Page 63 of Crown of Chaos

Then there were the endless rooms full of unimaginable surprises. In one room, flames had burned in every color imaginable. After I’d made certain they wouldn’t burn the flesh from my bones, I’d soaked within them for hours. In another, books floated from shelf to shelf, as if it was writing them while I observed in wonderment. Pages were sewn together and then secured inside leather-bound covers. Tiles were added and intricate patterns were embossed on the spines. In my assumption of the library, and what it was capable of, I’d never imagined it recorded history as it happened.

Great white oak trees grew in the hallways, and small, fairy like creatures collected the tree sap, added ink and something else into it, and then used it to fill the pages of new books.

One room projected battles, dictating every detail onto the pages of a singular volume that was thicker than I was tall. Other rooms looked to be some sort of smithy, where swords were forged and then tested even though no one held them.

Some rooms had ancient-looking dresses that were labeled with names scrawled in Norvallan. My fingertips had slid over the fabric, wondering if they’d once belonged to queens, or Knox’s mother, maybe?

The room I’d just walked into held orchards of different fruit trees and fields of vegetables.

Picking up a large pineapple, I smiled before setting it back down. That explained more than I cared to admit. My eyes fell to the raspberries and apples ripe for picking, and I frowned. It wasn’t filled with the fruit I’d come to except within the Nine Realms. It was sustenance from the Tenth Realm, which explained how Knox had knowledge of such things.

Heading back through the corridor, I paused, watching a shimmering image moving through the passageway. Silently, I edged closer to where he strolled through the space like an apparition. His arms, chest, and back were covered in symbols, scrawling script and runes. The script was Norvallan, exposing his heritage, but the symbols and runes were much, much older than the soil Norvalla had been built upon.

The markings mirrored the ones Avyanna had discovered in, and copied from, the tomb she explored before I’d confronted Aurora and the others. I’d spelled the ink with the magic from the Nine Realms and asked her to place them permanently on my skin. They concealed my presence and prevented me from being detected by magic or scent unless I allowed it.

I’d mainly wanted the incantation and symbol of uterine protection, safeguarding any children I would have from being tainted as my daughters had been. Knox’s name was within the small, intricate wispy ink. By including him in the spell, I’d directed my path, and chosen who would sire my offspring. The ink was spelled and enhanced to ensure no one else impregnated me. Knox was who I’d chosen to father my child. But, if he continued on his path, I’d burn his name from my flesh. Avyanna had added to my flesh, and while I’d been optimistic, I’d been realistic as well. If I couldn’t have him or his children, I didn’t want any.

The male vanished into the wall, and I moved my thoughts back to what was needed now. We had to find a place safe enough to move the multitude of children, and witches we’d gathered in our travels. Life didn’t wait for anyone, and with our swelling numbers, I needed to find a place that was large enough for everyone to be comfortable while also being easily defendable. I’d begun marking a map in my spare time with places that appeared vacant because staying in the library wasn’t a long-term solution.

Today we were all gathering in the crystal room, which housed so many different types that we’d spent hours in there without identifying them all. Entering the room, I silently surveyed the children as they read books or braided each other’s hair. The women were learning what fantasy romance and epic fantasy were, which was kind of funny to watch. Most of them had a hard time grasping that it wasn’t real or hadn’t actually happened. I’d considered allowing them to assume it was, but I wasn’t that mean. Studying the book Esme held, I smirked, knowing it was filled with naughty stuff and was the reason for her pink cheeks.

“I don’t want to give up this place,” Esme admitted, her eyes slowly feasting on a stone that pulsed with energy. She placed the book she’d been reading aside and smiled at me. “I vote we never leave. I don’t even care if it means being celibate forever.”

“If we could figure out a way to keep that barrier up, that would be one thing. However, I don’t have a few thousand extra souls handy, so we’re out of luck.” I picked up a smokey quartz sphere that projected rainbow prisms when the light touched it just right. “I need to check it again and make sure it’s still holding. For all we know, the library is trying to keep us here so that Knox can catch me.”

