Ruins of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #3) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,139

chance to because you read and taught yourself how to be a better person.”

Knox grabbed my arm, slowly washing it until it shone in the candlelight. His fingers slid over my skin as he lowered his nose, inhaling the scent of roses before moving to the other arm, repeating the steps.

“Do you know why we wash one another, Aria?” Knox asked, never lifting his eyes to mine as he slowly lavished my skin with the oil. He massaged it on, soothing my body’s aches while making it throb with need.

“No, I don’t. I only know we wash away the past to prepare for the future.”

“The first people of the Nine Realms believed that when a couple washed one another, it cleansed their souls. It also prepared them to create life with one another. The man would wash his bride, cleansing her flesh to prepare for her to accept him into her body, placing his seed deep within her womb. The goddess of fertility would sense his desire to breed with her and make her womb fertile for their coming marriage bed. The bride would wash his manhood, asking the god of fertility to bring her a strong son to fill her womb. They did it to create life, and I chose this ceremony because I want you to know how futile it is to think we could ever have a child with everything we’ve done. My people have literally done everything they could think of and still no children. We have tried and failed to create life since your grandmother cursed us to be sterile.”

“Mm, how nice of you,” I whispered as he smiled tightly.

I watched him lift my foot, slowly washing my calf then moving up my leg while he held my stare captive. Once he’d finished washing one leg, he did the other, spreading them apart as he pushed me back. My breathing hitched as his hand moved toward my sex, cleaning it with the cloth before his fingers danced precariously against my sex, only for him to move on to washing my breasts and stomach. Knox leaned over, placing a kiss against my womb before he whispered in a foreign language, not his own.

He pulled me down, turned me around, and pushed my body against the altar. Slowly, he ran his fingers down my spine, forcing something beneath my skin to pulse, moving to escape his touch as he laughed huskily. His lips kissed my shoulder blade, peppering it with kisses before his hand started moving the cloth over my naked back. I swallowed a moan as it sent pleasure wrapping around me, clenching my core until finally, he backed away.

“Now, sweet girl, you may wash your King,” he growled, trading places.

I swallowed down the urge to tell him he wasn’t my King, but I wasn’t willing to argue the matter. He knew where I stood, and his eyes danced with silent victory, which told me he was aware I was giving him this one. I touched his arms, using the cloth to follow the sinewy muscles, bathing him in sandalwood scented oil.

My body tightened with every path the cloth took, slowly running over his chest until I reached his cock, stroking it with my hand. He hissed, watching me as I lowered my mouth, placing a kiss on the rounded tip before lifting my eyes to his, smiling as my teeth elongated. His eyes dared me to follow through as his claws lengthened, along with his teeth. Swallowing, I dropped my stare, moving back.

My head rose as he lifted his body to the altar. The slight movement created a mass of muscles that rippled as he hefted his body up easily. I grabbed one foot, slowly washing it and his legs before he pulled me against him, cupping my face.

“You’re beautiful, my bride,” Knox growled, running his fingers over my jawbone while staring straight into my soul. “I cannot wait to make you mine tonight, Aria Primrose Hecate, regardless of the blood that rushes through your veins. I will cherish you and respect your needs.”

“I promise to escape you, as your wife or not, Knox Karnavious,” I uttered, watching as his smile turned lethal, and he slid into the water. “I will not start a marriage with lies, even if it is a mock marriage. I won’t lie to you about my intentions. You forced this, and you want me to act complicit for the benefit of the people and yourself. You made me look like