Stepping closer, I jerked on the medallion, snapping the chain free from her throat. “I need that!”
“I know you do,” I said as her skin began to age. “I won’t stop taking from you or hunting you until you die or are returned to your tomb. There’s no hole dark enough for you to hide in anymore. You wanted this battle. I brought you with a war unlike any other the Nine Realms has ever seen before. A united Nine Realms, which shall stand as one against you, Hecate. You grossly miscalculated when you hid behind the walls.” After digging the butt of the stake into the ground, I gripped her around the throat and shoved her back onto it. Killian and Zyion secured the rope around her chest and legs, and when they finished, we stepped back, watching her trying to escape.
“The rope is hemlock, grandmother. I brought it just for you. Know this, I am no savior, but I am a monster. Not like you—never like you. I’m the one they needed to fight to take you down. I won’t rest until your reign ends, and mine begins. Oh, and the best part? My chaos hasn’t even fully reached its full potential. And Knox? He’s not dead. He’s merely allowing his Queen of Chaos to sharpen her claws. So, shall we test them? Oh, wait. I also promised him a gift when I returned from killing you.” Turning my head left and right, I smiled brightly and then clapped my palms together. “Perfect! Lovely, I’ve decided on my gift for my king. Since I can’t allow him to outdo me, your head will do nicely. Plus, he made me a throne to match his, one created from your children’s skulls. So, hold still, I’d hate to fuck it up.” I sliced through her throat, smiling as her blood sprayed everywhere.
“Ashes to ashes,” Killian said beside me.
“Dust to dust,” Zyion growled.
“In no goddess, shall we trust.” I laughed, biting my lip as the coppery tang of her blood lined my teeth. Flicking my fingers, I brought the vibrant, blue flames up to my lips and blew on them until her head caught fire. Stepping back, I smiled as it charred the skin to black flakes, which drifted upward until the flames died out. What was left was nothing but the skull with a circle-less pentagram on the forehead. “You look much better without a head. It’s a vast improvement, Hecate. If Knox were here, he’d thank you for the skull. We must never forget our manners, right?” I asked the men standing beside me, who were watching the bitch burn. “Anyone bring marshmallows? I’ve been craving some lately.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Aria
The battlefield was bathed in blood that ran in rivers. My heartbeat drummed in my ears, the entire group celebrated by throwing body parts, which caused my stomach to churn. I stood in the midst of it all, dragons swooping down to feed on the dead, while the girls danced around barefooted. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I thought of what Knox would be doing if he’d been here.
Would he dance with me? It would be rather morbid, but Hecate was afire, her witches were being hunted down and rounded up for extermination. I’d allowed the dead a chance to deal with those who’d harmed them in life. It wasn’t much, but even now, I could feel the souls singing with relief, knowing they’d survived long enough to help wash away the sickness within the land.
Hecate wouldn’t remain dead, but in order to put her down, she had to be drained. There was also the issue of Aurora, who’d begun feeding on the magic of those without darkness. It meant she’d need to be handled before she became like her mother. The girls would need to be checked for darkness as well.
“Why aren’t you celebrating?” Esme asked, clapping me on the back. Her violet eyes were aglow with adrenaline.
“I was thinking about how Knox would’ve loved to see this. This moment is one that will be remembered, he should be here with me. He helped me learn how to be this person. Now he’s missing out on it. For so long, I’ve wanted to hurt her for what she’s done to him and the realms. I should be celebrating, but really? All I want is for him to hold me and tell me I’m not a horrible person for enjoying the small things. Like murdering my grandmother.”
“Yeah, how are those hormones working out?”
“He should be here with us.”
“King Karnavious wouldn’t care if he was here or not,” Zyion stated, even as Eva smiled warmly at him. “He’d be glad you kicked her ass. It doesn’t matter how you do it, or when it happens, as long as it happens. Tonight, she burns. The Nine Realms sleeps free of her wrath, and will for a while. You did that, Aria. You led his army today, and did what every king wishes of a queen. You protected him and his people, and you didn’t flinch once.”
“If he were here?” Killian muttered. “You wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate. He’d have you back in that library celebrating alone. That’s what you’d be doing. So, enjoy it while you can. Knox doesn’t celebrate victories. He said the only one he’d ever celebrate was the end of this forsaken war.”
“I think you have an ear on you,” I stated, reaching over to pick it off, examining it before tossing it over my shoulder.
“Did you see her, Basilius?” Esme asked, her smile fully reaching her expressive eyes. “Best fucking friend.”
“Best lesbian, maybe,” Ember snorted.
“Holy fuck. Where have you fucking been? You fucking left me. I needed you. Knox needed you! Ember, answer me now!”
“Maybe sleeping. I don’t recall. Wow, who fucked shit up? Can we have him?” she asked, even as I snorted.
“You have her. Me, I’m the one who unleashed hell on Hecate and stomped her ass. Without you. Sleeping? Are you fucking kidding me? I thought I fucking lost you, Ember. I’ve never been more terrified in my entire life.”
“I love you too, Aria. I’m proud of you.” Warmth washed through me, as if she was trying to show me how much she loved me. “Dragons! Oh, can we ride them? One, two? Can we ski on dragons?” Her excitement caused my lips to tremble.
“No, we cannot.”
She made a disgruntled sound and then softly purred. “Our babies are going to be dragons. I can feel it.”
“I guess that’s a good thing since I’m the Queen of Dragons.”
“Wait, you’re the Queen of Dragons, and we still can’t ride one?”
“No, in a moment, I need to go check on something.”
“I found this over by where you removed Hecate’s head,” Siobhan stated, handing me a bloodied crown.
“Fantastic. Thanks.” I took it from her and plopped it on my head. “Does this blood make my eyes pop, Esme?”
“Honestly, it brings out the evil in them. But, if I may suggest something?” She frowned before moving her finger toward the blood dripping from my crown. “Might want to clean the brain matter off before putting it on next time. It ruins the whole pretty-but-evil vibe. Might I also suggest using Hecate’s bones for your next crown, My Queen?”
“Shall we use her fingers or ribs? And can we add jewels? Or quartz maybe? Quartz would make the blood stand out more.” I pondered, tapping my chin.