Ruins of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #3) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,101

for simply being in the high queen’s way,” Knox muttered. He reached for his glass, and my eyes slid over the people who were watching me silently, which unnerved me. “Eat, Aria. We will retire shortly.”

I reached for my glass, turning to find one of the little witches had moved behind me. Turning in my seat, I smiled at her as she tugged on my dress. She held out a small bag, and I accepted it, frowning when she didn’t look up.

“Is this for me?” I asked, and she nodded, her eyes still downcast to the floor. “Thank you,” I whispered, opening the bag to find a tiny hand inside of it. “What is this? Where did you get this?” I demanded thickly, emotion and fear tightening in my throat as she finally lifted her eyes.

Black ooze ran from her eyes and nose as she smiled, revealing a black tongue as well. “I heard you like children, so I sent you a gift.”

“No,” I whispered as Knox grabbed me. Her other hand lifted with a needle-like blade, stabbing herself in the chest. A scream ripped from my throat as Knox yanked me back, and the Lord beside me fought to take it, only for the high queen to toss him around with the magic she wielded within the child’s body.

I sobbed, fighting Knox to get free as women's screams filled the keep. Pandemonium ensued as magic sliced through the room, creating barriers between the children and us as they took their own lives, forced by the evil queen who wanted to hurt me. The moment the tiny body dropped to the ground, I shot forward to hold the wounds closed.

Brander ran around the table, but something across the room captured his attention as he slowly exhaled. Giant sobs rocked my body as I fought to stop the blood from flowing, noting the black lines of hemlock that rushed through her tiny body.

Hands grabbed me from behind, but I fought them, struggling to get free. I screamed, uncaring that everyone was watching me fall apart as blood spread beneath the tiny body. I was hefted up and cradled in powerful arms as purring sounded against my ear. Knox rushed me down a long hallway with the sound of feet echoing behind us as my sobs escaped unchecked.

“Get the quartz and count the witches. Find out how many died tonight and which bloodline they were from for the record books,” Knox ordered, entering a room with me as he instantly started ripping the dress off, revealing hemlock burns on my arms and hands. “Brander, get the ointment and make sure the others have enough. Hemlock laced all the blades. There will be burns on those who tried to prevent the children from bleeding.”

Knox placed me into a tub, and before I could argue it, he climbed in behind me, still dressed in his clothes. He purred loudly, and Lore and Killian echoed the sound while I continued sobbing at the injustice of what she’d done. She murdered children! Who could be so cold, and so evil to murder innocent lives to reach me?

Knox kissed the side of my head, holding me in the cradle of his body as he continually made soothing noises to ease my sobs. I trembled with rage and denial. He held me tighter, pushing my hair away from my face until Brander returned, grabbing my arms to apply the salve. Knox held me, helping to slather ointment onto the blisters that the trace of hemlock had caused.

Brander purred soothingly, his eyes never moving over my nakedness. He worked the salve into my skin, forcing the hemlock to become neutralized, to absorb through my flesh. When he finished, he dropped back on his knees, frowning as Knox spoke to him.

“How many?” Knox asked.

“We don’t know yet, but it was only children. No adults were hurt or killed.”

“Evil bitch,” Knox whispered. His throat tightened with emotion as his words slipped past it. “Bury them. Make sure they’re on sanctified ground. Allow the witches to bless them and burn the sage. Have the men assist them if they need it, but tell them not to intervene unless needed or asked for their help.”

“I’ll have whiskey brought in for Aria. She’ll need it to numb the pain,” Brander stated, lifting to move out of the room.

“Wait in the hallway,” Knox said, and Lore and Killian left the room as well.

He waited until they left before lifting me from the bathtub. Slowly, he