“Mean it, Aria. We’re out of fucking time,” Zyion encouraged.
“Keeper of Knowledge, I, Aria, Queen of Sunfire, demand that you grant me access to the Library of Knowledge. Now!” Power slithered down my arms as I turned toward the breeze drifting against my naked spine. Relief flooded through me as I peered into the familiar space of the library. Smiling as I realized I’d called it to me, I yelped as Zyion grabbed my arm and hauled me forward into the library, the others following closely behind us. The moment we were through, a collective exhale of relief followed as it closed, sealing out those who were scouring the City of Dragons for me.
“Peasant?” called a familiar voice from behind me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Aria
The sound of chairs scuffling over the floor echoed through the library. I stood in place, smiling as my gaze wandered, looking for Knox. I’d brought the Karnavious brothers along with us, which was causing sounds of amazement and shock as Killian, Brander, Fade, and Greer rushed forward.
“Basilius?” Brander’s tone was hauntingly soft, barely a whisper of breath to form his brother’s name on his lips. “Fucking hell!” Brander pulled Basilius, who stood frozen in place as he was jerked into his brother’s arms.
The warmth of watching their reunion flooded through me, even as I scoured the library for any sign of Knox. Someone pulled my arm, and then I smashed into the solid, yet surprisingly soft shirt covering Greer’s chest.
“I’m glad you’re home, Peasant.” His words forced heat to prick my eyes as tears threatened to fall.
“I missed you too, Meat Suit,” I admitted, pulling back to smile at him. Something in his eyes caused worry to flicker, then gradually blossom into something akin to panic. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s good that you’re here. You have impeccable timing.” His cryptic statement caused my forehead to wrinkle. I waited for him to elaborate, but he removed the arm he’d slung over my shoulders to welcome the others home.
Standing in place, my gaze darted between Killian, Brander, then to Lore, who’d remained seated. It seemed like he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of their return as he kept his back to us. He may have not known the others as well as the brothers who’d help raise him after Eira and Lennox Karnavious were killed.
Esme tugged on my gown, which forced me to turn toward her. Her huge, violet eyes pleaded. But for what, I wasn’t sure. I allowed her to drag me with her through the library, then farther into it until we rounded a set of ancient, white oak shelves.
“We have to murder him,” she hissed.
I blinked at her murderous statement. Confusion danced through me, then slid over my face. Then I remembered her reaction to Basilius, which now seemed like it had occurred days ago instead of less than an hour ago.
“Is he the one…？” My question wouldn’t come out. Instead, my stomach clenched as I pulled her in for a hug. “If he is the one who hurt you, Esme? I will personally bring you his severed cock.”
“What?” she sputtered, then pushed me away. “Wait, you’d do that for me?” Her violet hued stare narrowed before she exhaled. “Never mind that. No, he’s not the one who hurt me. He’s so much worse than that, Aria. He has to die. I need it done now, though. Before…” she paused when my nose crinkled as my face twisted with utter perplexity.
“I can’t just murder Knox’s long-dead brother because he gave you googly eyes, Esme. It’s murder without justification. He just came back from the dead. Don’t you think it would look a little strange if he returned to being dead so soon after his return?” I asked in a hushed whisper.
“You don’t understand!”
“Then make me understand why you wish to kill someone,” I returned while carefully dragging my regard over her panicked stricken face. When she began bouncing from one foot to the other, I noted the pallor of her coloring. Her face was damp in a fine sheen of moisture, as if she was sweating. “What is wrong, Esme?” The air leaving her lungs was quick, short pants.
“Basilius is my mate!” She shouted, then slapped her hands over her mouth. Wide, horrified eyes turned darker than glistening amethyst as fear, to shocked horror within them. “You have to help me kill him. We can finally bury a body as you’ve wanted to do. Please?” Her tone shook with emotion, which caused mine to quiver with mirth.
I should have been a better friend and felt sorry for Esmeralda. But that she’d ended up mated to an asshole, who was just as broody and brutish as Knox, was karma. Esme had given me so much shit about my mate that I was enjoying her horror at being mated to his brother. Did it make me an asshole for enjoying it? Nope. Not one bit, but that was because if the shoe had been on the other foot, she’d do the same.
“Aria, are you laughing?” When the clap of laughter I failed to conceal tore through the hallway, she huffed, then puffed as her hands squeezed into tight fists, then she began pacing in front of me. “That barbarian can’t be my mate,” she exclaimed. “Did you see him? He’s a Neanderthal! He could be Knox’s twin. For fuck’s sake, help me!” Her growing frustration only fueled my laughter, which, in return, made her even more so. “You are the worst best friend ever! All this time we’ve been together. You’ve wanted to bury a damn body. Here’s your chance, but are you taking it? No. Nope, not the newly crowned Queen of Ruins,” she scoffed, making air quotes around the ‘queen, then ruins’ with her fingers. Stopping her endless pacing, she put her back to the entrance we’d come through, planting her palms on her hips.
Basilius rounded the corner, catching my eyes as I fought against the laughter bubbling up from my chest. His gaze narrowed before gradually gliding down Esme’s animated frame.
“Which you are, by the way. Nothing but ruins await us there, Your Highness. But it doesn’t matter, does it? Again, no. If we have to hide a body, his is freaking amazingly powerful, and solid! Which is beside the point. It doesn’t matter if he’s got the prettiest eyes I’ve ever stared into, either. Nor should I care that he’d be able to bend a bitch over and fuck her so viciously she’d hurt deliciously in certain places, but I do!” A smirk at her mess up had her groaning, loudly in protest of my lack of support.
“You mean, you don’t care,” I corrected smoothly.
“I couldn’t care less about any of that. I mean, he also smelled fantastic, too. Dark masculinity with vetiver, a hint of sage, and bergamot? Definitely bergamot. Fucking hell. I can still smell him.” My eyes darted between them, trying to indicate he was directly behind her.
“We should get back,” I offered, seeking to prevent her embarrassment of him overhearing every tidbit she was word-vomiting in front of him.
“Did you not fucking hear me?” Her fingers pushed through her hair before she dropped her head back, groaning in frustration. “I bet the bastard is an utter beast in bed, too. And even worse? I was too occupied fucking my hand to relieve the damn ache between my thighs while you were getting fucked at the ball! That’s why my vagina is now drenched. Fucking hell. Can you please just help me murder him? I promise to help you dig whatever hole you ask me to if you’ll just help me this one time. Please?”