horrible host.”
“You’re not a host. You’re her face so that people don’t freak out when they see her true form and nature. Our creatures are not like us or anyone else within this realm. What we are, Aria, they were lost to this world hundreds of years ago. Our creatures are unable to take their true forms anymore and haven’t in over five hundred years. I doubt you’ll ever fully meet her, but I bet you can pick out a perfect name for her.”
“Ember,” I whispered, hearing the purr escaping my throat. “She likes it,” I stated, biting my lip as Knox watched me with smiling eyes.
“Yeah, Lennox and Ember have a good ring together.”
I rattled, and he echoed my sound as if our inner monsters were agreeing. “I’m kind of terrified that they’re talking when all we do is fight and argue. Are they more advanced than we are?”
“Much more advanced.”
“Why won’t you just tell me what I am? Or what you are? I mean, we are having sex, and that can lead to babies. I’d like to know what might come out of my vagina.”
“I can’t have children, Aria,” Knox growled, turning to put on his armor. “Get your shoes on. We’re leaving. The camp is awake and waiting for us.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“For what?” he snapped frostily.
“That you lost your family and cannot have more children.”
“Can you just get your fucking shoes on like I told you to, witch?” he hissed, shoving his armor on while I backed up, turning to do what he’d asked.
Once my shoes were on, I slipped out of the tent without waiting for permission. I met Brander’s sapphire stare and a silent head shake, knowing he’d heard everything happening within the thin tent.
“Ember is a pretty name for your beast, Aria.” Brander reached out, tucking my hair behind my ear. “You should probably ask Knox for a hairbrush. You look freshly fucked, and it’s distracting when you’re such a beautiful creature already.”
“It would probably be treasonous to ask him for something so simple,” I whispered thickly, moving past him while he stared at my back. “I’m just a worthless witch. Who gives a shit what my hair looks like, right?”
Chapter Twenty-One
The entire army was loading up and waiting by the time Knox reached where I stood, glaring at me. I fidgeted from the state of my ramped up libido he’d created along with the emotions rushing through me. I was a mix of chaos. He smirked, fully aware that I was on edge and could implode at any moment. Fidgeting from foot-to-foot, I rubbed the back of my neck, beaded in sweat.
“Get on the horse, and if I were you, I’d ride side-saddle, Aria.”
“I’m walking,” I announced with a look of defiance shining in my eyes. I didn’t want to be anywhere near Knox this morning, let alone close enough where he could stoke the burning need that was becoming an inferno.
“Come again?” Brander asked, pausing mid-mount and turning toward me.
“I’ll just walk,” I repeated, crossing my arms over my chest to glare at Knox. “I’d rather not be close to your brother, Brander. He is entirely too unpredictable.”
His bipolar mood swings were tiring, as was feeling like I always had to walk on eggshells. I danced enough around what he allowed me to talk about that I wished I had a hand guide to help me navigate Knox, which wasn’t forthcoming. Knox stared at me with a look of annoyance, his lips curving up into a sinister smile that made apprehension slither down my spine.
“All witches can walk with Aria, then.” He mounted his horse, and my heart dropped to my stomach. “That’s an order,” he growled, heading toward the lords who watched curiously.
Everyone was giving me a wide berth minus Killian, Greer, Knox, and his brothers. The witches began lining up as guards shouted for them to move forward. I closed my eyes in frustration, then opened them, leveling Knox with a lethal glare.
One witch stepped beside me, her eyes wide with panic as she carried a toddler on her hip and a newborn in her arms. A woman followed behind her with another child, trying to hand the babe off to the woman who already had both arms full.
“What’s happening?” she whispered, looking from me to the lords.
“I’m an asshole,” I grunted, staring down at the toddler who hid in her skirts, watching me. “I’ll help carry them since we’re walking.”
“Why are we walking?” Wide, blue eyes held mine