Ruins of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #3) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,31

the rattle for which the King of Norvalla was known. My body trembled along with Aria’s, watching as the flames licked her flesh, and I waited for her skin to melt from her bones.

It didn’t happen. Instead, the moment Aria righted her body, the flames sucked back into her mouth and nose, and she tilted her head, staring at our horrified faces.

“It didn’t help,” Aria admitted, her eyes deadening before she turned away from us. She walked back to her tent with her blackened clothes flaking off, uncaring as she slipped inside.

“What the fuck just happened?” I asked.

“She houses flames? Witches don’t carry flames,” Siobhan whispered through trembling lips. “What the fuck is she?”

“What the fuck did you two say to her?” The king demanded, moving angrily toward us.

His tone brokered death, and I hit my knees, bowing my head while my entire body shuddered from what I had just seen. Siobhan didn’t bend, standing there to face the king. A hand brushed my shoulder, sending sparks jumping into my soul as I turned, peering up into Brander’s eyes.

“Up, witch,” he stated softly.

He helped me to my feet, ignoring the way my body shivered with fear. Witches feared flames and burning alive since it was the method the lords used to torture us. Aria had literally burst into flames, and yet she hadn’t had a single mark on her skin.

“We suggested she scream to release the anger she felt,” Siobhan offered, crossing her arms over her fringed shirt, scorched from Aria’s fire.

They didn’t seem worried about the fact that a Hecate witch had just burst into flames and remained untouched by them. In fact, they looked more perturbed that we’d upset her. My eyes swung to the tent, watching Aria exit in a silver dress that left her arms bared. The entire camp watched her uneasily while she moved to the table that had drinks placed upon it.

“Witches do not wield fire, ever,” I stated, fighting my ragged breathing that I couldn’t seem to turn off.

The king’s eyes slid to me slowly, roaming over my face with disinterest. His attention swung to Aria, watching as she lifted a cask of amber liquid and held it to her nose, tipping it up and downing it in one drink. Her eyes closed as she ingested it all, smiling as she got the last drop.

The king walked toward Aria, but her eyes slid to the ground, and a frown tugged at her mouth as she walked past him. She shrunk away from his touch when he reached out for her, ignoring him as he called her name.

She may have been wounded, but she wasn’t broken. She was filled with rage and pain that had finally exploded. I looked down at the sear marks on my arms and shirt. I lifted my arm to touch the burn, but Brander grabbed it, avoiding the damaged area.

“Come, I have cream the witches made to treat burns. I will take care of you. I didn’t catch your name.”

“Soraya. And you’re the Prince. You need not tend to me. The witches will,” I swallowed, lowering my eyes from the intensity of his stare.

“I insist, Soraya. You can also explain to me how you ended up here. You are from the city outside of Vãkya, and there have been no reports of witches surviving Ilsa’s service from that area. In fact, there’s been no word of anyone or anything escaping the queen’s territory in months.”

“I said I escaped, but not when. I escaped years ago,” I swallowed, noting the way Brander searched my face. “My family wasn’t so lucky. I’ve not looked for others, wanting to hide the shame of what I endured.” I lowered my eyes, swallowing tightly. It wasn’t a lie. I didn’t look for people because the only other life that mattered to me was still in service to the queen. “I wasn’t proud that they captured me and allowed monsters to use me. I have not told many my story, as it brings no honor to have been raped by creatures that weren’t compatible with my anatomy.” Tears swam in my eyes as I lifted them to his. I turned, staring at where Aria stood directly behind me, glaring at Brander.

She didn’t speak or move, but the look in Aria’s eyes condemned Brander for forcing me to tell my story. She smiled, placing her hand on my shoulder as she exhaled slowly. Siobhan stepped closer, her eyes taking in Aria with curiosity while I stood