Ruins of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms #3) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,66

thousand,” I returned without a trace of emotion in my tone. “They had filled the two lower levels with reinforcements. The witches weren’t powerful, but the witch controlling them was. Behind the castle were more warriors who had only just arrived.”

“You can’t possibly know that.” He ran his fingers over my stomach before dipping his head and clasping his teeth over my nipple.

I gasped, closing my eyes as his fingers trailed through the arousal coating my sex. His finger pushed into my body, and I closed my eyes, forcing myself not to react, which was easier said than done. Knox lifted his head, finding my face scrunched up while my chest rose and fell from the emotion slithering through me.

“If you’re going to rape me, just do it,” I hissed as my throat swelled with frustration.

“Get up,” Knox growled angrily, grabbing my arm to pull me from the bed. He moved to the chest, withdrawing a sheer nightgown that he tossed at me. He retrieved the whiskey and his sweatpants, nodding at the table for me to sit. “Get it on and sit down, Aria.”

I pulled the gown over my head, sluggishly moving to sit before facing him. He searched my face and rubbed his eyes. He poured two glasses of whiskey and pushed one in front of me, sitting back to observe me.

“Drink,” he ordered, and I lifted it, downing it in one long gulp. He refilled it and nodded, narrowing his eyes on me as I drank it too. He did this several more times before he slapped the glass from the table, leaning over it to look me in the eye. “In about five minutes, the time that it took you to destroy an entire stronghold, you’re going to be fucking drunk. I want to fuck you, hard. I want to bend you over and pound into your naked core so gods damn hard they hear me back in your human world as I go to town on that tight body of yours. That’s what I want to do in five minutes. Instead, I’m going to walk you outside of this tent, and we’re going to go release your sister.”

“What?” I asked softly, lifting my eyes to hold his.

“Here are my conditions because her release isn’t free, Aria.” Knox studied my face, frowning as he grabbed my hand, pulling me closer to him. “You’re going to kiss me as you did in that healing pool.” I blinked, frowning at his request.

“That’s all you want?” I questioned with disbelief, my brows pushing together while I studied him.

“Not even close. I want your help to free the keeps between here and Norvalla. Once we reach my kingdom, you will fight this war at my side, on my side, Aria Hecate. You’ll be mine to do with as I wish.”

“I’ll be your slave?” I snorted, knowing I should have realized he wouldn’t ever just want a kiss.

“Don’t think of it like that,” he growled, eyeing me.

“That’s what I’d be. I’d be your whore to fuck whenever you needed to get off and a weapon to wield against your enemies, which are my people. You are asking for everything you want with the release of my sister.”

“You offered to sell your soul to the devil to keep them safe. I’m your devil, Aria, and as such, I want to know the location of the keep where you’re hiding the witches you’ve promised safety from my sword. You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“That’s something I won’t tell you, Knox. You may find the keep, but you will never get past the stone walls shielded by the magic of the Nine Realms. Since you’re concerned about empty promises, I won’t guarantee that I won’t try to escape you.”

“I know, and I wouldn’t expect you to do so.” Knox placed his elbows on the table, assessing me. “I also don’t intend to allow you to escape me. I thought you were powerful for a witch, but you’re not. You’re a fucking game-changer. You could help me make this world a better place.”

“I would willingly fight at your side if you gave up the need to kill all witches, Knox. If you vowed not to murder the ones who have done no harm, and my family, I’d fight this war at your side while riding your cock into battle like a stallion.”

His lips twitched as his eyes sparkled, shaking his head. “That can’t happen.” He frowned, watching the way I shook my head. “Come