Page 121 of Crown of Chaos

“Debatable,” Aurora argued. “I can and will hold my throne.”

“When she saw who you really were, what you really wanted . . . when she questioned that? You turned on her and denounced her to the council. You’ve done everything you could to turn people against her so you had a reason to detain her and suck out her power to use as your own—just like your mother does to her creations. But I think you’re fucking stupid for thinking it’s possible. Your daughter is given her powers from the realms, and they won’t ever recognize you as a viable option to wield them, ever. You are a poison, and Aria’s a cure. Your desperation’s seeping from your pores, you pathetic, weak-minded whore. When Aria rises—and she will rise—you’ll fall.”

“I have the ear of your council, King Karnavious. You don’t want to mess with me,” she snarled. “She won’t mess with me, either. As we speak, an entire army is marching on the location where she’s hidden her friends. Before she returns, they’ll be in my dungeon.”

I closed my eyes, fighting the growl that bubbled up my throat. Raking my gaze over her shadowy form, I looked for a way to escape and rush back to the girls.

Knox laughed outright, as if it didn’t bother him in the slightest. “I murdered every single member you and your sisters placed on the last council. I won’t hesitate to do it to this one, too, Aurora. None of them are strong enough or more powerful than I am. That’s why I’m the fucking king, and they serve at my pleasure. I sought a fair and evenhanded council to speak on behalf of their people so that no realm suffered because they weren’t given a voice. I can, and I will, undo that swiftly if you continue to taint them. Celia had the ear of the council, and she ended up headless, didn’t she? What did they do about that? Oh, yeah, nothing.”

“You wouldn’t dare, King Karnavious.”

“Yeah, I really fucking would. Try me and find out what happens to those who get in my way or fuck with those I care about. If you or any one of them oversteps their station, I will remind them why I’m the fucking high king and that they’re here because I allow it. I’m willing and able to hand Aria the match and reset this entire fucking place back to what it was before your kind got dumped on our doorstep.”

“You’re making a mistake.”

Knox scoffed. “Aria ismymate.Sheismine, and Iwilldo whatever the fuck it takes to see her succeed. I will be right behind her, protecting her as she chooses her fucking path. If Aria’s the heir to the Kingdom of Fire throne and the rightful queen of the Nine Realms, then you should probably get your shit in order because, tick tock, bitch, the countdown has begun. If I were you, I’d start running because your daughter is a savage beast, who was bred to track, catch, and slaughter her prey. And, Aurora, she’s marked you as prey. Now get the fuck out.”

“This isn’t over,” she hissed vehemently, but the sound of her heels clicking on the floor indicated she’d chosen to vacate his chamber.

I swallowed, frowning as he laughed before the door closed and he stepped fully out onto the balcony. He was smiling, and the sparkle in his oceanic depths was filled with something that made my chest tighten painfully, urging me deeper into the shadows in which I hid.

“Long may you reign, Aria Prometheus,” he whispered, barely loud enough to be carried on the wind. “You’ll bring us all to our knees, and I’ll be there to watch this world fall beneath your beautiful flames.” He spun, smiling into the shadows. “You are the flames of my soul, and I wish I had realized it sooner, Aria. Aurora sent an army to your sanctuary to seize the women who remain loyal to you.” Knox stepped forward, easily finding me and using one finger to lift my chin. “I sent my own to protect them and slaughter her forces. You’ll need to hide them better.” His mouth slid against mine, claiming it gently. After he’d turned my knees to jelly, he smiled and pressed his forehead against mine.

“You sent your army to slaughter hers?” I clarified as my confusion played out on my face.

“I told you, Aria. You’re mine, and I protect what’s mine. That also includes those you care about.”

“Thank you,” I said before sighing. “I am not your queen, Knox,” I stated, growing more confused.

“Yes, you are.” His eyes flashed to obsidian and embers before settling back to their oceanic blue. “You are my mate and my queen, and I’ll stand by your side whether you want to take up the throne or burn the realms to ashes. While you’re gone, I need you to hold on to what you want and desire. Promise me you won’t allow them to taint or change who you are. There’s not one thing about you that needs to be fixed or altered, Aria. Do you understand me?” He scanned my face before he yanked me closer, kissing me deeply.

Knox pulled from the kiss and pressing his forehead against mine. “I promise I won’t change who I am for anyone, Knox.”

“Now go so you can figure out whatever it is you wish to know and return to me so that we may begin planning how to end this war together. If they try to hurt you, kill them all. If you’re not back within the next month, I will come after you. I’m trying to be what you need right now, but I am not a patient man.”

I smiled as tears swam in my eyes. Knox gave me a lopsided grin and released the air from his lungs.

“You were already what I needed, even at your worst, Knox. You’re broken, like me. That pain you loathe so much, it’s what spoke to me. Your sharp edges and cracks? They’re like mine, and that means we’re going to cut each other occasionally. I don’t need some grand gesture or to be touched with tender hands. Neither do you. I like you how you are, and while the mood swings were a bit much, it wasn’t you. I know that, and even if it wasn’t all done by design, I know you are not the type of man who willingly inflicts pain on those weaker than you. You’re the type who secretly saves witches and protects children while showing the world. These eyes, when I look into them? I see something more than pain or anger. I see what could be if you and I ever figure this thing out.” I lifted, capturing his mouth in a tender kiss before pulling away. “I’ll see you when I return.”

Chapter Fifty-Seven

I’d raced back to whereI’d hidden the women and children and made it there before either army discovered each other or my group’s whereabouts. It created more issues knowing Aurora was actively searching for them, and the idea of my leaving sat like a boulder on my chest. So, before Esme and I left, I had to find somewhere protected and undetectable by scrying for them to hide.

I’d begun crafting barrier spells and concealment ointments that they could use in my absence, but that wouldn’t be enough. I had to find somewhere outside of the areas they’d search for them in. But the problem was, I’d only been to three realms, and they each bordered the Kingdom of Vãkya.

Unsettling silence had settled on the ruins after I’d told them what Aurora had said. I’d turned her and Knox’s words over in my mind, picking out what could be true in them. Most lies held a shred of truth, but it wasn’t easy figuring out which ones were the crumbs and which was the loaf. I hadn’t expected Knox to defend me against Aurora, but he had.

He and I weren’t enemies anymore. It was as if something had shifted, and we’d become something less hostile to one another instead. He was no longer murdering witches carte blanche. Not that he’d been when I’d arrived within the Nine Realms. He’d been offering them a choice to run with a head start or to join him against Ilsa, which had actually been Hecate the entire time.

It left me floundering over how to deal with him. I wanted him, but I didn’t know if I could trust that he wouldn’t revert to how he’d been before. He’d been hexed, but how much of that was the hex bags and how much was actually him? I didn’t know, but I was finally catching glimpses of him, and I liked what I was seeing. Knox had allowed me to leave him, knowing that I couldn’t be forced or coerced into anything. Ember had admitted that Lennox also agreed that we weren’t something to be chained up and owned.

“If you keep smiling like that, I may throw up on you.” Esme snorted, her violet gaze scanning my face before she chortled.

“I’m enjoying the thoroughly fucked glow she’s got going on.” Jasmine wiggled her brows at me before they all started laughing.

“Shut up.” Siobhan laughed, shaking her head. “I’m glad you had an amazing night, Aria. I, for one, think you deserve a scrupulous night of sinning with that beast.”

My attention lingered on her rocking a babe for a moment before moving over the slumbering children spread out on the floor.

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