Ruins of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #3) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,62

will hear what she has to say, and then you will stand back and allow us to finish this battle. Do not engage the dark witches and do not fight against them. Do you understand me?”

“I understand,” I repeated, and his eyes narrowed on me.

“Where’s the fire in you now, Aria Hecate?” he asked snidely.

I stared through him, turning to look back at where Callista watched us. Knox turned to look at my sister before sliding his gaze back to mine. Snorting, he pulled me with him to where the High Queen of Witches emissary awaited me.

Chapter Sixteen

At the front of the line, chaos ensued as Knox pushed me through the men moving away, forcing me forward. Once we stopped, I stared at the dark witches who all turned, glaring at me coldly as their heckling echoed through the now empty field between us. Magic rushed through my veins as one stepped forward, her eyes the shade of freshly spilled black ink. I could feel the dark magic flowing through her veins as she smiled, revealing rotten teeth.

“Aria Hecate,” she hissed, and the other witches tossed back their heads, howling into the night, causing fire to leap from the torches. “The queen wishes to meet with you, murderer of witches.”

“I understand,” I whispered, and Knox tightened his hold on me.

“Whore to the murderous King of Norvalla, shame be upon you,” she hissed, and the witches behind her echoed it as if forced by the noise she created.

I felt their dark magic seeking mine, assessing it, and yet I didn’t stop them. I remained in place, hearing what they had to say. It was oily, oozing, dark magic that slithered against my soul, touching and testing me. I didn’t reach for my magic, allowing them to assume I was defenseless.

“The queen requests your presence. What say you?” The witch walked closer, strangely, as her body gyrated and twitched. She moved like it was a struggle to walk like a human because of the darkness within her.

“I understand,” I repeated.

“The blood that runs through you is pure, yet you spread your body for him? You murder our sisters for him? You’re a traitor to our people, and the queen will see you dead, Aria. Blood for blood of yours is light. She intends to drain it and turn you to the night.”

The witch lifted her hands, and Knox and those who were behind me all shot backward. A barrier stood between us, leaving me with the dark witches while everyone else was on the other side, unable to reach me. I didn’t move to attack or pose any danger on Knox’s orders. I stood motionless, uncaring that they intended to end my life.

I wasn’t afraid to die.

Dying was easy.

Living was terrifying.

Not knowing if my sister would survive was horrifying, and that left me frozen in place.

“Aria!” Knox snarled, and I turned, staring at him. “Bring it down now!”

“I can’t,” I admitted, turning to look at him over my shoulder. “I can’t bring it down.”

His eyes searched mine before lifting toward the witches and slowly coming back to lock with mine. I was going to die here because he had my sister. I couldn’t fight back and chance him losing it and harming her. I swallowed the bile that the thought induced as magic hummed behind me. Slowly, I turned toward the witches who approached me with harsh looks burning in their eyes, along with madness.

I felt them growing their combined magic, pulling it from one another as the men they’d captured screamed in warning behind them. My eyes scanned the men for injuries and magic, finding them safe other than behind a line of cankerous, evil witches. They were the bait to get me here. The barrier that trapped me once I’d reached the camp was meant to be my tomb.

The first wave of magic sent my body slamming against the barrier. Pain ripped through me as I screamed, howling until it had washed through me. Slowly, I rose from the ground. I no sooner had reached my feet when another, more substantial wave struck me.

I screeched from the intensity of the magic, dropping to my knees as my ears popped, and all sound dimmed. I covered my ears, holding them while pain ripped through me, raw and brutal as wave after wave of magic continually slammed into me.

When it stopped, I turned, facing the witches, only to scream in pain as an arrow sliced through my shoulder, bouncing off the barrier.