as a frown creased her brow.
“Because I pissed off the king by refusing to ride with him,” I admitted begrudgingly, pursing my lips as I took in the situation. I swung my gaze to Knox, who smiled, expecting me to suck it up and ask him to reconsider my course. Fuck that. I smiled tightly, turning to the woman as she spoke again.
“I have three babes and another child who can barely walk,” she explained.
“It’s okay. We can handle this. We’re witches,” I smiled at her tightly, and she looked at me as if I was insane. Bending, I ripped scraps of fabric from my dress, and Knox’s eyes narrowed to slits as I destroyed my princess outfit, much to his vexation.
I tied the torn material around my chest, securing it to me like a sling. I accepted the babe, laying her in the cloth and adjusting her. I bent again, ripping another section of my dress, kneeling to coax her toddler out from her skirts with a smile.
“You want to go for an adventure with me, little one?”
The child nodded, and I smiled brightly. Pointing to my back, I waited until she was close to me, securing the fabric in a manner that allowed her to sit harnessed to my back. I tied the material over my chest, ensuring it didn’t harm or bother the babe.
I stood, and the mother smiled, shaking her head. I removed more fabric from my dress and helped her position the babes she carried, just like I had done for the other two children. Packed with babes, we were ready to move. A small hand slipped into mine, and I looked behind me, staring at the witches who all grinned at the wild set up we now wore, covered in children. The chilled air slid over my bare legs, and I exhaled slowly.
“Are we ready then, ladies?” I asked, and they smiled and nodded. “Let’s do this,” I muttered, starting forward, and Knox snorted as his eyes bore a hole into my back.
The babe fussed, so I bounced, causing the child on my back to giggle. The one holding my hand started skipping, and I laughed. My eyes slid to Brander, who studied me with a soft grin, laughing soundlessly as he shook his head.
The army marched down the road at a slow pace. I was certain Knox didn’t move quickly because I’d refused to get on his damn horse. I would not allow him to torture me anymore today; that much was a given. No one offered to help us, but then we didn’t need their help, anyway. Witches were creatures of nature, and we preferred the earth beneath our feet and the wind in our hair.
I lowered my head, brushing my nose over the babe’s forehead, inhaling her scent. She smelled of lavender, sage, and newborn. My eyes rose, locking with Knox’s as he frowned, looking away from me.
“Did you make her shampoo?” I asked softly, causing the woman to turn toward me with confusion stamped on her face.
“Babes cannot use shampoo, Princess Hecate,” she whispered demurely before bowing with her slight burdens.
“My name is Aria,” I offered, watching her eyes widening in horror. “I prefer to be called Aria. Princess makes me sound delicate.”
“Pardon me, Aria, but I do not think anyone assumes you are delicate after your display of magic and power the other night. I made the soap for the babe since someone abandoned her and left her infested with lice bugs. The king found her and the others in a keep he took back a few weeks ago. They had left the poor wee thing for dead. Bless him for sparing the wee beings and bringing them back with him.”
“He saved them?” I asked, lifting my gaze to where Knox rode ahead of us.
“The king saved all of us,” she admitted with a genuine smile lifting her lips. “We’re given the option to join him or to have a few days’ headstart running from the army and those who would capture us and hang us from their walls as a warning. King Karnavious has proven to differ from most of the lords.”
“He’s saving you guys,” I whispered, barely above a breath.
Knox turned, smirking as he watched me. Frowning at him while holding his stare, my foot hit a rock in the road, and I almost tripped, righting myself before checking the sleeping babe.
We’d been walking for hours in silence when I finally pulled out of my mind. Knox