Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,91

while coldness filled her eyes.

“The Queen of Nymphs sends her regards, witch. Did you think she would allow your insult to go unanswered?” Her clear aqua-blue eyes smiled, watching me. “He is ours now as payment to the queen for your trespass against her.”

“Oh, I don’t think so!” I growled, taking in the creatures below the surface.

Stepping toward the river, I watched flesh becoming visible to my eyes. More nymphs swam just below the dark surface, and I groaned. I marched into the frigid water, and a nymph bared serrated teeth at me as I prepared to dive into the depths.

“Stupid Knox, jumping off the stupid battlement. Who does shit like that! That dick is mine! And it’s attached to him, which makes him mine by default. Stupid hussies, get your own caveman!” I roared, inhaling deeply before diving into the water.

I shot toward the first female nymph that was fighting Knox, who was slowly drowning. My claws extended, and I tore through her skin, grabbing her and shoving her away from him. He was tearing into another female who was running her hands down his torso.

I fought off a third that came up behind me. My teeth tore through her hand as she tried to remove my head, failing to notice the sharp, elongated teeth I’d allowed to break free from my gums. My other hand shot into her chest, ripping her apart easily.

The fighting exhausted my air, and my lungs burned from a lack of oxygen. Shooting toward the surface, I gulped air into my lungs before diving under once more, reaching for the nymph who was readying her siren’s call to use against Knox.

My hand pushed through her chest, withdrawing her lungs as her corpse began to sink to the river floor. Knox glared at me through the crimson water as I swam closer. I grabbed his face between my hands, claiming his lips, feeding air into his starved lungs.

Once I was certain he wouldn’t drown, I dove lower to the roots of the plants that had wrapped around his legs while he watched. My claws shredded them easily, freeing him, and we both swam toward the surface for more air.

Arms wrapped around me, and I turned to peer over my shoulder. We sank toward the murky bottom, and fear rushed through me as my oxygen depleted. Knox smirked wickedly with bubbles escaping his lips. He held me beneath the water, and my eyes widened with panic, fire burning within my lungs from the need to inhale air. Knox realized the problem and pushed us off the river’s bottom, bringing us to the surface where we gulped in air together.

“You should have kept running while you had the chance. I’m not letting you go now, woman,” he laughed, turning me in his arms as I continued to suck in air greedily. His hands held me tightly, running the tips of his fingers over my midriff, keeping me above water.

“I wasn’t just going to leave you to die, asshole,” I seethed, coughing as water splashed into my face. “The water’s filled with magic, and you would have drowned. I may not like you, Knox, but I don’t want you to die, either.”

Now that my panicked thoughts had quieted, I remembered that Knox had magic too, which meant he could have escaped if he’d chosen to do so. Stupidly, I realized he waited for me to jump in, thinking to save him. I hadn’t been thinking clearly because I hadn’t expected him to follow me over the wall.

He was a king, and I was pretty confident they weren’t supposed to do life defying moves, but then, he was Knox. He’d known what was on the other side of that wall and hadn’t hesitated to jump in right behind me. Then, he’d stayed beneath the water’s surface, testing me because he knew I wouldn’t leave him to die. I was the biggest idiot!

Knox pulled me tightly against his body while holding my gaze captive. His mouth lowered, kissing me hungrily until a groan of need left my lips, only to be captured by his kiss. He held me securely, uncaring that the river was dragging us further downstream toward the current of oncoming rapids.

His tongue dueled with mine, demanding I cave to the need rushing through me. His hands tangled through my hair, devouring me like a starving beast that was denied food for far too long. Everything was tangled while we kissed. Our legs. Our tongues. Our thoughts. We