Page 43 of Crown of Chaos

“Did you see anything?” Esme asked, stepping to my side.

“No, but one of them mentioned a lord, and I think I heard someone say they’d be traveling to the borderlands.” Avyanna hastily filled us in on the details and answer what questions she could.

“Aurora and my sisters didn’t come back?” I asked. They may have fled after leaving us behind with Hecate.

“No,” Avy admitted, her body language tense before she shrugged. “I thought someone would come back, but no one did.”

“That doesn’t make sense.” I ran her words through my mind, coming away with horrid scenarios and reasons they hadn’t returned to defend the sanctuary.

“No, but the people who attacked us wore black uniforms with ravens on their shoulders, and the Norvalla insignia was on their banners,” Avyanna proclaimed, sadness drifting over her face before she lowered it with embarrassment. Her tears fell to the ground, and her shoulders sagged. “After they left, I intended to return home to the marshes and hole up in dishonor. But I stayed close in case you came back.”

“I’m glad you stayed shielded and are safe, Avy,” Esme offered, patting her shoulder in a show of camaraderie. “You did the right thing, and no one is questioning it, okay?”

Avy sniffed and wiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks away.

“I say we track him down and let Esme and Aria devour his ass,” Soraya offered, rubbing Avy’s arm awkwardly.

“I don’t dine on ass,” Esme rumbled, earning a trickle of laughter from Avyanna. “But I’m not against eating the rest of him while he watches.” Esme’s shoulders lifted and fell as she grinned.

We were all uncomfortable showing emotion, which made our group work well together. None of us was used to being or having a friend, someone to trust. I’d grown up with a lot of siblings, and I’d constantly been on the outside, looking in at them. The only sister I was close to was Kinvara, and she had only caught glimpses of who I was.

“We should head directly to the borderlands to find the lord who murdered the witchlings and took the women. If we delay, they’ll be dead before we reach them, and I prefer not to burn any more witches today.” I faced the others to determine their response, but then I saw that Avy’s eyes were locked on me. Her attention dropped before her stare widened and flicked up once more. “That isn’t something we’re going to discuss right now, Avy. Move out,” I stated sharply.

“Are you okay, Aria?” she inquired, ignoring my demand that we not talk about it.

“No, but I have a target to unleash my pain upon, and that should keep my mind occupied,” I lied easily, pasting a grin on for her benefit. Avy glanced to Esme, who smiled tightly before she shook her head a single time. Thankfully, Avy didn’t argue or ask any more questions as we turned and headed away from the small, run-down village.

We walked for three hours until we stood before a massive, fortified dwelling that was where I’d thought it would be. It was located inside Norvalla, flying a banner declaring it beneath Knox’s protection. My gaze traveled over the familiar flag, hesitating as it moved to examining the guards crossing the walkway above the gate. At best, they were mediocre at their jobs since they hadn’t noticed we were standing in clear view, watching them.

“It’s on Knox’s side of the border,” Esme hissed, gritting her teeth, apprehension heavy in her rasped tone.

“And?” I urged, shifting to face her.

“And that’s going to cause some significant marital issues.” I shrugged and swung toward the stone gates. “Aria, you cannot possibly think this is a good idea! This place isn’t just another castle you simply destroy and walk away from without repercussions. Knox Karnavious will hunt us down for killing people who living in his territory and are beneath his emblem of protection.”

“He and Hecate can team up for all I care,” I offered coldly, inhaling anger as a cry sounded within the barricades of the keep. “I advised him I wouldn’t hesitate to resolve the pointless brutality happening in the realms. Those cries are from girls being punished for the blood they were born with, and I can’t stand aside and wait. Knox won’t correct this situation for me.”

“We can leave hints it was someone else, maybe a banner?” Soraya rubbed the back of her neck uncomfortably. “He terrifies the crap out of me.”

“He’s a fluffy teddy bear,” I purred, sniffing the air and listing to them make worried sounds in reply. “Besides, he knows my magic. Knox will come for me and me only. But if he finds us together, I suggest you fucking run, though. I’m pretty positive his men have become obsessed with our little force.”

I strolled forward, but when they started bickering about what they should do, I growled and turned back to them. “Knox’s house is fucking messy and filled with murderous people. I’m his wife, and that means the responsibility belongs to me, all right?” Planting my palms on my hips, I puffed out a breath of annoyance. “He hunts; I clean. Now move. Let’s show those savages what a handful of pissed-off witches can accomplish with bad attitudes, a little magic, and a whole lot of fuck-around-and-find-out.”

Knox’s kingdom was filthy, and he thought it would go unnoticed. I’d be damned if I was going to ignore this or try to pin it on someone else. Besides, it wasn’t only witches who were out of control and razing hell in the Nine Realms; it was everyone. The entire place needed a good cleansing, and I was in the mood to remove the clutter.

Chapter Twenty-Two

We were almost to thegate before the guards glanced down at us, and we stopped. One of the broader guards stepped to the edge, scowling down at us with his beady eyes. I assumed he was in charge because when he barked orders, all but the man standing by him, scattered like roaches.

“Who goes there?” the patrol guard demanded, unwilling to leave his post at the portcullis. “Halt, in the king’s name! Who dares approach Veldaria unannounced?”

“Jesus, they honestly say that shit? I assumed it only happened in the movies.” I turned to the girls, who all looked slightly uneasy. “Look scary or something,” I fussed, angling myself toward the guard, who kept yelling, oblivious to the fact I’d stopped listening.

Unleashing a jerk of magic to wrap around him, I hauled him to me. A menacing smile formed on my lips when his eyes went wide and he let out an ear-piercing scream. When he landed, he was so close to me I could smell his sour breath, so I gave him a little shove backward with my magic. He sucked in air greedily as he struggled to reach me with his fists.

“Witch!” he screeched so loudly that my hand slapped over my ears while I grimaced.

“Oh my! Where?” I peered around, pointed a finger at my chest, and then gave him a look of mock confusion. “Me? Well, this is awkward. It’s me, isn’t it? I’m the witch.” I balked dramatically and then pinched the bridge of my nose, cringing when he renewed his shouting. “Is that absolutely necessary?” He continued his assault on my ears and backed up, drawing his blade. “So much for accomplishing this in a civilized fashion,” I complained, lifting my fists before snapping my fingers wide. His head exploded, splashing the wall with crimson. “Murder is so sloppy.”

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