Ashes of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms Book 2)

by Amelia Hutchins

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  I could hear the soldiers muttered comments about their king’s ability to tame even the vilest of creatures. Women also paused, glaring toward us, their displeasure evident at the thought of Knox touching me or even being close to me.

  His breath lingered against the back of my neck as his fingers entered my core, and I stifled the moan building in my lungs.

  Knox’s husky laughter rushed over my skin while his mouth kissed the red mark he’d left on my shoulder. Knuckles skimmed my clit, and I closed my eyes to hide the heaviness of lust burning within them. His heated kisses moved from my shoulder to my neck and back.

  My body rocked against the need he created, riding his fingers, uncaring who watched us. Teeth skimmed my shoulder, and I gasped as my cunt clenched hungrily against his fingers, causing him to groan with need. Knox withdrew, sucking the juices from them loudly, to be sure I hadn’t missed what he was doing.

  “You’re fucking delicious, Aria,” he rumbled, the silken voice wrapping around every nerve ending in my body.

  Knox worked small circles on the inside of my thigh, his breath fanning my neck, and I groaned as a male passed by, stopping to stare at me. I rattled in warning, and Knox chuckled behind me.

  The next male paused, peering down as if he intended to watch, but Knox growled, his rattle low and deadly, vibrating through him, and slithering over my body.

  Brander approached with a stern look in his sapphire stare. He stopped, nodding toward the large tent, finally completed. “You may want to get Aria inside since her scent is about to start a fucking riot. I’m too fucking exhausted from chasing the two of you through the water, and then down that bloody cliff to relish fighting an entire army for her.”

  “They’ll know to whom she belongs soon enough. I intend to remedy that problem tonight.”

  “I don’t have a problem,” I argued in exhaustion, standing with Knox behind me.

  “Look around, Aria. You see every male here staring at you? They can scent your need, and they know you’re unmated. Unclaimed pussy within the Nine Realms is fair game to anyone who wants it and is willing to fight to take it by force. It’s either them or me tonight,” Knox stated with heat banked in his eyes.

  “Brander,” I whispered, swallowing hard.

  “Come again?” Brander choked out, lowering the whiskey he’d been drinking, wiping his mouth clean of the liquid he’d just spat out everywhere.

  “No, that’s the problem. You didn’t come last time. You can fuck me tonight. Problem solved.” I crossed my arms, only to fight the cuffs until I gave up, placing a hand on my hip, glaring at Brander.

  “That isn’t fucking happening,” Knox laughed coldly.

  “Why not? Are you worried that I may come harder for Brander than I did for you?” I smirked at Brander, wiggling my brows. He swallowed audibly before sliding his attention toward Knox with a ‘help me,’ look in his eyes. “Come on, big fellow. I say you and I give it a real go this time. Let’s go wreck my vagina!”

  Brander’s mouth opened and closed before his gaze dropped to my aching sex. His hand lifted, scrubbing over his face as he groaned.

  Knox stepped out from behind me, looking at Brander, brow raised, crossing his arms over his chest as Brander shook his head, scowling at me. Apparently, Brander was on his own to get out of fucking me tonight.

  “Sorry, Aria,” Brander snickered. “You have Knox’s mark on your shoulder, and that means no one else can fuck you without challenging him for that right. He may say he’d allow it, but I assure you, he’d fight for the right to fuck you tonight. I don’t plan to fight my brother for you, no matter how fucking enchanting you smell. You may find it barbaric, but that is the law within the Nine Realms. You’re not in your world anymore, little girl. You’re in ours.”

  “That’s the law in Norvalla or the entire Nine Realms?” I questioned carefully, as Knox’s lips curved into a dark, wicked smile. “If anyone wants me, they have to fight Knox to get me, just because he bit my shoulder?” I frowned, my brow creasing. I studied the dark look burning in Knox’s eyes while I added up what Brander had just disclosed.

