Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,61

skipped up the steps and made my way quickly to the next floor, pausing as I felt the barrier fall, dropping with a loud popping noise.

I slipped my arms into my pack, running faster as the footsteps entering the keep echoed through the empty halls.

Entering a large room, I moved to the wall, drawing the portal before I sliced through my palm, holding my hand out to slap it against the stone barrier.

The portal shimmered as shouting sounded below. I stepped closer, holding my hand against the wall as nausea swirled through me, forcing me to wait precious moments before the portal would be ready.

“Find her! She’s here,” Knox’s deep baritone slid over me as footsteps sounded near the door. The handle moved, and I closed the distance, slipping through the portal to stare as Knox entered the room, finding me already on the other side. “You’ve weakened, and in no condition to be on your own, Aria. You’re not even hiding your scent right now. You allowed Taren to remove my mark, which was a mistake. Without that mark, you are free game to any male who wants you.”

“I didn’t want him to do that,” I admitted softly, hating the pain that entered my voice as the truth rushed from me.

“Let me replace it, Aria. Come here, and I’ll make certain no one hurts you, or tries to place their mark on you,” he encouraged, holding out his hand while studying the way I swayed.

I wavered on my feet as he slowly stepped forward. Turning my head, I gazed at the people on the busy street behind me where the portal had opened. When I slid my attention back to Knox, I found him inches from me, a wicked smile playing across his lips.

“If you run, I’ll catch you. You’re unmated, unclaimed, and out-manned, Aria. I don’t even need to use the mark on your pretty thigh to bring you to heel. You’ll come to me, because everything within you wants the biggest, baddest monster in the realm, and that’s me.”

I caught sight of the dark-haired witch behind Knox, and I lifted my hands as he lunged, slamming against the portal as it closed. Spinning around, I searched the signs on the buildings along the busy street before finding a dressmaker. I rushed through the crowds of people who had stopped to gape at the portal magic, moved aside to let me pass. There was no need to flash my mark for them to gauge who or what I was, which was sort of cool.

Entering the shop, the metal keys on the door jingled like a wind chime or a medieval burglar alarm. I closed the door and turned, staring at the women inside who gaped in horror at me.

I could feel the blood crusted to my face and hair and didn’t need a mirror to realize that I was rocking with my tits out since I was standing here in nothing but my panties. That explained the people gawking, which admittedly made me feel a lot less badass.

“Witch!” a woman shrieked, and I groaned before I brought my hands up, freezing them in place.

I exhaled slowly, inhaling even slower. I fought the pain still holding me in its thrall. I looked around the room, walking to the window, and peering out behind one dress on display. I forced my body to ignore the throbbing aches, spinning back to look at the women in the store.

“I am a witch, but I’m not bad. I am not here to harm you. I have an asshole chasing me, and he sort of wants to make me his bitch. I need your help. You know, female power and all that jazz?” Tears slipped free from their eyes, causing my brows to crease in irritation. “Let’s try this again. You help me, you live? It’s a win for everyone. All you have to do is wear my dirty laundry! Not so bad, right?”

I unfroze them, and they looked at one another before nodding. Tears aside, I wasn’t evil. Taren was evil, so maybe his vision wasn’t real. A female moved to run, and I slammed my hand down, slowly lifting her to hover in the air with the point of my finger.

“You forgot to change your clothes before leaving.” I winced at the horror in her eyes. “Maybe I am the evil queen, but really, is she so bad? Normally they’re just misunderstood, right?”

A stammering woman shook her head, her teeth chattering as