Ruins of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #3) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,149

crowd, and then shook his head to Brander before looking at me, taking in my reaction.

“Light the largest bonfire, and prepare the ale,” Knox stated, turning to gauge my reaction as his people snubbed me. “I wouldn’t take it personally. You’re a witch, and they loved their queen immensely before she was taken from them by your people.”

“I don’t blame them for hating me. If you’ll excuse me, My Love, I have to go sacrifice a goat and drink its blood like the pagan queen I am.”

“Aria?” Knox called to my back. I started away, pausing to turn toward him. “You may not partake in your ritual, tonight or any other night. You’re no longer a witch. You’re my wife and the High Queen of the Nine Realms. You no longer make sacrifices to your grandmother or any other pagan god or goddess,” he warned softly as his men studied me.

I swallowed down the urge to argue, knowing the witches were excited over the sacrifice that would bless them for Beltane and the coming summer. I nodded, frowning as Knox held out his hand for mine. Silently, I slipped mine into his as he moved us through the crowd that was still quietly ignoring my existence. The dark witches faded into the shadows, knowing they couldn’t break the blessing of the deity that protected us in his sacred circle.

Knox had said nothing about not being able to partake in witchcraft, nor did he understand it if he thought I could just stop. It was a huge part of who I was as a person, and second nature to use it, even if I didn’t pull magic the way they did or use the blood that should have reinforced my power, strengthening me.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Dinner was some kind of meat that had been baked beneath the ground for days. Knox had sent people ahead to prepare for the wedding, instructing them on meats and wine, among other things. The table was made from a large tree cut down and sanded into a smooth surface and spread farther than I could see. I’d spent an hour trying to figure out how they’d managed to get it into the camp without me noticing it all day.

“It’s a white oak tree from Norvalla,” Knox stated, piling more meat onto my plate. “I figured you would approve since you’re aware of their meaning. When the first people roamed the lands, they would use the white oak tree to build their homes and furniture. It’s rumored that they would make love to their wives on the tables they made, cherishing her upon the wood with their own wood.” His lips twisted into a smirk. I downed more whiskey, forgoing the wine in front of me as I stared at him absently.

“Interesting,” I stated, unamused.

I noted the witches were away from the others, dancing beneath the moon, covered in the blood of their sacrifice. Knox noticed the direction I looked, whispering to the guard at his side who moved off toward the witches.

“Eat. You’ll need your energy for tonight,” Knox grunted, uncaring that the soldiers were pushing the witches away from my view. I could see them enjoying the wedding that I couldn’t even pretend to enjoy.

“Doubt it,” I countered absently, watching Siobhan turning to frown in my direction. I shrugged at her questioning look as Knox watched.

“You are upset that you can’t join them?” he mused, piling more food onto my plate.

“Ember says you’re a good hunter. Stop trying to make me fat,” I groaned, pushing the plate away.

“You have hardly eaten in three days, wife.”

“Removing the heart from someone you trusted after finding out they’re a treacherous swine has that effect on a girl’s appetite, husband.”

“Would you like to dance?”

Knox’s men sat around us, following the exchange with worried looks as if they thought we’d throw down in the middle of our wedding reception. It was possible with how I currently felt, but I’d been raised better than to beat the shit out of someone at a wedding. Whispers from his people moved down the table about my inability to dance with the king. I rolled my eyes, turning to stare at Knox, deciding if I cared to prove them all wrong.

“Please,” I shocked him by agreeing.

Knox pulled me out onto the stone altar reserved for us. My hand lifted to his, and his eyes narrowed, watching the people gather around us to watch.

“Are you sure you wish to do this?” Knox asked carefully.

“Why wouldn’t I