleep slowly slipped from my mind, releasing me.

“Morning, Knox,” I said thickly, noting the aches and pains of my body. “Ouch,” I muttered groggily. His fingertips ran against mine again, and I laughed softly as it tickled.

“Good morning, Little Lamb,” he smirked devilishly. I tugged on my hand, watching his eyes sparkling with amusement as his touch sent heat rocking through me. I lifted my spine, arching, focusing his attention to move hungrily down my body.

I rolled onto my side as he pulled my hand closer toward him. His scent offered me comfort and created the familiar twinge between my thighs, clenching my stomach. He rattled the moment my eyes closed, forcing a soft smile to curve on my lips. I purred softly, and a groan escaped him.

“Move closer to me,” he urged, and I lifted my eyes to him, wincing at the pain that flitted through me. “Come here, sweet girl, and let me hold you,” he whispered, tugging my arm again.

“It’s coming down now,” a feminine voice announced, causing my attention to lift toward the witches who stood a few feet from us, casting a spell to bring down the weakened barrier.

I stared up at the sky, noting it was no longer night, and the sun was beating down on my face. My eyelashes dusted against my cheek as I swallowed past the dryness of my mouth. I yanked on my hand, struggling to pull it away from his hold.

Turning onto my knees, I whimpered, lifting my eyes to lock with his. I pulled back, crying out as pain rocked through me. Knox’s eyes narrowed, lowering to where my other hand clutched my stomach. Slowly, his gaze came back to rest on mine.

“What’s wrong, Aria?” Knox demanded, his tone laced with worry that wasn’t like him.

“I failed,” I said breathlessly. “Failing comes with consequences.”

“You lived. What you attempted to do was suicide. You knew you could die, yet you still did it regardless of the cost,” Knox growled, his eyes vying between blue and obsidian.

I rolled without warning, crying out as pain rocked through me again. I felt the shield beginning to drop and groaned, holding my stomach. Standing up, I eyed Knox as he followed my lead, pacing like a caged beast.

I reached down, grabbing my pack, and spun around, walking toward the keep. I rushed inside before shedding the dress I wore, entering the courtyard in nothing more than my panties.

Inside, I tossed the dress into the first room I found and ran down a long, winding hallway. At the end of the hall, I