“Maybe, but look at this place.” Soraya snorted, moving her arms in a wide circle to indicate the beauty we were within. “It’s like the most amazing place in the Nine Realms, and we’re standing inside it right now. We’ll never find anything like it anywhere else. It’s perfect, and amazingly safe for the children. Plus, there are thousands of books on protection and barrier spells. There are even spells on how to create a kingdom and prevent anyone from finding it. We don’t need a realm anymore. We can build a kingdom and hide within it forever.”

“Yeah, but will it keep Hecate and Knox from finding it?” I asked pointedly. After placing the sphere back on to the round holder, I rubbed my eyes. “I’m going to go check to see if Avyanna needs any help with the little imps before I check the barrier. They’re growing more comfortable and getting harder to corral.”

“That’s what kids do, and it’s actually a good sign,” Siobhan admitted. “It means they’re settling in. This is the first place that hasn’t felt like we were just passing through. They’re not hungry or exhausted. You even look better, Aria. If we can discover a way to remain here, it’s worth looking into.”

I just smiled, not wanting to squash their hopes. “See what you can find, but if I end up mounted on his wall, you’ll carry that guilt. We’re also not done trying to stop the shit happening within the realms. I have to collect the remaining elements because if Hecate gets them and holds them, we’re all fucked.”

I headed out of the new wing and made my way to the room where the younger children were. The sound of their soft giggles made me smile as I peeked into the large sleeping room where Avyanna read stories to the children. At some point, they had built a giant blanket fort, and they were all piled inside it, listening to her every whispered word.

In the past couple of days, they’d blossomed, and I hated that this wouldn’t last. I didn’t believe that we’d get lucky enough to remain here much longer. My luck never lasted, and even now, I felt the pull to the wind elemental I’d been searching for. More than that, though, I had to locate Aden, and ask him to take me to my father. It was time to learn who he—and what—he was.

Avyanna glanced over to me, smiling with genuine joy in her soft green eyes. The kids weren’t the only ones blossoming. Shaking out of the dire thought of having to tell them we needed to leave, I stepped back quietly. Not wanting to disturb the children, I offered her a small wave before ducking out of the doorway to head toward the main area.

My mind whirled with what I had to do. There were things we’d need to collect from within the library and supplies we could take with us, including the maps I’d been marking.

I was lost in the memory of the Wendigo, as I wandered into the main room and froze when need slammed into me. I groaned softly, and slowly, I slid my stare to Knox.

He was sprawled out on his back, sleeping restlessly in the oversized bed. Frowning, I moved behind one of the large shelves, not wanting to get caught eye-fucking the male who slept. If anyone found out this had become my favorite pastime, they would label me a creeper. In my defense, I’d begun innocently enough, with me watching the man sleeping undisturbed. It was the only time I could be around him and free from the vitriol of his words or barbs that he’d unleash when the mood changed.

Knox shifted again, putting his naked body on full display for my hungry gaze to feast on. My skin heated with the need to feel him, but I refused to react. Ember, on the other hand, wanted to push through to the forefront and see what popped up if we touched him. Thankfully, she’d remained silent and allowed me to cope in my own way these days.

It would only be a matter of time before she took control because the heat cycle was coming, whether or not we wanted it to. I could fight a lot of things, but my genetic make-up and body’s needs were things that refused to be ignored.

It was basic math, and no matter how many times I claimed I would pick someone new to see me through it, I knew I would seek him out if I were still here when things slipped my control. I had to heal and find myself again, and that wouldn’t happen if I was riding his cock.

Plus, I didn’t have time to play Knox’s captive again. There were things I needed to finish and then I had to find Aden and my father.

Knox made a soft sound in his sleep, and I settled my focus back on him. He looked tortured, and I wondered if his ghost haunted him or if he was unsettled by what was coming for us all. There was no way of escaping the war, and it seemed the powerful creatures were standing on one side, Hecate on the other, and I was the idiot flailing between the two.

Chapter Thirty-Three

I’d been standing in theshadows for over an hour, unable to move. Absently, I feasted on the sight of the sleek, toned, muscular body tossing and turning in his sleep. Watching Knox sleep was like watching a turbulent storm churning. You knew it was deadly and that, eventually, it would reach you, yet you couldn’t look away from the beautiful, chaotic nature of it.

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