Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #2) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,93

something slammed into Knox, forcing us apart as the water ripped me out of his hold. I was sucked down violently and was dizzy from being twirled in the tornado of water. I exhaled, fighting the dizziness, and blackness started to envelop me as water filled my lungs.

Knox’s scream echoed in my mind as if coming through a tunnel, forcing me to open my eyes as I coughed up water. The whirlpool had released its hold, and we were in a dark cavern with green glowing crystals that offered a dim light.

“Aria!” Knox screamed, urgency filling his tone as I coughed violently.

“Knox?” I whispered, throwing up copious amounts of water as my chest lessened with pressure. Exhausted, I leaned back, floating, noting the cave grew lighter as the water’s sound seemed to get louder.

“Swim to me, now!” he demanded, and I rolled my eyes, bobbing in the water. I turned toward his voice, moving my arms and legs to go deeper into the dark tunnel.

I caught sight of Knox, watching the relief play in his eyes until he looked over my shoulder. He shot forward, rushing to me with long, powerful strokes of his arms as the water pulled me away from him.

My arms burned, and my legs stopped kicking. I turned, staring at the light at the end of the cave. The water vanished over the rim as if it just dropped off.

My mind caught on to the problem, and I screamed. My body fought to get to Knox, knowing that he was my best shot at survival.

I didn’t make it to him before water rushed us toward the mouth of the cave and shot us over a waterfall that made Niagara Falls look like a kiddie pool. I screeched as I free fell in the air, staring up as Knox dove headfirst toward me with his arms outstretched, as if he intended to catch me midair.

Screeching sounded, and I swung my head toward the noise, shouting out in horror as a large, black, three-headed bird-like creature flew toward me. It looked like something straight out of a Stephen King book of nightmares.

The moment it got close, I flipped my body, kicking it hard in one head. It recoiled briefly, flapping giant black and orange wings tipped with fiery crimson-colored feathers.

The three heads opened their jaws of long, needle-like teeth that snapped toward me. The moment it would have caught me, Knox landed on its back, slicing through the three necks in one swift, well-placed strike of his deadly claws.

I fought the tears that escaped from the relief I felt that he’d saved me from death by the horrid creature’s teeth.

Knox held out his hand, and I reached for him as I peered down at the water we were about to hit.

His fingertips touched mine, and I tilted my body, slowing my fall as he dove close enough to grab me. He pulled me against his chest, holding my trembling form before he purred softly, searching my face for injury.

“This is going to hurt a lot,” he muttered. He stared at me before peering between our bodies at the fast-approaching water.

When he lifted his head, I closed the space between us, nipping his lip softly before his hand cupped my neck, kissing me hard and fast, ending it abruptly.

“Brace for impact,” he warned, forcing his body lower so that he would shoot through the surface first. I held on to him, hugging my arms around his neck as I inhaled.

“This is insane!” I shouted, gulping in air moments before we hit the waters’ surface. I felt no pain, as if his body cut a path for mine through the water, protecting mine once again.

Chapter Thirty-One

The moment we were in the water, I pushed away from Knox, shooting my body toward the shoreline. I didn’t wait to see if he followed since I could see the bubbles beside me, and the evidence of another whirlpool fighting to suck us into its deadly grasp. I knew he’d follow me since he was Knox, and he made everything look freaking easy.

Crawling onto the shore, I coughed up more water. Flipping onto my back, I watched the male who had just protected me from certain death, taking powerful strokes to reach the shore where I laid.

I flipped onto my stomach, moving to my knees while fighting to stand through the exhaustion. My body burned from misuse and screamed in protest. I fought the skirt I wore, heavy with water as it clung to