  “The Nine Realms all share laws,” Brander confirmed. “Once someone has claimed you, the only way to remove the claim would be to challenge the one who placed it there. Unlike the other men in this camp, I know what happens when you challenge Knox, trying to take what he’s already claimed. I’m not willing to fight my brother for you, no matter how tempting you are. If you’re smart, and I know you are, you’ll allow Knox to place his scent on you so you have more than just his mark. You’ll have his protection. Let him protect you, Aria. He’s willing, and your body is willing too, or it wouldn’t smell so fucking delicious, causing a disruption within the camp of warriors.”

  “Pass,” I muttered.

  “It isn’t a pass tonight, Aria. You’re going to allow me to place my scent on you, or I’ll put you inside a tent and let you take your chances with whoever among them wins the right to mark you. You see, I won’t fight my army for you. Not when this is a simple thing to fix.”

  “You said that about the tattoo, and that shit worked out smashingly for you, Knox. It didn’t work out so well for me, though, now did it?”

  “It worked out rather well for me, didn’t it? That was me as an evil prick. I saw something I wanted and took it by any means necessary. This is to protect you, and yeah, I can’t say I won’t fucking enjoy it. If you’re a good girl, and I know you can be so fucking good for me, I’ll let you come too, Little Witch.”

  “How kind of you,” I muttered, jerking forward as he grabbed the cuffs and pulled me toward his tent.

  The tent’s inside was impressive and included a large, opulent, white fur blanket over a feather mattress with large pillows placed at the head. A dark-gray fur sat at the foot of the bed, and I marveled at its softness. I ran my fingers over it while Knox watched.

  A table sat in the tent’s far corner, and upon it was a decanter of whiskey and two glasses. Rugs covered the floor, made from the same soft gray fur, soothing my weary toes as they dug into them, uncaring that Knox studied my reaction to his belongings.

  A brazier lit the tent before we entered, expelling soft heat that warded off the chill. I moved toward it as Knox stared, snorting when I dismissed him, adjusting the cuffs on my wrists that were chaffing the skin raw.

  The chain between the cuffs was roughly three-foot-long, giving me a little room to move. I held my hands up to the flame, groaning as the welcoming heat soaked into my bones, warming me.

  Brander entered the tent with another man carrying a large chest that they set at the end of the bed. He let his gaze slid down my body, smiling at the angry glare I aimed at him.

  Chicken.

  His smile turned dark and sinful. He nodded to Knox, who watched our brief interaction before clearing his throat, dismissing Brander as he nodded toward the tent’s opening.

  “Right,” Brander said, clearing his throat. “I stationed guards around the tent and camp’s edges. We cleared the woods. There is no trace of magic within fifteen miles in each direction of our camp. The women are currently placing crystals around the perimeter to add an extra layer of protection for the night, in the event someone tries to rescue our little witch. Unless you need something else, you’re all set, and I’ll retire to my tent for the night.”

  “Thank you, brother.” Knox lifted his glass, watching me from where he stood beside the table. “Take off your wet clothes, Aria.”

  “I have nothing else to wear,” I pointed out.

  “You don’t need clothes for what we’re about to do.” When I just stared at him blankly, he exhaled. “Sit down and have a drink. You’re going to need it tonight.” Swallowing the last of his drink, he took his seat across from where I stood, letting his eyes slowly slide down my frame, noting each bruise and scrape I’d endured running from him today. “You can strip once you’ve had a drink to settle your nerves.” he offered, pouring
himself another glass, not bothering to hide the heat pooling in his eyes.

  “If you’re trying to get me drunk, you should know that there isn’t enough alcohol in this entire camp to achieve that goal, jerk.”

  “If I wanted you drunk, you’d be drunk already. I’m trying to calm your nervous trembling, and allow you a moment to gain your composure, woman,” he snapped, daring me to argue more.

  Sighing in defeat, I moved to the table and sat in front of Knox, frowning. I considered how screwed I was at that moment. It couldn’t get much worse than being stuck in a tent with my enemy, could it? It could. It so fucking could. I was stuck inside a tent with an enemy that I craved and wanted to do very bad things with, even though I wouldn’t.

  He didn’t deserve to have me or use my body for pleasure. There were ways around doing what he wanted or what I craved. We’d just have to get creative, which shouldn’t be a problem.

  Right?

