Ruins of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #3) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,168

Esme grinned. “You’re supposed to be at the sanctuary.”

“About that—we moved. Siobhan alerted me to the fact that your lover had men outside the sanctuary, preparing to enter. We’re in a new palace that has been recently renovated. Aden arranged it and said you’d be home soon, even if he had to come in and get you himself.”

“Good. Don’t tell me where it is until we’re clear. We need to go now,” I stated, turning to feel for Knox but not sensing him.

“Please tell me you didn’t really marry him,” Kinvara groaned, holding my hand. We rushed toward the other witches, who began opening the portal at the end of the hallway filled with cells. When I just looked at her, she paused and turned to me. “Tell me you didn’t marry the High King of the Nine Realms, Aria Primrose Hecate!”

“Just a little bit,” I stated, and the others snorted, laughing while continuing down the hallway. A rattle sounded, and I slid my attention to Esme, who smirked.

“Oh, did you think you were the only one?” Esme asked, watching the way my eyes widened. “I know I did until Aden showed up. It turns out we’re distant relatives, and just like you, I’m a late bloomer. Come! Aden can explain it all later. He got us in here so we could get you out. You’re the one we’ve all been waiting for, Aria.”

Another rattle sounded, and I turned, listening as the castle shook with Knox’s rage. “Run! Now, go!” I shouted, pushing Kinvara toward the portal as I followed behind them.

I watched as they passed through the portal, seconds before I would have followed them through it. I was yanked backward before I crossed the threshold, sent flying back in the direction we’d come. Oceanic eyes held mine as Knox walked toward me, sliding to obsidian while he rattled violently, even though it wasn’t loud.

“You thought to escape me, mate?” he laughed cruelly. Knox grabbed me from the floor, pulling me up as he turned us toward the portal. My eyes locked with Kinvara’s as teeth touched my throat. Her scream ripped through the hallway as they pushed into my flesh, and my body went compliant. “Mine!”

Brander appeared, moving toward the portal until his eyes swung back to me, lowering on Knox’s mouth against my throat. Blood dripped from his lips, his arm holding my chest as my feet hung above the ground. I could feel his body against me, hear his heartbeat becoming one with mine as consciousness threatened to escape me.

Siobhan screamed, yanking Kinvara back through the portal as she struggled to get to me. Brander turned toward them, drawing blades as Siobhan, Soraya, and Esme slammed the portal closed, holding a struggling Kinny in their arms. Esme rattled, which caused the monster to clamp his teeth against my neck to rattle back, and I watched as Esme hit the ground hard. Brander turned, looking at me before his eyes closed, and he shook his head. My blood ran in a steady stream to the floor before Lennox covered it with his mouth once more.

“Knox, stop,” Killian growled, causing the beast that held control to turn toward his voice. Killian’s eyes met mine with worry in their dark blue depths. “You will kill her if you do not heal her throat. She is not immortal.”

“That’s not Knox anymore,” Brander grunted.

We vanished into the jetstream, and Lennox placed my body onto a large, soft bed. He held his mouth where he’d marked me, moving my hands above my head as he rattled. Lennox backed up, his mouth covered in my blood as he smiled wickedly, reaching down to shred my dress. My entire body shuddered with the reality of what was happening.

I was at the mercy of Knox’s creature, and he was going to kill me.

Chapter Forty-Three

Men moved into the room, arguing with Lennox, but I couldn’t hear them over the blood pumping through my veins or the creature screaming within me.

“Run, bitch, run!” Ember snapped.

“Does it look like I can run away? Take control. You wanted this. Here’s your chance!” I urged.

“Get out,” Lennox snarled at Knox’s men, and Ember and I both shivered at the warning in his tone, choosing to remain silent as his eyes pierced ours with predatory intent. “So pretty and soft, mate,” he chuckled darkly, leaning down to lick my nipple before he slid his mouth to sinking his teeth into the underside of my breast. I whimpered, and Ember purred softly.