Page 75 of Crown of Chaos

Killian’s face tightened, but not with anger. His laughter was empty and devoid of emotions. He leaned forward, adding more whisky to both glasses before he sat forward, running his finger over the rim, peering at me over the space between us.

“You didn’t actually think I wasn’t aware of her sneaking into your room, right?” At my silent pause, he smirked before closing his eyes and slowly opening them. “Celia tried to spread rumors about that night. I shut that shit down quickly. I was the one who put you to bed, and tucked you in, asshole. You were still fully dressed the next morning, which meant you couldn’t have slept with my sister. I guess you could have, but I don’t think you did. You were so fucking drunk you couldn’t speak, let alone unzip your fucking pants. Plus, the door wasn’t closed and I imagine I’d have heard something had she been a virgin. I’ve heard experienced women scream when you fuck them, so how the hell would she remain silent with not a single noise leaving your chamber?”

“Shit, I remember nothing from that night other than what she told me in the morning.” I stated, regretting that night more now than I had back when it had happened. “She told me I’d forced her to my bed, and she’d been a maiden still.”

This time, he laughed long and loud, shaking his head, which caused my eyes to narrow to slits. “No, she wasn’t. Celia used to vanish for hours on end, and one time, I went searching for her, and I found her taking two stable boys at once. I assure you she wasn’t a virgin.”

“She told me I’d taken her virginity, and there was blood.” Scrubbing my hand over my face, I battled the exhaustion weighing on me with the constant lies, and betrayal occurring in my own kingdom.

“I’m sure she told you whatever she thought would make you feel guilty. She was playing you, pining for the throne she could only get from being your wife. I don’t care what she told you, Knox. That girl wasn’t a virgin.”

“I never even considered that shit back then, either. I considered asking for her hand, but I couldn’t make myself do it. The thought of anyone else but Liliana made me physically sick. Fucking hell, this is a mess.”

“That’s an understatement, and downplaying it a bit, asshole,” Killian chuckled, but it was filled with pain he’d never admit to anyone, not even me.

The sound of booted feet moving over the library floor forced my attention toward it as Brander and Lore entered, both in full armor. I glanced at the darkening looks straining their faces, and exhaled slowly.

“We found her trail,” Brander stated, staring at Killian’s back.

I shifted my focus to my oldest friend. His shoulders dropped, and he shook his head at my unspoken question. Pain rocked through me for him, and my teeth ground together. There was no way she would escape this. I wouldn’t allow it, but I was still obligated to offer him a say in the matter.

“We can seal her in the tomb with Freya, Killian. I don’t have to take her head. There are other ways to handle this,” I offered, hating that I was about to end the life of his only remaining family.

“My sister isn’t there anymore, brother. Celia died the moment she sold her soul to the witches. She has committed treason against you, and she’ll continue until we end that threat. You can’t really believe that would be a wise thing to do. Especially not when it would give away that Hysteria, her daughters, and Freya are still alive.” He grunted when the room exhaled with relief at his ability to deduct the problem with doing it.

“It’s your sister, Killian. I get that you’re upset, and right now you are prepared to accept this fate for her. But I’m not your fucking king right now. I’m your best friend, and the asshole you’ve stood beside for longer than our cocks could get erect. Celia is the last of your bloodline, and this isn’t something you should take lightly.”

“She’s not my blood, not anymore. I won’t chance adding more shit to everything happening right now. If you put Celia in with the Hecate sisters, Hecate could use Celia to discover they’re not entirely dead. That’s a mess we don’t want or need right now. The poison we created holds them in stasis, but only takes hours to rid from their system. That would add four powerful Hecate direct descendants to the pool of power that sadistic bitch could use against us and our people. It isn’t worth chancing it, and I won’t allow it, Knox. She dies, and I’ll be fine with it because I can’t do anything else,” he muttered with a slow shake of his head. “No, for what she did to Gideon, she has to die.”

“So be it then,” I uttered as the pang of regret entered my chest. “For treason against the High King of the Nine Realms, King Knox Karnavious, King of Norvalla, Lady Celia Moreau will be hunted down and executed immediately. Gentlemen, shall we go handle the issue and end the threat against us?” I asked, peering toward the empty side of the library.

“Aye,” they muttered in agreement.

There was no pleasure in what we’d just unified on. Celia had been the constant female in our lives, even if she turned out to be a treacherous bitch. I was about to remove the head of my best friend’s sister, and I resented her for making it come down to this.

“This won’t change your standing here, Killian. Celia was corrupted by magic and witches. They forced her, and it allowed Hecate access into her soul,” I announced, watching his eyes lift to meet mine.

“That isn’t what happened to her, and you fucking know it,” he snapped as he pushed to his feet.

I snorted and stood so he and I were fact-to-face. “I just told you what fucking happened to your sister. That is what I’ll be telling our people. You will not carry this burden, nor will you relinquish your title. We know what she is and what has happened, so we’ll handle it accordingly. Now, get your fucking armor on, Kill. It’s time to do what we do best.”

He left the room, and I slammed my hands onto the dresser. Everything was going sideways, and the harder I fought to maintain control, the faster that control slipped away. Killian didn’t deserve to lose more family, but neither could this be allowed to continue. Celia wouldn’t stop, and I wasn’t naïve enough to offer the sadistic bitch a pardon merely to stave off the inevitable. I’d already lost too much, and this war felt it was just finally getting started.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Knox

Sweat beaded down my neckfrom the thrill of the hunt. The hell hounds released howls, directing us to the trail the witches had taken. The witches were using herbs and magic to cover their scent. It mattered little since their efforts failed to sway the hell hounds from their relentless need to track and maul the bitches. The entire forest was aware of our presence moving through it at a breakneck pace. I could sense the fear from the females running from us, their scents alluring to the beast within me that wanted to taste blood. I wouldn’t allow him to play with her because Killian didn’t deserve that. Killian was the only reason I planned to give her a swift, painless death. When I paused on an incline, it was as if the forest held its breath while I focused on the trail the witches left in their mad dash to escape us.

“We’re close to them,” I muttered, clicking my tongue against my teeth. I directed the horse down the steep incline as I scanned the forest. “Stay together. We don’t know the magical influence, how many witches she’s with, or if they are all linked to Hecate. We will not take any chances tonight.”

Slate slid as we descended the mountain, and then the ground leveled out and we once more progressed over flat ground. Water splashed under the hooves as horses entered the creek. The hounds sloshed through the water, rushing up the bank before they fanned out, searching for the scent left behind. One lifted its tail straight up and swung its head toward the rough terrain a few paces away from the water.

The path that Celia was taking suggested she was fleeing to the Kingdom of Vãkya, which I would never allow to happen. They’d taken a zigzag direction through the heavier section of the forest. If they hadn’t been hunted by creatures who were bred to find prey and slaughter it mercilessly, they might have had a chance.

It was taking everything within me to remain on the horse and not hunt the bitch down on foot. The need to free Lennox was overwhelming, but he wasn’t interested in the bitch we were chasing. I didn’t blame him, not when Aria was coming back into a heat cycle. He cared even less that Aria had stated repeatedly that she wasn’t mine anymore and that she couldn’t be owned. Those were statements born from, and saturated in, the pain of losing our twins, her family’s betrayal, and my own actions, especially the ones poisoned by magic.

If I let Lennox hunt her, if I didn’t give her the time to mend, then she would hide herself somewhere that was far outside my reach. While I hated that as much as Lennox did, I would respect it. There was also Hecate to consider, and her fucking need to destroy anything I craved. It gave me reservations about allowing Aria near me, fearing she’d be even more of a target than she already was now.

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