“Yes,” I said through unshed tears that burned both my eyes and throat.
“Good.” Snarling, he rubbed his cock between my thighs once more before he released me, climbing from the bed while leaving me trembling in fear and lust. “There’re clothes on the chair; get dressed, and get the fuck out of my room now.”
I tried to do as he said, but my body refused to move as tears built in my eyes. I struggled to get up, hating that he’d made me feel weak and exposed, which I was sure he’d done on purpose. A violent tremor rushed through me as I fought to control my emotions.
Sitting up slowly, I didn’t bother to even try to cover myself as my soaked panties turned from heated to a cold reminder that I’d almost just begged Knox to take me. I slipped on the oversized black band tee, pulling my legs into the large gray sweatpants. At the same time, I continued trembling as the adrenaline abated and left me ice-cold.
Not bothering to look at him, I escaped the room with legs that shook. The door to his room led into a hallway I didn’t recognize, and yet I knew without having to be told that I was on the top floor, where he’d forbidden us from entering. Finding the stairs, I made it down them and to the next floor before slipping into my room and entering the bathroom. I turned on the shower and stepped beneath the steaming water, dropping to my knees before the first tears escaped my eyes.
I hated him. I’d not liked him before, but now I hated the prick with an intensity that I couldn’t understand. He had rejected me, and it had been obvious that he’d wanted me. It wasn’t even the rejection that burned me the hottest. It was my reaction to him; to finally be able to feel another’s touch and find pleasure within it, only to be rejected cruelly… It was like a slap in the face that hurt deeper and more painful than it should have.
It took an effort to stand, and the moment I did, I clawed my way out of his clothes and tossed them onto the floor. I scrubbed my flesh raw with the soap, needing to wash his scent from my flesh along with the touch of his mouth that I still felt burning there, taunting me. Using the shampoo I’d brought in my bag, I lathered my hair generously, washing it several times before adding conditioner, rinsing it off, then getting out right after.
It took three minutes to pack up everything I’d brought and exit the room as I’d found it, minus the wet clothes on the bathroom floor that no matter how much I’d wanted to clean the mess, I hadn’t been able to touch again.
At the entrance, I paused hesitantly as Sabine and the others turned, studying me before noticing the bag. I wasn’t staying here another night. If I did, I’d go insane. I could take care of myself and didn’t need some cocky prick ordering me around. I also had to unravel the mess that surrounded Amara, because I wouldn’t let them condemn her to the Void of Nothingness. She was my sister and my best friend. She deserved the truth to come out, and I couldn’t do that here beneath the eyes of Knox, who watched every single thing we did through a microscope.
“You’re not leaving,” Sabine said. “It isn’t safe.”
“I’m not staying here another night, and neither should you guys.”
“We’re in heat,” she frowned, watching me.
“Let her go,” Knox said, entering the room, freshly showered with Regina at his side, staring at me coldly. “She thinks she can survive on her own, let’s see how long she lasts out there.”
“I don’t need you to protect me.”
“Yeah, that’s why my name is on you, isn’t it?” he chuckled darkly, staring me down with a bored look. He looked at me as if I was dirt he couldn’t wipe off his shoe fast enough.
“Go to hell, Knox,” I uttered through the tightening in my throat. Regina laughed coldly, her hand slipping up to wrap around Knox’s wrist before her head rested against his shoulder while her stare burned through me.
“I need to ask you about Amara, and I can’t leave everyone else here unprotected, Aria.”
I looked Sabine in the eye and smiled sadly. “I know. She was sleeping with someone in the Nine Realms; I don’t know who he is. I know nothing else, but I intended to figure it out. Let me know when you’re prepared for the blessing. I will go prepare the house. Be safe, sisters.”
“I don’t like separating,” she insisted.
“I’m the strongest one here. I don’t need you or anyone else to pull magic from. I’ll be okay, Sabine. I’m always okay. It’s my thing, remember? I am fine on my own,” I assured her, turning and walking out the door as Greer rushed to hold it open for me.
“Good riddance, Aria.”
“Bye, Greer,” I chuckled, flipping him off as I left the house.
Chapter 19
I started in the front room, cleaning every inch of the house while I searched for any clue that would prove Amara hadn’t betrayed the covenant of immortals. It was mindless, numbing work, so I’d turned the music up, locking the world out. I’d cast a novice spell that, should any of my sisters be so inclined to come home, they could get through. It would, however, keep everyone and everything else out.
I changed into my joggers and a soft baby blue camisole before pulling my hair into a bun that was more mess than an actual bun. I cracked my neck as I stared at the kitchen floor, still covered in blood. Frowning, I moved deeper into the kitchen, grabbing the bucket we kept beneath the sink before heading outside.
Outside, the sun was already setting and creating a backsplash of vibrant colors that drew the eyes to it. Pausing, I wiped my brow and exhaled while letting nature refresh me. After a moment, I started again, eyeing the large black tourmaline rock that sat in the creek. It wasn’t as large as it had been when we were kids, but then everything had been larger than life when I was a child. Memories had a way of making everything seem smaller, more insignificant as you got older. I dipped the bucket into the creek, hefting it back up before a voice caused me to drop it.
“Jasper?” I grabbed the bucket once more before looking up to find my childhood friend sniffing me. “What are you doing here?” I studied him, noting the way he held himself poised to pounce if I moved wrong.
Jasper was the son of the high alpha wolf. One of the elite pack of werewolves that had come to this realm to settle when the covenant was created among immortals of the Nine Realms. He’d also been my classmate and my first crush, but he only had eyes for Amara.
We’d been forced through endless hours of learning about the realm we had come from and preparing us for the journey we would eventually take back into it. Jasper had been my first and only crush in this town, but he’d also been one of the boys who followed us around, vowing to protect us.
The Nine Realms were created and powered by the original bloodlines. These families began to spread throughout the many realms outside the nine. Therefore, a council was formed from the bloodlines to select and govern a High King who would rule over the lower king and queens in each of the Nine Realms, also chosen by the council.
In order to preserve the Nine Realms, a pact was made between the original bloodlines stating those originals living outside the Nine Realms would be required to send a member of their family back once a year to perform their duties on the council. During that time, each of those representing their bloodline would go to their home realm within the nine, gathering at a secret location to perform a ritual that would reinforce and feed power to the Nine Realms, replenishing their respective magical properties to the realms.