Page 125 of Crown of Chaos

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, I pray you find your peace with whatever God you trust,” I whispered softly, peering back into the large opulent room.

Chapter Fifty-Nine

It had taken hours tomove the children to the new location. Esme had collected food while Soraya had collected bedding and other creature comforts. Avy, Siobhan, and I had cleared out the remains and freshen it up as best we could. We’d placed wards, barriers, and runes to conceal and prevent anyone from locating them. Once we’d finished gathering what they would need, I opened a portal that opened to the pathway that led into the forgotten village.

Esme and I didn’t start forward right away. We just stared down the long, winding trail with apprehension flooding through us. It wasn’t the idea of going through a trial that worried me; it was walking blindly into unknown circumstances. If we made it through and I discovered my father was the same ilk as my mother, I was going to lose my shit. That would not stop me from going, though. I had to find out who I was.

“Do you hear that?” Esme asked thoughtfully, tilting her head to the side as her lips tightened.

“I do.” There was a beautiful, soothing melody playing into the cool evening air around us.

No sooner had I answered than the sound of feet moving down the pathway reached us. I gathered magic, and then I exhaled in relief as silver hair came into view. In the front of the small group was Aden, a cocky smile pulling his full lips. Men stood behind him, smiling in our direction, with curiosity burning in their gazes.

“Your father cannot wait to meet you, Little Queen,” Aden stated.

“Aden.” I dipped my chin a fraction in greeting.

He tossed a bag toward us, and out of reflex, I moved to grab it out of the air. When I returned my attention to him, he was inches from me. Aden lifted his hand, cupping my cheek in his warm palm. A tremor of unease rushed through me before he lowered his lips to my ear, pressing them against it.

“I cannot wait for you to enter our world and learn who you really are, Aria Prometheus,” he whispered while his heated breath fanned against my neck.

“You could just spill it now?” I offered, enjoying the sound of his laughter that vibrated against my shoulder.

“If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.” He stepped back to look into my eyes. “Inside the bag is clothing for you to wear during the trial on your way to the Kingdom of Fire.”

“Any hint about what we’re heading into?” Esme asked, which forced his attention to her.

“I am not privy to any aspect of the trial, Esmerelda. The path depends on which one you both choose to take. I can tell you that the easier path is never the one youshouldtake,” he offered before his eyes slid back to mine and heated with desire.

“Is this to test our strength or our intentions?” I questioned, studying him as he soundlessly stepped closer to me once more.

“You don’t need to be tested for strength,” he stated before running his finger over my cheek.

“Will we have to do this every time we come?” I countered, hoping it wasn’t something we’d have to repeat.

“No, but to enter it for the first time, you both must make it through it alive. Are you afraid, Little Queen?” he inquired before lowering his lips against my ear again. “If I feared you couldn’t make it through this, I’d tell you to be careful. That isn’t the case. You’re an amazing fighter and survivor. Make it through this, and I’ll be waiting for you on the other side.” Aden’s gaze darkened and roved over me with a ravenous hunger that caused unease to swirl through me.

“And when we reach the Kingdom of Fire, if we want to leave?”

“I’ll escort you out myself if that is what you wish. However, once you’ve reached our haven, I don’t think you’re going to want to go anywhere else. I know I don’t, but I also don’t intend to cower in the shadows anymore. Do hurry, your father’s rather impatient to meet his only daughter, Aria.”

He nodded to the others, who turned and started up the trail. Aden twisted back, sliding his turquoise gaze down to my stomach before frowning. He sucked his full bottom lip between his teeth before he brought his hands together. The smirk on his lips didn’t distract from the worry dancing in his stare.

“He sought to ensure you were his after all, didn’t he? Did he succeed, Aria?” Aden questioned, but if he wanted the answer, he didn’t wait around for one. Aden just spun and followed the others until they vanished before our eyes. Apprehension returned, and I turned to find Esme scowling at me.

“No matter what happens, Esme, we make it through this together. Promise me,” I whispered, unable to shake off the feeling that this wasn’t only a trial to reach the Kingdom of Fire. It was something much more sinister.

“I promise to do everything in my power to get us through this shit show together,” she agreed, digging the outfits Aden had told us to wear from the bag.

We changed into skin-tight, black leggings that hugged our thighs perfectly and long-sleeved blouses that were a soft baby-blue color. There were two black, long-sleeved, hooded cloaks that hung to mid-thigh. The backs of them tightened like a corset so they were form fitting, and the fronts of them laced up the same way.

I yanked on the boots that stopped just below my knees and narrowed my eyes at the fit. Esme had the same stupefied look on her face. Neither of us had any idea how they’d gotten our sizes right.

The last items in the bag were four daggers, two for each of us, and harnesses for us to strap them to our upper thighs.

Everything we’d worn here went into the bag, and then we were on our feet again, looking down the trail Aden and the other men had disappeared down. Exhaling the anxiousness I felt, I started forward with Esme beside me, the bag secure on her back.

The moment our feet touched the trail, everything around us shifted. It was as if the world had tilted, and we were moving through changing scenery. The hair on my arms stood up as I exchanged a look with Esme.

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