Page 55 of Crown of Chaos

“It’s Queen of Witches, King Karnavious. Or, if you prefer, you may call me Queen Hecate,” she returned smoothly, smiling with a twinkle dancing in her gaze. “Are you purposely ignoring the question? I’d hate to think you’re lying, or misleading the council by withholding the truth of what occurred in your kingdom.”

“I have withheld nothing from the council,Aurora. I made the council aware of the developing situation, and they agreed I should handle it in a manner of my choosing.”

“Did or didn’t Aria slaughter innocent lives within your kingdom? Lives you solemnly swore to protect from any threat imposed against them? It’s a rather straightforward question, King Karnavious. I expect you to answer me truthfully,” Aurora demanded loudly.

Swallowing past the animosity and rage at her audacity to demand anything from me, I shifted in my seat, leaning over the table before folding my hands on it.

“She did because she lost control of her emotions. Grief can do that to anyone of us.”

“And she’ll only continue to spiral. Aria believes we should save all witches, and we know that it’s just not realistic or plausible.”

I wanted to argue with her, but she wasn’t wrong.

“Not all witches,” Killian interjected, forcing my head to swing toward him.

“I don’t believe I asked you,” Aurora snapped, but Killian merely aimed his chilling glare on her before continuing.

“Merely the witches who are not yet evil, which we also agree with,” he stated, tapping the table with his fingertips. “Aria may be young, but she isn’t unhinged. She attacks with control, which is more than most of us can say we do lately. She could have continued a path of destruction with her grief, but she stopped. I would wager that more than half the people in this room have caused more death and destruction when they lost someone they loved. Aria attacked and may have done so in anger. The keep she attacked had violated the laws of Norvalla, and the punishment for that would have been death anyway. Upon finding children she had vowed to protect slain, she aimed that anger at the lord who’d intended to feed witches to his hound for fun. Tell me none of you would’ve responded the same if he’d been feeding your people to his fucking dog. No? None of you can state otherwise?”

Killian defended her, even though he’d been the last person I’d ever expected to do so. In fact, we’d left Lore and Greer in Norvalla to prevent anyone from speaking up or giving away our stance on them hunting her. Their sharp, staunch defense of Aria had drawn the attention of those here, which had added fuel to fire Aurora was lighting. The bitch was aiming her sights on my throne, and not even bothering to hide it anymore. If she thought I’d willingly vacate it for her, she was about to find out why no one fucked with me.

“That isn’t what I asked, was it? Was everyone within the keep she decimated guilty, or merely a few? From what I’ve gathered, she slaughtered children and pregnant women without prejudice. She claims to fight for the weak, and then she murders them. So, tell me I’m wrong here, Killian. Tell me that Aria Hecate didn’t unjustly destroy that keep, and those dwelling within it.” Aurora huffed, watching him with the recognition that he couldn’t say otherwise.

“How many innocent lives have you taken,Aurora? We already know you were perfectly willing to slaughter you daughter for power. Or you, Queen of Nymphs? How about you, King of Alpha’s?” I examined carefully. “I know I am not any better than Aria in this aspect. I have a throne of witches’ skulls to prove it. So, let’s stop this tiresome campaign you’re waging against your daughter just so you can siphon her power—power, I might add, that you weren’t even able to claim when as an infant.” I looked directly into Aurora’s eyes, knowing she remembered when her skull had almost been added to the pile. Did she forget who’d saved her worthless ass? “This isn’t a fucking lynch mob. It’s a hearing to discuss how we move forward.”

“You’re wrong.” Aurora chuckled, her hands folded neatly on the table in front of her. “Your wife, if she evenisyour wife under the law of witches, is a menace and deadly to anyone, or anything that opposes her. Celia and I had a lovely conversation a few days ago, and it brings in the legitimacy of your nuptials. You forced Aria’s hand, and as a result, your vows are nothing more than words you spoke together. Celia assured me it was done to prevent Aria from hurting you and your people, which hasn’t seemed to stop her.”

Anger rushed through me, and Celia sensed it, shifting away from me just a fraction of an inch. I smiled tightly, turning to glance at her as her stare pleaded with me. Aria was being attacked on every side, from every angle, and she wasn’t here to argue the case or defend herself.

“I can assure that, under the laws ofNorvalla, she is my wife. My wedding gift to her was your life and the lives of her sisters. Is that what you wanted? What do you actually plan to do, Aurora? Is this what we do here now, beat down a girl who isn’t here to defend herself and lobby to dissolve marriage vows?” I spat, forcing myself not to remove the heads of the entire council and add them to the others who’d failed the Nine Realms.

“It’s a question of whether she has the protection of the high king of the Nine Realms,” Aurora argued while the others muttered their agreement. “No one present is eager to cross you or trespass against what you claim. Without the protection that your marriage provides, Aria could be captured and held with your permission, and it would prevent her from ending more innocent lives.”

“Define innocent.” Brander chuckled. “You made her,Queen of Witches. You want her captured and drained to the brink of death so you can take what is rightfully hers by force. In the words of Aria herself, hard pass. No one here will add to your powers or provide you with permission to drain her to that point.”

“You have no vote here, Brander.” Neven sneered at him, buffing her nails on her dress before staring at them.

“Did I forget to inform you? It must have slipped my mind, but I have allowed Brander to stand in as my proxy for Norvalla for this meeting. As the second-born son, he may hold the title if I agree.” I smiled tightly at Neven, who wisely kept her poisonous mouth closed.

“Are you in love with her?” Celia asked, causing to my attention to her, where she flinched from what she read in my expression. “Is that why you refuse to admit that you coerced her into marriage?”

“No.” I snorted, hating that it bothered me to say it aloud. “I’m no longer capable of that emotion. But love or not, she is my mate, which offers far more protection than marriage does in Norvalla.”

“Aria is incapable of mating,” Aurora said, shaking her head in denial.

“Would you like to tell my beast that she isn’t his mate? I can bring him to the forefront and allow you to explain it to him, Aurora. Your kind has always trembled in the presence of mine because of the fire we house, a fire Aria also houses. How is it you were able to lay down and spread your thighs for a beast you despise long enough the breed that perfect little monster you created?” I asked while drumming my fingers, watching the color draining from her face.

“I say you vote,” Celia announced, forcing my stare to hers once more.

“You and I both know how this will end,” I hissed, letting her see every spark of fury she’d just ignited.

“You can’t see beyond what she is, Knox. Since you cannot, it falls to us to protect you and do what is needed. Aria’s a monstrosity, one that shouldn’t exist. No witch has ever held both bloodlines. I can’t overlook the facts or truth of the danger she poses for you, My King.”

Anger and warning sparkled in mine, but also betrayal at the fact she’d backed up the witches instead of me, her fucking king. I hated the fucking game being played here. I’d placed these assholes on the council. I was who removed the heads of the council before them and cleared the way for true leaders to rise and unite against the threat being brought against the realms. I’d sworn to heed their advice and they’d sworn to always vote for what was best for all realms rather than their own self-interests. If I disagreed or challenged them openly, I’d be facing a war against all of them. Until I prepared for that course, I’d either play along, or be left in the dark.

I couldn’t allow that to happen. The army would follow me, but I’d be blindly leading them without knowing the moves the council would make. So, for now, I’d play their political game and let Aria teach them why the queen was always the most powerful piece on the chessboard.

“I will not vote for her death, imprisonment, or forfeit of power. I will also not allow you and others to hunt Aria down. She’s done nothing to warrant it yet,” I growled, frowning as agreement moved around the table. Standing, I glared at Aurora, who smirked. She knew she’d won my council.

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