Ruins of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #3) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,61

the battlement blazed as archers let loose arrows, and more screams echoed through the camp. Once we reached one of the wagons, he ripped back the cover, and my heart stopped beating.

Everything went silent around me. The world stopped turning as I shattered into tiny, broken pieces. My mouth opened, but no sound escaped other than a broken sob. Callista turned, shielding her eyes from the light before they widened on me. She leaned forward, wrapping her hands around the bars of the cage as she stared at me.

“Callista,” I whispered, barely loud enough to hear. My lips quivered, and I stepped forward to touch her with shaking hands. “Are you okay?” I asked, and she shook her head, looking over my shoulder. “Say something, please?”

“She can’t,” Knox grunted, watching me with a sarcastic smile playing on his generous mouth. “I’ve had her spelled to remain silent so she couldn’t cast. Unlike you, she’s a nymph who sings a siren’s song with her words. Your sister will remain alive as long as you behave. Do you understand me, Aria?” When I silently nodded, he chuckled. “I found her outside the castle, deep in the woods. Her magic was pulsing through the battlefield, and my guess is, she was here to get you out of my grasp. You mentioned how you intended to escape, didn’t you?”

My eyes flicked to his, knowing I’d told him exactly how I would have escaped his clutches, which coincided with how he’d captured my sister.

Exhaling, I held Callista’s hands while she stared at me. She leaned her head against the cage, tightening her grip on my hands. Her eyes pleaded as her lips moved with the word sorry repeating from them.

Tears streaked down my cheeks, and Callista reached through the bars to wipe them away. Shock rushed through me, pain tightening and slicing around my heart after having done everything within my power to keep my family safe, they’d still ended up caged by Knox.

“The others?” Callista’s eyes narrowed, and she shook her head, lipping safe to me. I reached into the cage, cupping her neck, bringing her closer, before kissing her forehead. “I will keep you safe, Callista. I promise,” I whispered thickly, watching as she sat back, glaring at Knox, who stood stiffly beside me.

“The cage Callista is in isn’t like yours, Aria,” Knox explained emotionlessly. “If it senses magic trying to release her, it will send spikes through her body before blades release, removing her head. If I were you, I wouldn’t try to save her when I remove the cuffs from your wrists,” he warned, and I swallowed past the bile the imagery caused.

“I understand,” I whispered, unwilling to even look in his direction.

“It’s not personal; it’s war. You needed the motivation to assist me when I require you to do so. I told you it was only a matter of time before I discovered where your family was hiding. Even if I have to locate them one at a time, I will. Now come, the hour is almost upon us, and every time more of my men die, I want to murder more witches. As I understand, you’ve got even more secrets you haven’t told me. There’s an entire keep filled with witches, one you’ve promised would remain protected from my blade. It’s causing quite the stir in the witch community, and it turns out that it was created by none other than Aria Hecate herself, or so I have been told.”

“I understand,” I stated, feeling Knox’s grip tighten on mine. I repeated the only words that would come out as everything within me screamed and cried for my sister, Callista. She was a gentle soul and wouldn’t do well in a cage trapped like an animal.

“Look at me, Aria,” Knox snapped, turning me before grabbing my wrists and freeing them from the cuffs.

My eyes remained on the ravens that covered his chest plate, unwilling to look him in the eye. He pinched my chin, lifting my face to look at me. My blood rushed to my ears, echoing deafeningly as I exhaled my rising panic. Knox had my sister, which meant I’d do anything he asked of me, even sell my soul to the devil who was apparently the monster in which I had sex.

“The queen’s representative asked for you by name, which means she is aware of who you are and what blood runs through your veins. If you are in on this, do nothing you will regret. You