Page 2 of Crown of Chaos

“I’m dreaming,” I said more to myself than to him. It was also the only thing I could think to say to what I had witnessed.

“Are you, daughter?” he asked, laughing from directly behind me. Worry and confusion coursed through me, telling me that, if I spun around, no one would be there. “I’ve been waiting for you to be curious about us. We needed you to find your center and understand where you truly belong. You’re a part of me, and I’m glad you’ve opened your mind to allow me access to you, and the ability to show you my world without endangering either of us.”

“I had been wondering what the world would be like if war had never touched the Nine Realms, and it allowed you to bring me here, didn’t it?” I countered through trembling lips, lifting my attention back to the skies filled with ethereal creatures.

A hand touched my shoulder, and I turned to peer into eyes the same color as mine. My birth father’s hair was dark silver with black tips that dusted his shoulders, twin swirls of ink drifted in wispy lines encircling his arms to his blackened fingertips, and a kind smile played on his mouth.

“Yes, your mind was open to learning, which allowed me to draw you to me,” he informed, scanning my face. We sized one another up, before he continued. “We can speak here without being overheard by those who would wish to taint your mind,” he mused, nodding to where a giant phoenix had landed.

The creature shifted, power humming in the air as it changed into a man. I narrowed my eyes at Aden as he stepped to me and stroked his knuckles over my cheek.

“Aden,” I murmured, and his lips jerked back, revealing white teeth that made his bronzed flesh appear darker.

“Hello, Little One,” he returned, leaning forward to brush his lips against mine. “Welcome home.”

Emotion churned through me as I glanced away from him and to the creatures dancing through the skies.

“Why am I here?” I asked, fighting the tremble trying to shake my soul.

“This is where you are from. These ruins are your forefather’s legacy and your birthright. One day, you and I shall rule this land together,” Aden answered as he moved to stand beside me. “At one time, this was where the king and queen of the Nine Realms lived while ruling over the other realms. There was peace, and the realms lived without the fear of being destroyed or murdered. If we win the war, it is where you and I will rule over our people once more, Aria.”

Swallowing the rebuttal and denial of his words, I remained silent. Then, with no warning, I started forward, moving toward the palace that stood high and mighty amongst the smaller buildings that surrounded the structure.

The gates swung open, and I entered the courtyard, only to pause as the echo of flowing water drew my focus. The air was damp with water droplets being splashed from the fountains that lined the path leading up the incline. Drifting to the waterfalls that flowed over the steep cliffs, I peered through them to where a shadow appeared behind the water. A quiet whimper left my lungs as a large, fiery red dragon rushed through the water, shrieking as it glided higher, and then slowly spiraled down until he landed, shaking the ground before me with the sheer magnitude of the glorious beast. My heart stopped beating, and my breath hitched in my lungs. Its head dipped, as if he were studying me while he crept to where I stood. My fingers curled against my palms, forming fists to prevent myself from reaching out and attempting to stroke him as if he were a domesticated animal.

It pawed the ground, scratching sizable holes in the pavers. I gawked at its elongated claws, rolling my eyes back to where it watched me through oceanic depths. Unlike Aden, it didn’t transform into anyone. It merely chuffed and made a soft rattling noise that sang to my soul.

“Your path will either lead us to victory or destroy everything and everyone within the Nine Realms, Aria,” my father whispered, touching my hair before tucking wayward strands behind my ear. “You’re from me, and that means this world is where you belong now. I merely planted the seed from which you sprouted, but you surpassed my expectations. The Nine Realms senses you and knows the true queen has returned to remove the taint that stains the land. I know you feel it too, daughter. This is where you fit, and belong with us. Together, we will take back our world, and return to this realm to see life flourishing in it once more.”

“You make it sound easy to accomplish,” I whispered before facing the dragon, which was studying me.

The dragon’s snarl of displeasure sent heated air along my body. Silently and slowly, I inched toward the dragon’s red scales. Its eyes turned to obsidian with flickering embers burning within them. I lifted my trembling fingers and brushed the chest of the gigantic beast.

“You’re a beautiful creature, aren’t you?” I whispered barely loud enough for the words to be carried on the wind.

