Queen of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms, #5)(72)
“Aria?” Esme demanded, slapping my face even as Zyion attempted to step between us. “Fuck off, asshole. She wouldn’t have kissed you! I don’t care who is trying to use her body to speak. Aria didn’t grant them the right to do so,” she hissed as panic-stricken, violet eyes held mine.
“She’s spirited, Aria. I see why you chose her to be beside you during this turbulent time. Esmeralda is also born of my blood, even if through a weaker line. She will never betray you. You should respond to her before Zyion harms her to prevent injury to your person. I’ve released my hold on you.”
“I’m okay,” I stated, not entirely sure I was. The moment I said it, my entire body jerked forward against Zyion’s hard frame, then it was flung backward, forcing him to rush to catch me before I could fall to the ground. “What the hell is happening?” I demanded, even as I felt warmth leaving my body, as if the source of heat within me had diminished to nothing but an iceberg was left within me. Turning as I shivered, violently. I discovered Scylla standing beside me, her eyes filled with worry at the sight of my trembling frame.
“She will require warmth until I return to her, Zyion.”
Immediately following her words, the entire room was bathed in warmth. It only took a few moments of him radiating intense heat, along with the other men in the room, before I was able to stop shivering. All the heat forced my body to slowly begin swaying, as if I were about to pass out. Zyion grabbed me, steadying me with worry churning in his stare.
“Are you okay?” Zyion whispered as he released his hold on me.
“I am,” I admitted, peering at the Karnavious brothers, who were all openly gaping at the sight of my grandmother’s illuminating presence, standing in the center of the chamber.
“I’m glad you listen so well, granddaughter,” she stated, then winked at me. It forced my eyes to round, even as Ember howled inside my head. “I like Ember. She’s very entertaining, even if she was naming spiders. She gave them ridiculous names, which I’m certain she chose merely to ensure I mentioned them to you. You should know, she’s merely an extension of your true self. She’s everything you want to be, but can’t while wearing the flesh of a human. When you’re ready to bond with her, you’ll become one. Of course, she’ll still need to slumber within you. You are the part of her she wishes she could be, but as you cannot wear the face of the beast, she cannot wear yours, either.”
“Next time you decide to body-snatch a bitch? A heads up would be appreciated,” I muttered as embarrassment rushed through me the moment realization of what I’d done with Zyion decided to fully sink into my brain. Stepping back, I felt him pulling farther away as well. “It wasn’t me…before? It wasn’t me in control.” I needed him to understand my interest in him was entirely platonic.
“I’m aware of who attempted to kiss my lips, princess.” His words were sharply issued, and tightly clipped. They forced my regard to him, forcing my forehead to crinkle at the anger simmering in his stare. “I wasn’t sure you’d ever reappear, my queen.”
“I am no longer your queen, Vicious.” Scylla’s use of the name he didn’t enjoy responding to, caused a deep crease to form on my forehead. “My time here is very short. If we’re to win this war, then we must begin planning for what happens next. As I was saying before Aria began screaming inside her mind. Hecate coming to our world wasn’t by accident,” she explained, slowly moving throughout the chamber, which forced everyone else to snap out of the shock of seeing the dead queen in the flesh. Or as close to the flesh as she could get.
“Wow, is that your dead grandmother?” Esme asked, recovering first. “Holy shit. Well, I’ll be damned. You aren’t insane after all. Or am I insane, too? Is this insanity you told me, contagious to others?” Esme stepped away from me, her eyes slowly narrowing suspiciously. As if I’d given her insanity from being around her. At my soft snort, she shrugged her shoulders with a matter-of-fact look tightening her delicate features. “Hey, I hadn’t even known a person could be inflicted with this ailment of insanity, or that there was such a thing. You are the one who told me about such things, Aria.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she eyed Scylla, then flicked her hair over her shoulder. “For the record, this is why we can’t be best friends. You make me insane, then I end up seeing your dead ancestors too.”
“I am not making you see anything. You do know the entire realm can see her as well. Right? I mean, unless we’re all insane, we’re all looking at my dead ancestor,” I whispered back, knowing it was heard by everyone inside the room. Eva stepped forward, which caused my attention to shift to her.
“Scylla?” When Scylla turned, facing Eva, a soft, heartwarming filled smile curved her at the corner of her lips. “My Queen,” Eva whispered, then dropped to her knees, bowing.
“Correct me if I’m wrong here, but she is dead. Right?” Acheron asked, which had Basilius nodding his head, as his narrowed gaze mirrored mine. “I swear, I did not eat any of those mushrooms this time, Basilius.” Rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms, he blinked rapidly, as if it would reveal the truth. “I am not hallucinating because of them, for the record.”
“I’m most definitely dead. While you are most definitely of the Karnavious bloodline.” Scylla’s tone held aversion embedded deeply in the tone. It caused discomfort to rush through me. Turning toward the other princes, I noted they were also on edge.