Page 53 of Crown of Chaos

It was only then that I strode to the small room that reeked of death and paused in horror. They had piled corpses of older children against the back wall.

“And even though you are but little, you shall be fierce,” I murmured, uttering the incantation spell which added them to the undead army. “Blessed be, for you are now truly free of this flesh and bone that held your soul to this cursed place.” Turning around, I gazed into Knox’s oceanic-colored eyes. When he stepped forward, I turned away.

“Poor, pathetic creature, isn’t she, Knox? How embarrassing to be tossed away like nothing more than trash.” Celia chuckled beside him, forcing me to glance at her while she continued clutching onto Knox. “Oh, I think she’s going to cry now.”

“Enough, Celia,” Knox warned, but I didn’t turn back. I wouldn’t.

I paused at the entrance to the portal, glancing at the girls who had yet to move. Kinvara had tears rolling down her cheeks, but the others merely watched with hopeful stares. I silently memorized their faces and then lifted two fingers to my forehead before saluting them. It would likely be the last time I saw them, and even though it ached and broke me to walk away, I was done allowing myself to be considered a weapon, or anything else, for them to use.

I’d allowed myself to be abused and hurt repeatedly so that I could keep them safe. The moment I was down, they’d jumped to kick me simply because Aurora had ordered them to do so. My family had no intention of straining themselves to defend witches or anyone else being abused. They had proven that when they’d stood in this room, enjoying the party while on the other side of the wall, children suffered. It was almost as if they were used to ignoring children screaming in pain. But then they’d listened to their mother endlessly torturing me, and done then nothing either. If they cared, they had a shitty way of showing it to a person.

They’d known I had been using myself as bait for Knox, so he wouldn’t turn his attention to them. For months, I’d allowed him to chase me just so they would be safe, and the entire time, they’d been busy trading their loyalty for safety and comfort. The moment I showed any sign of not being the perfect little monster for them, they threw me away because I was the face they’d hidden behind.

Then there was Knox. He’d done shit that was unforgiveable, but the first time I messed up, he walked away. According to him, marriage in the Nine Realms was forever, but I was sure Aurora was already working to have my titles removed.

She wouldn’t best me in combat, which meant she needed to do so in another way. It didn’t matter anymore, not really. If he wanted a divorce, I’d sign on the dotted line. He and his men made their positions clear by remaining silent tonight. Knox had proven that I meant nothing to him and that I never would. He was here with his whore hanging on him, and he’d said nothing and done nothing as my entire world shattered.

If he’d meant what he’d said when he held me, why hadn’t he sought to prevent the events of tonight from transpiring? I didn’t have time to believe in fairy tales or love anymore. Before, when he’d mentioned how naïve I was, I’d laughed and mostly ignored him. Now, it wasn’t so easy to laugh away. This place had changed me, and I wasn’t certain it was for the better. He’d changed me, and while he’d strengthened me and forced me to harden, Knox had also added to the agony I’d endured tonight.

I needed to redirect and alter my perception. I’d been moving through the realms to protect and keep my family safe. Tonight, I’d lost that responsibility. I no longer had to factor them into my plans. It was freeing, even though it would leave a huge scar on my soul. I’d been betrayed, beaten, broken, but I’d not been defeated.

It was time to decide my fate and which path I would walk down. I had friends, and they were becoming closer to me than my family ever had felt. The castoffs and discarded witches who had endured this world were beside me, and they knew how to survive. Esme, Siobhan, Avyanna, and Soraya had lived through hell and hadn’t knelt or caved to the demands of the sadistic creatures of the Nine Realms, and neither would I.

If this world wanted to break us, they’d learn that broken things are more vicious than anything they’d known before. If they wanted a monster, I’d show them one who had been born to rain hell on anyone who trespassed against me or the Nine Realms.

Aria Hecate had been reborn tonight, and I had risen from the ashes and shackles that had held me down. In this world, there were two promises. You could rise against those who threatened you or you could bow at their feet. I was rising because fuck sitting at anyone’s feet, or serving them. It was time to show this world just who the fuck they’d thought to keep leashed because I was done playing by their rules.

Eventually, they’d come for us, but we’d be ready. We were witches, and when witches got angry, we got evil.

Part II

When witches bleed and therealms heed the call, the monsters that once inhabited the world shall rise, and unleash their mighty battle cries.

And so she rises, with fire in her eyes and a crown made of chaos. Her kingdom built of their corpses, and her rivers run crimson with their blood. Little do they know that their true heir has finally returned, and the Nine Realms are welcoming her home.

The land will rumble and answer her call. For the princess who fell, shall rise as a queen, and when she opens her soul, the sun shall once more rise to be seen. There’s a new monster in the realms, and she’s about to unleash chaos as she reaches for her rightful place. The world is about to rattle, and realize what they’ve made. For monsters are created, and born from pain. Her claws are now sharpened, and she’s all out of fucks and a little insane.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Knox

Three months later . . .

Leaning against the ledge ofthe battlement, I looked over the straggling town stretched out before me. My stare dropped to the shadows, fearing she was here, preparing to bring the entire palace down around us. Not that I’d fault her for doing so. I’d been there when her world disintegrated and hadn’t been able to avoid the suffering she’d endured to grasp the truth.

It had been months since I’d seen her. The minute she’d moved through the portal, it was as if Aria ceased to exist. Somehow, she’d cut me out, severing the connections—magical and mate—I’d had with her. It had left a hole in my chest, and no volume of liquor filled the void.

When the council had voted on whether we should consider Aria a threat, I hadn’t cast a vote, which was just as bad as casting one against her. She knew I couldn’t waver from my course because doing so would place Norvalla in conflict with the rest of the realms. They would cut the realm off from supplies that my people depended on to survive. It forced me to choose between my people and her. Plus, if I spoke out against them, they’d leave me in the dark, and I needed to be aware of what the scheming bitch mother of hers was planning.

There was also the issue of the council buying up the shit Aurora was selling. She’d convinced them that Aria was dangerous, and then Celia had walked me into a corner, making it impossible for me to argue that Aria wasn’t a threat. Not after everyone found out about my castle on the borderlands being demolished. It was by design, and I wasn’t stupid enough not to read between the lines. Celia was seeking to help Aurora rid Aria from my life. It explained why she hadn’t feared expressing her biased opinion. She had known Aurora would back her up.

Until recently, though, Aurora had needed Aria’s compliance, but something had to have occurred to alter that. If I didn’t figure out what had changed or if I faltered and lost the favor of the council, she’d rule over all of us if Aria removed Hecate from the throne that Aurora planned to claim. If that happened, the first thing she would do would be to send them after her pretty daughter.

That was something I would not allow to happen.

The scent of magic and alcohol forced my attention to the woman moving closer to me. Celia had calmed down and had been helpful in being the go-to between Norvalla and the witches. She’d risen to the occasion and prevented our people from demanding Aria’s head spiked on our wall. That hadn’t been selfless, though, because she was trying to cement her position beside me.

“You seem lost tonight, My King,” she murmured, leaning beside me while staring out over the village’s sparkling torchlights. Her shoulder brushed against mine, and I barely contained the urge to move farther away.

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