Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,70

over my shoulder. “I’m afraid I am. I am raising the House of Magic, and I intend to do it as Knox watches, helpless to stop me from accomplishing my goals. You’re either on my side, Esme, or in my way. I suggest you choose which one you prefer, quickly. Knox is on his way, arriving within the hour, and I don’t intend to be here.”

“I’m with you, Aria Hecate. Just don’t let me down.”

“It’s a deal.” I stepped outside, noting the witches exiting other small shacks along the road as they watched. Power erupted within me, and the mark on my forehead glowed, my hair turning silver and violet. I smiled reassuringly at them. “Run,” I ordered, hearing Esme yell instructions over the men shouting warnings.

Turning toward the men, I studied their stances, cracked my neck, and lifted my hands into the air, forcing their bodies to hover above the ground. Necks snapped, crunching loudly, and the witches whispered in hushed tones, while the lifeless forms dropped to the ground. My head turned in their direction while I wiggled my brows and hiked a thumb toward where Esme was heading off in the opposite way.

“I’d follow her if you want to live. King Karnavious is marching this way with his army at his back. Go now, or stay and fight. That choice is yours to make.”

“Aria, don’t die,” Esme snapped, the dirty orphans holding her hands tightly.

“I can’t be killed, and he won’t take my head. He intends to wield me as a weapon, and he can’t do that without a trigger to pull, which he will never find. I know what I am dealing with, and he’s a loaded weapon too. Go. Get everyone out while I entertain the lord of the village. I think he needs a reminder why keeping a witch as a pet isn’t a good idea.”

“Urchins, come!” Esme grabbed a bag and started hazardously stuffing things into the pockets. “Aria, be careful. Tristan isn’t a normal creature. He’s enhanced by the crystals we harvest from the mines.”

I studied Esme’s posture, watching as she hefted the bag over her shoulder and slowly turned to face me. The sound of horse hooves rushing toward us captured my attention. Esme moved quickly into the shadows with the kids, noting how I walked in the opposite direction, muttering a spell under my breath.

Men and women walked toward her, but she passed by them until she reached the safety of a dark alley. Her wide, violet eyes slid to where I now stood, and she seemed surprised at my location, but nodded her dark head once before disappearing into the shadows with the children.

Esme was a fighter with a mouth on her, which I could use. I knew I was in over my head without people who knew the Nine Realms better than I did. I’d been here a moment, which Knox kept reminding me. I agreed with him on that, but I would need witches I could trust to help me wage this war.

Esme would be a good start, and more would come as I made my way through the other realms and places I needed to go. For now, I needed to prepare to face off against Knox, since he was probably still upset about my uninvited visit last night.

Men rushed toward me, and I smiled, cracking my neck, readying myself for battle. I would buy Esme enough time to get the others out of town since I couldn’t say who would win. Knox was almost upon this location.

I could scent his anger driving him toward me relentlessly. Soldiers moved down the street in my direction, and I whistled Gods & Monsters by Lana Del Rey while walking forward, swinging my hips with a pep in my step.

Chapter Twenty-Four

I stood among the slaughtered men as the slumlord, Tristan, moved into the narrow streets he controlled. His guards studied me, sliding their worried gazes between their lord and me as I softly whistled to the music in my head. My body swayed while I listened to my creature as she sang the words, laughing while I danced for her. The moment the men moved forward, I paused, giving them my attention.

I brushed my knuckles on my shirt, stepping closer to the man in charge as his men closed ranks. Smirking, I winked at one of the men before pausing mere feet from the slumlord who glared at me with something disturbing in his eyes.

“You dared to trespass against