The dragon rattled, lowering its head as if inviting me to climb onto his back. For just a second, I entertained the thought, wondering what it would feel like to fly, but then the dragon shifted, and my entire focus fell to the pendant on the ground by its claws. I grabbed it and blew the dirt from the raven etched on the medallion. My eyes narrowed on the outstretched wings and how the bird’s beak was open as if cawing out in warning.

Forcing my senses outward, I sought what had disturbed the dragon and watched as skeletal fingers shot through the ground. The mangled corpse struggled to break free of the dirt, and once it had, it crawled over the earthen floor toward me. It started moving faster than my mind could process and then rose, continuing to jerk as if it had slipped out from some horror movie, snarling and shaking until it became whole. I frowned when it finally straightened and looked directly at me.

Aurora turned her head, a frown deepening on her mouth while creasing her forehead. She continued to gaze over the scenery before moving toward the dragon that stood near me. I stepped in front of it, staring at her as she walked closer. Fear shot through me, and the dragon chuffed loudly before it rattled a warning that I understood well. It sensed me defending it, and understood I would. Heat slid down my spine as it breathed behind me, watching Aurora with the intelligence of a predator bred to savagely slaughter its prey. I understood that need viscerally and barely prevented the rattle from leaving my lungs.

“You will betray us all for him,” she hissed before lunging. A flash of silver glinted in the light, and I brought my fist up to prevent the blade from piercing my chest.

I screamed in pain, shooting up from the bed. I was disoriented, trying to separate fact from fiction, which was why it took a moment to realize my palm was bleeding. The cut was shallow and already beginning to heal, but the ability to be injured in a dream was unsettling. It took me another moment to realize I clutched the silver medallion in my other hand. Glancing around the room, I fought the ragged breathing that threatened to make me hyperventilate.

Sliding my feet over the edge, I looked at the mud coating them and then inhaled, still smelling the freshly baked goods from the village. I pushed the pendant into the pocket of my nightgown and headed to the portal that opened into the library. If the necklace was from my father, then I needed to prevent anyone else from finding it or seeing the symbol until I figured out what it meant. It felt far too important to carry with me.

I’d thought it merely a dream, but I’d been injured inside it, which wasn’t right. That shouldn’t have been any more possible than pulling something from it. Yet, I had proof of both. The first time I’d entered Knox’s dreamscape, he’d savaged my throat, but when I woke, there hadn’t been so much as a scratch. I had entered his dreams after that more than once, emerging unscathed each time even though he’d brutally taken me with a savagery that his anger and the betrayal he’d endured had fueled.

My father’s words replayed inside my mind, forcing me to consider that he’d used something different from merely a dreamscape. The entire thing had felt real, and my feet still bore the dirt and muck. If he could summon me with his magic, was it possible for someone else to catch a ride through a rift left behind from the spell? It wouldn’t be unheard of, and it wasn’t impossible for dreams to enter the magical rift, either. So, had I conjured her to us, or had she reached me there? Had it even really been Aurora? Since dream magic meant anything was possible, there was no way of telling. But whoever it had been had sought to end me. That much was clear, and meant I had to guard my rear end.

If my father wanted me, he’d find me. I had too much shit to deal with as it was. My list always grew and never seemed to shrink lately. It was a constant battle to ignore the allure of Knox and his intoxicating scent while he lingered in the library. Plus, while I’d missed my sisters terribly, they were a lot to handle for more than a couple of hours. I’d kept distance from them more frequently. If they noticed, they kept it to themselves as I drifted closer to the girls I’d saved and became friends with since escaping Knox. It was those same friends I’d trusted now, which meant I’d need to inform them of the events that occurred tonight. Whoever wanted me pushing up daisies would need to get in line with the others seeking my blood. I fully intended to disappoint them all by remaining alive long enough to bring this place to its knees and see it restored to its full potential.

Chapter Two

Knox

The palace in Laveran, thecapital of the Nine Realms, was already buzzing with rumors about today’s events and the group of witches currently entering the town. Every set of eyes was on them, yet they didn’t appear discouraged or afraid of coming into enemy territory.

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