Queen of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms, #5)(108)

“The moment the light shot up through the ground, I witnessed the darkness slithering out of him. Snake-like things, which then vanished in a cloud of smoke. As if they couldn’t survive being in the direct light, or the light the land released.” Killian offered, his hand touching my shoulder, then squeezing in silent reassurance.

“We should draw you a bath, then get something into you, Aria,” Greer said carefully, worry sharpening his expression. “Unless you don’t wish to leave him.”

“I want Knox to wake up,” I whispered as tears gripped my throat, choking the words off. “I don’t fucking care about me right now. I’ll be fine once he’s awake.” My words caused a bevy of worried whispers, which I ignored.

“We’re all just as concerned about you, Peasant.” He tipped his head, the worry turning to uneasiness, then fear for my health. “An hour ago, we didn’t even know if you would wake up. You’ve been like Knox for days, too. Knox is healing, but you can’t save him if you’re exhausted or become sick from neglecting your own needs.”

“We all want Knox to wake up. Knox wouldn’t want you to make yourself sick by ignoring your needs. Do you know if you . . . did you miscarry?” Brander’s eyes dipped to my middle, then drifted back to my face.

My hand moved to my abdomen, frowning as I felt a sob rock through me. “I don’t know.” A new worry joined the growing list of them. I’d not even thought about them after seeing Knox’s unmoving form.

“Then we should assume you didn’t lose them until we know otherwise. That means you need nourishment. He’s not going anywhere. We’ve had someone constantly on watch within the chamber since you both appeared inside of it.” His words were comforting, but I needed Knox to wake up. “Your shift is covered in blood, and there’s a rather large hole in it, Aria.”

I glanced down, finding the top ripped. Dragging my fingers over the gaping hole Knox had put in the fabric, I jerked my head back, drinking in the calmness of his face. The moment I reached for him in the light, he spun over, his head at an awkward angle from the light spinning him so his back was to the floor. Stepping closer to him, my hand slid over his naked chest, skimming over the sleek, hard muscles. Heat drifted over my palm, proving he was still alive.

“Knox, I need you. You have to come back to me,” I whispered, then lowered my head, placing my lips against his. “I love you. I can’t fight her without you beside me. You’re my fucking anchor. Without you, I’m adrift on a churning sea. Come back to me, monster.” Kissing his lips, then forehead, I turned, uncaring, who watched my foundation crumble.

Knox was my fucking air, and without it, I couldn’t breathe. He’d kept me grounded, as if I’d become unhinged without his strength. I didn’t want to lose him, nor could I survive if he was gone.

“Do we know if Hecate’s aware that he’s . . . gone?” My words cracked, refusing to come out as anything but broken.

“I’ve been keeping watch of the citadel. It’s a bevy of activity. There’s been an endless parade of dark witches converging into the city, then entering the gates. Hecate hasn’t been seen since we saw her with Knox inside the gates.” Zyion leaned against the farthest wall, his eyes scanning my face.

“Basilius, can you take dragon form?” I asked, even as my mind grasped onto a way to get inside the citadel.

“Yes. We all can,” he confirmed.

Bowing my head, I studied Knox’s sleeping face. If I exposed the dragons, would she come at us twice as hard? Absolutely, but only if we lost. Pushing my fingers through his hair, I tried to consider what he’d want me to do. What would Knox do if he were the one in my position? He’d rain down hell on Hecate until she went to ground.

I couldn’t kill her outright. Not without draining her endless supply of magic. That meant I had to figure out how to begin disassembling her extensive network.

“What are you thinking, Aria?” Killian asked, his tone holding trust.

Could I lead his men into battle? I wasn’t the warrior Knox was, nor did I have the ability to lead with unfaltering strength. I did have the mind for strategic warfare, or so he’d continually told me that I had it in me. But would they follow me in and trust me not to get them killed? Turning toward Killian, I smiled.

“I think it’s time she learns that we hit back, and we hit back harder when we’re wounded. I just need time to figure out how we do so without losing anyone else. We’d need to hit hard and fast without her realizing we were coming. You said she had dark witches gathering at the citadel?”

“Hundreds of them,” Zyion confirmed. “As if something is about to happen.”

“Or she’s about to attack us,” I whispered, even as my stare drifted back to Knox.

If Hecate was gathering witches, it was more than likely she was planning an attack. Her target would be something big enough to warrant gathering attention to herself. The only threat to her right now, was us. Which meant she was coming here, to where Knox was healing. That wasn’t something I could allow.

I couldn’t allow her to reach Knox a second time. In no world would I allow her to take him from me again. Instead, I’d need to come up with something quickly, and stop her from ever stepping foot outside of the citadel. But they were right. I couldn’t do so if I was weak or depleted.