Queen of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms, #5)(104)
Knox’s eyes held mine as he gripped the edge of his shirt, peeling it up from his chest and then over his head. Prowling toward me, I watched the corpses rushing toward him, but where they’d been intended to hinder, they’d become his weapons as he plucked another head off as if he was picking a fucking flower. Nonchalantly, he stepped out of their reach. Tossing one skull in his hand, he pulled his arm back and sent it forcefully toward me. I evaded it, finding it narrowly missed its target, my breath, jagged puffs of air that stung my lungs.
Rain persistently pelted my heated flesh, shocking with its icy-cold chill that weighed me down. Searching the surrounding area in the darkened woods, I didn’t see any of the others within sight. Panic surged through my psyche, realizing I’d ended up rushing in the opposite direction from the abandoned town. In my urgency to escape capture, I’d ended up tumbling down the hill, losing the ability to discern which way to run. A frightening awareness of being lost in the woods with Knox, who wanted to murder me, sent paralyzing fear to my mind.
“Did you make him the same promises you made me?” he asked, as his head angled to the side, studying my face. He tossed the skull in his hand, as if it were a ball and not a bodiless head. “See, I thought you were falling in love with me. You made me think it so effortlessly. Didn’t you? Those lethal, enchanting lips of yours spew nothing but vitriol and empty promises when they flap. Hell, maybe after I’ve finished using the others, I’ll rip those pretty pink lips off and shove them into that ravenous cunt of yours. Would you like that?”
“You have to fight it, Knox. You’re the strongest, most stubborn asshole I know. If anyone can push the bitch out, it’s you! So fucking fight her! I need you. Do you hear me? I fucking need you! I can’t do this without you. I love you. I’ve always loved you. Come back to me. Don’t make me do this. I don’t want to do this,” I pleaded as giant, grief-stricken sobs rocked through my chest. A scream tore free as he sent the head right for mine.
Spinning on my heel, I dashed the opposite way of the verdantly green moss covering one side of the tree I’d paused beside. He snarled as his rattle forced my stomach to contract before reacting to the enticing familiarity. My nipples hardened with the vibration he created. The next rattle was worse yet. His predominant pitch rocked me from my head to my toes.
I refused to stop fighting to live. Our bond was indestructible, even in the face of Hecate’s influence. Thwarting his ability to control my body’s response, I used my magic to project the song playing inside my head. “Arcade” by Duncan Laurence blasted through the woods. It echoed around us and carried on the wind.
My lungs burned as if I was inhaling razor blades, slicing them wide open. I prayed the sound would alert the others of my current location. Every time my foot landed against the twig-carpeted floor of the forest, it drove agonizing pain up the length of my leg. My arms moved with every step I took, pumping through me as I felt Ember’s frustration coming through to flood my mind with her helplessness.
I was weakening. That my feet were gradually becoming harder to lift from the ground told me I was in trouble. “Under Your Scars” by Godsmack echoed through me, filling the space between us. Butterfly wings the color of night, fluttered in my vision.
Turning my head at the deafening crack of a branch snapping behind me, I caught a blur of movement out of the corner of my eye. Then he collided into my body. Knox’s arms were steel bands around my waist. A scream ripped from my lungs as he twisted us both through the air, as we spun from the sheer force with which he’d collided against me.
The turbulent, spiraling assault flung my body, sending it hitting hard against the ground in an excruciating, bone-jarring crash that knocked the breath from my lungs. The landing was cruel, making me roll numerous times as dangerously pointed branches gouged into my skin. The sob that burst free from my lungs sent blood splattering from my lips.
I forced myself up, but dropped back as anguish tore through my frame. I heard Knox’s heavy footfalls, which were progressively moving toward my motionless, broken body. Tears of defeat swam in my vision as he bent down, then gripped my ankle, using it to forcefully flip me over onto my back.
“You look lovely with all that blood covering your exquisite body. I think it’s my favorite color on you. It brings out the defeat burning in your pretty, blue eyes. Is that defeat simmering in them? I think I prefer it shining from them, as well.”
I couldn’t get words past the regret swelling in my throat. Failure slid over me like fire ants biting into flesh. Forcing air into my lungs, I flinched as he stooped, threading his fingers through my hair. Lifting me by it, a shriek tore from my lungs. Knox straightened to his full height and brought my body flush against his hard chest.
“Did you allow him to touch what belongs to me, Aria?” In his voice, a dark warning whispered raspily within the air. The longer I remained silent, the more threatening his darkness became.
“No! Never. I’d never let another touch me. It’s only ever been you. Knox, please fight her. Fight her for us. For you and me. I love you. I love you so fucking much it is tearing me apart. You’re my everything. You’re all I’ve ever wanted. No other has ever held my heart, only you.”
“Is that so? Ironically, I’m also intending to rip you apart. First, I want to know how bad it hurts knowing you’ve fucking lost, little girl.”