Page 24 of Crown of Chaos

“Yeah, we should. I didn’t make any friends here.”

“That’s not surprising. You’re not the slightest bit friendly. I’m honestly shocked anyone gets to call you Esme, ever.” I chuckled, wincing when she elbowed me. “Yeah, we’re best friends.”

“You’re really pushing it, you know? It took you over a week to come save us,” she began ranting and cursing under her breath, and I smiled while we walked toward the first house in town, which was where I’d started this leg of my murderous rampage. The girl was standing there with a bag overflowing with items. I was pretty sure she’d even added some food for us. I tossed the bag to Esme, and she continued to mutter about how long it took me to rescue her and Avy as she looked inside the satchel.

“You got clean clothes for all three of us?”

“Best friends?” I asked, smiling cheesily while wiggling my eyebrows. I felt the tug on my magic and barely had time to open a portal, forcing all three of us through it before Knox’s power slithered along my flesh. “Oh shit,” I swallowed, peering back over my shoulder. “Run!”

Chapter Thirteen

Knox was hunting us relentlessly, and the quicker we moved, the closer he got. I couldn’t shake him, and pausing long enough to open another portal wouldn’t work. Not when he was right on our trail, refusing to stop. We’d crossed through water and clambered down a ridge into a gorge that started in to another rock-covered decline, and yet he steadily closed the gap between us.

I pounded over the terrain, creating a bloody mess from where the rocks and sharp debris bit into the pads of my feet. There was desperation in every step I took, pushing my burning legs to endure while Esme and Avy remained right behind me. The stink of sweat and moldy vegetation made my stomach turn, threatening to eject the nutrients that Ember ate to keep us healthy.

Ember had woken, but she’d merely chuckled before suppressing the essence that my sweaty body discharged so Knox wouldn’t detect that I was pregnant.

He deserved to know, but I required time to come to terms with the situation and forgive him for what he’d said that day in the library. I was determined to protect the babies and keep them safe, and that meant I had to give myself a moment to iron out the details. First, I had to avoid ending up captured. It wasn’t looking promising, though, seeing how the girls hadn’t recharged like I had.

We rounded a massive formation of rocks, and Esme stopped, compelling me to pause. Wide, lavender eyes met mine, and we strove to even out the air burning through our lungs. Exhaustion shot through me, and my muscles burned like the ligaments inside me were being melted over an open flame.

Shouts rang through the valley we’d entered, and my stomach sank to my toes. Knox’s tone was biting and abrupt, directing his men to spread out and hunt in a wide search pattern to ensure we weren’t hiding. There was no cockiness in his tone—just the anger curling around each word he voiced.

Knox was stalking me, and this time, it seemed different. It was as if the stakes were greater than before. I shifted my palm over my belly protectively and peered toward where his voice grew closer by the minute, trying to determine how far away they were. They were tearing through the gap effortlessly, and we were awaiting the inevitable.

“We can’t keep this up for much longer.” Esme put her concern into words while she continued, rapidly pulling air into her lungs. Her stare locked with mine, expressing a silent plea, and my gut clenched as denial rose to the tip of my tongue.

“He only wants me, Esme. You guys can get away.” I sighed, viewing her dark curls bouncing as her head shook in denial.

“No. That isn’t happening. You’re not throwing yourself at him so we can escape, Aria. We need to figure out a different way to put them off our trail.” She continued struggling for breath as she spoke.

“It is better that he captures me than you guys. He won’t kill me, or I suspect he won’t,” I muttered softly, seeing his men moving down the bank.

I locked gazes with Knox before slowly sliding mine unhurriedly over his armor. Time ceased, and my heartbeat thundered against my rib cage as I breathed rapidly, drinking in the sight of him hungrily. His mouth crooked into an arrogant grin, and I absently took a step forward, only to pause as more men crested the ridge behind him. Esme’s fingers folded around my wrist, jerking me backward, and we started running once more.

Everything within me yearned to go to Knox. I craved to confess to him what we’d made together—that we’d created life, but that also frightened me. He’d already vehemently vocalized his position on the topic, already explained that he’d made a mistake when he married me, that he wished I wasn’t pregnant. It had left me reeling.

“They’re faster than we are!” Avy bellowed, stumbling before she’d finished getting her words out. She grunted as she landed hard, crying out in misery even as she pushed herself upright.

I pulled Avy up while the men stormed toward us, not showing any hint of tiring. We ran once more toward the noise of the rapidly flowing river the creek fed. Esme issued directions, and I faltered when she slung her fists up, urging the terrain to open for her. My eyes expanded, gawking at the vast chunk of earth that she sent sailing behind us.

“You’ll kill them!” I squealed, but she rocked her head. My heart clenched, twisting painfully as fear of harming Knox ate at my mind.

“They’re immortal! It will merely slow them down, Aria,” she vowed, still holding on to my arm while we advanced forward.

Looking over my shoulder, I stared as Knox punched through the soil Esme had dropped on them. His face was crimson with rage as he launched himself toward us.

“We will not outrun him!” I predicted as perspiration beaded and rolled down my eyebrow. I could buy Avy and Esme time to flee, but at what cost? I’d be in chains this time, and I wouldn’t be able to get away from him as I’d done before. There was also more at stake considering I wouldn’t be able to hide specific elements about my changing form.

“Aria! Stop,” he shouted, his tone demanding as he strode closer to me. “You will not elude me, woman. I won’t tolerate it!”

“Go! He won’t follow you, Esme. Take Avy and get out of here, now. Go so that he can’t use you against me. That’s an order! Do it, please.” I fought the tears that burned as they rolled down my cheeks.

“Aria,” he rumbled, strengthening the rattle in his chest, forcing my body to ignite with lustful hunger. I closed my eyes and cried with need, squeezing my thighs tightly together as Lennox reinforced the sounds Knox created. “Good girl.” He laughed, slowing as he neared me.

Turning to confront him, I sucked my lip between my teeth, blocking the sultry purr that grew in my chest. He hoisted his nose to inhale, but power blasted through the area between us. Knox yelled in shock as his body shot back toward his men without warning. I strode forward, unable to establish what had transpired.

He twisted, hissing in anguish as his spine bowed off the ground. Blood erupted from his lips, and I shrieked. Everything inside me turned crimson with rage, and my magic clapped loudly through the heavens, simmering and churning to strike against whoever had harmed him. The wind lashed my hair against my face, and the snarling sound leaving my lungs wasn’t human. I was rushing toward him, drawing magic to use and shield him from his assailant.

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