  Right.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  I studied Knox over the rim of the glass I held between my bound hands, his lips turning down slightly into a frown. The glow from fires burning within the camp cast shadows about the tent, making them seem more daunting and larger than what had cast them.

  I could hear the muffled moans of women finding pleasure amongst the men surrounding our tent.

  My cheeks blushed with embarrassment as the noises grew louder and more urgent. Knox smiled, finding it funny that I was uncomfortable hearing the sounds of the couples screaming their release unabashedly.

  Knox stared at me, and then at the dress I wore, still damp and ripped in several places from our daunting climb down and back up the cliff. He stood abruptly, and my eyes narrowed in apprehension, following his movements toward the large chest the men had previously carried into the tent.

  Slowly, he undid the belt at his waist, releasing his scabbard and sword, setting it aside. He removed the armor that he had replaced after chasing me through the water and over rocky terrain. My heartbeat increased as Knox bent to retrieve a few items from the chest. I swallowed hard, hating that his enticing scent was playing havoc on every nerve in my body.

  Dismissing him, or trying to, I sipped the whiskey, moaning as it exploded on my taste buds. At the sound, he tensed, giving me a dark look over his shoulder before he returned his attention to the trunk, removing his shirt.

  I tried not to stare, but I lost the battle, mesmerized by the hard, tapered muscles along his back, caressing each one with my hungry gaze. Tightening my grip on the glass, I fought against the urge to trace the ravens that adorned his side, moving up his spine to his shoulder blade.

  His back muscles were amazingly toned, and each curve begged me to explore them with my fingertips, to learn every single edge of his body in explicit detail. His pants hugged his hips low, exposing the globes of his firm ass to my stare, and I caught myself licking my lips absently, recalling the feel of it beneath my hands.

  Knox spun, catching me off guard before I could look away. A seductive grin spread across his face as he slowly unbuttoned his pants, shoving them past his hips, and stepping out of them to reveal that he wore nothing beneath. I stopped breathing, greedily staring at the V-line of his abs that led to dark curls cradling his enormous cock. Even soft, it was large and hung proudly between his legs.

  I licked my lips again, slowly sliding my gaze over his sinewy abs that tensed at my leisurely examination of his form. Air slowly expelled from my lungs before I lifted my attention to his face, discovering him smiling at my blatant gawking over his body’s exquisitely carved perfection.

  “See something you want?” he asked huskily, slowly moving toward me.

  “This whiskey’s really good,” I whispered, jerking my eyes from his to stare at the glass like it held all the answers to the universe.

  Dark laughter filled the tent as he pulled on a pair of sweatpants, which were the bane of my existence. I watched him from beneath my lashes as he sat across from me, setting his elbows on the table before he uncorked the whiskey and held it up to his nose.

  He leaned the bottle toward me, offering to top off my glass, and I extended my shaking hands, holding his gaze as he refilled my cup until it threatened to spill over the rim.

  “It’s aged one-thousand years,” he admitted, and my eyes widened, moving from the glass, then back to him in surprise.

  “How do you know that?” I inquired, studying the way his lips twitched while his eyes sparkled with amusement.

  “Because I made it myself.” His admission caused my mouth to open and close several times before I clamped it shut, narrowing my eyes on him, waiting for his laugh or some sign that he was joking.

  “You’re one-thousand years old?” I questioned, aghast that he could be that old.

  “Older, actually,” he chuckled as my eyes bulged, and I shook my head, sitting back in my chair, peering down at the amber-colored whiskey.

  “Wow, this relationship just took an inappropriate turn.” His forehead creased, and his fingers ran over the bottle’s rim before his attention lifted to me.

  “What relationship would that be, witch? The one where you’re the prisoner of the opposing king or the one we don’t fucking have?” His jaw clenched, and something cold entered his stare.

  I glared at him, anger sliding through me at his words. I wasn’t even sure why it bothered me, but it burned to hear him state it more than anything. I snorted, downing the drink before leveling him with an icy glare.

  “Go fuck yourself, Knox,” I growled, standing to move to the brazier, letting the heat it offered soak into my bones.

  I studied the coals that glowed red like the anger rushing through me. I lifted my eyes to where the smoke swirled up, exiting through the top of the tent.

  The smoke was scented, I noticed. It smelled of soft sandalwood and eucalyptus, which was soothing and calming. Inhaling the scent into my lungs, I gasped as Knox slid his arms around me, pulling me against his body’s heat.

  “Let me go,” I whispered, barely loud enough to be heard.

  “Never, woman,” he growled, kissing my exposed shoulder that carried his mark.

  “I said, let me go.”

  Knox didn’t listen, choosing to grab the chain that connected the cuffs to my wrists. He hefted it up, placing it over his neck, forcing my arms to lift, and my back went flush against his chest. My toes danced on the rug’s fur, and my breathing hitched in my lungs as he growled huskily against my ear, kissing my neck where it met my shoulder.

  I watched as he shredded the dress I wore until it pooled at my feet in a tattered heap of fabric. His hands caressed my stomach, lifting to cup and gently squeeze my breasts as a gasp expelled from my lungs.

  My breathing hitched as his thumbs ran over the pink tips, and my heartbeat rapidly spiked as a pulse thrummed in my belly, causing my body to heat. Butterflies erupted, fighting for space with the ravens that took flight, creating a multitude of sensations from his simple touch.

  “You are mine now, Aria. You’re my prisoner. I am the king on the opposing side of this war. I don’t intend to let you ever escape me, not when I have you at my mercy.” His hands lifted, slowly unbinding my hair until it was free from the bands and silver jewels that he tossed aside. My hair slid down my sides, stopping at my waist before he brought his nose closer, inhaling my scent greedily.

  Knox’s hands slid around my body, running down my sides as goosebumps spread over my flesh. His fiery breath fanned the side of my neck as his mouth peppered me with soft, gentle kisses. Fingers slid down my abdomen, pushing past my panties until they rubbed against my clit in slow, leisurely strokes that caused my head to roll back as a soft moan escaped my lips.

  One hand lifted, cupping my breast, and I cried out, gasping as he growled hungrily against my throat. He dragged his fingers through the arousal of my sex, dipping them into my opening. I felt him growing hard against my spine. He pinched my nipple and clit at the same time, causing me to buck against th
e sensation that threatened to consume me and make me combust into flames.

  The only sound in the tent was the fire and my muffled noises while Knox slowly brought my body to a teetering edge. He refused to let me reach the precipice of pleasure that danced right beyond my reach.

  Walking me to the bed, he lifted my leg to place my foot against the soft mattress, giving himself more access to my body as he prepared me to accommodate his thickening cock.

  “You’re so fucking hot, woman,” he hissed, nicking my shoulder with his sharp teeth. He ignored my panties, pushing them aside as he plunged two fingers into my body until I was clenching against the pain and pleasure they created. “I want to throw you down, and bury my cock so deep within you, that you feel me in your soul.”

  “No,” I replied, fighting the fog of lust he’d forced into me.

  “No?” he laughed darkly against my throat, kissing his way down it as he lifted my arms from over his head, pushing me forward onto the bed.

  He followed, watching as I struggled to get upright only to grab my legs, parting them as he settled behind me. He kissed my hip, and purring sounded from him, slowing my rapid pulse as if he sensed my unease, and instinctively sought to calm me.

  I whimpered, balancing on my elbows as he grabbed the edges of my panties, ripping them from my body as a scream escaped my lips.

  “I said, no!” I turned to look at him, falling on my side with tears threatening to spill.

  “Shall I wake Brander and tell him you prefer whoever wins the use of your tight cunt tonight?” Standing, Knox walked to the table to pour another shot of whiskey.

  “No, but I am not fucking you either, Knox. Find another way to get your scent into my body. You’re not fucking me tonight or ever again, asshole.”

  He sat, staring at my naked body with heat and anger burning in his eyes. I sat up, glaring at him in defiance. He lowered his gaze to the tight, hard nipples that were begging to be kissed and tasted. Arousal coated my apex, glistening from the light of the brazier as a small flame burned. In the soft glow, his eyes narrowed to slits of anger as he snorted.