Page 114 of Secrets & Curses of Cerithia

My father scoffed as he looked over me and my magic barbs. The witch’s bloodstone hummed in my pocket, reminding me of how close I was to breaking this fucking curse. Cassius couldn’t cross over to save me without dying. My eyes locked on him, and I tried to have him understand what my plan was.

Cassius’ eyes scanned over my face. I tried to communicate through our blood bond. I needed him to understand that we could get out of this, but we needed his magic to do it. I sent him images of what my plan was.

“No,” Cassius said, shaking his head. I knew it was risky, but it was the only way.

“We were so close this time, Thea. So close to you picking our side and getting rid of Cassius for good,” my father sighed. “I really thought you would kill him.”

I scoffed.

“You did a piss poor job trying to get me to choose you or your shitty kingdom.”

My father’s face burned red.

“I will always choose Cassius. He is my home.”

I felt love and terror surge through the bond, but I didn’t break eye contact with my father. He made a disgusted grunt.

“He murdered you, you stupid fucking Crimson whore!”

“No, he saved me,” I shot back.

Jesper took a step toward me but stopped when I looked at him.

“It’s a shame we must do this over again, Thea. Hopefully, next time you will choose correctly.”

Realization hit me. They wanted me so they could kill me. They knew I would never fight against Cassius now.

They were resetting the curse.

“I chose correctly this time,” I answered back.

“Thea, please come over here,” Cassius pleaded, but I knew I would be killed before I could make it there. My eyes flickered at him.

“I love you with my whole soul.” I cried because I didn’t know if I would get out of this one.

“Don’t you dare say goodbye to me.” He started walking toward Cerithia's lands, but Haden and Zade held him back so he wouldn’t die by crossing over. “I love you too,” he whispered.

“How fucking cute,” my father scoffed. “I don’t enjoy killing you, Thea.”

“You’re a fucking liar. I want you to know that one day my blade will stop your cruel heart, but not before I slaughter every disgusting member of your family—Jesper included.”

Jesper paled at my declaration.

I focused on the bond, telling Cassius exactly what I planned on doing. He needed to be ready for when I ran. He quieted down at the border, and I knew he understood.

“I think I will enjoy killing you the most, Jesper. I think I’ll take my time.” Jesper took a step back. My eyes flickered over the guards holding weapons pointed at me. “I will remember each face here, and one day I will make you pay for this.” The guards swallowed hard but didn’t move.

“Are you done?” My father snapped.

“Yes, but before you kill me, take this as a parting gift.” Confusion clouded his face before my dagger flew out and embedded into his shoulder. Damn it, I missed his heart. But I was already running toward Cassius.

Chapter 36

Chaos broke out around me as my father and Jesper ordered their men to kill me. My hand reached out toward Cassius. His eyes locked onto mine as his shadows burst out, encircling everyone from Crimson. My eyes focused on the black shadows in front of me. Cassius was all I could think of. Images flashed through my head of the life we once had: getting to be with him every day, loving him, then on to having heirs of our own, having my own family that loved me, having him love me more than anything else in this realm.

A sharp pain hit me as I stepped into the shadows, making me call out in pain.

As the darkness moved from my vision, I realized we were already back in Crimson. We were all surrounded by the royal guard and family in the castle gardens. A loud eruption of happiness spread through everyone when they saw us. An arrow protruded from my leg, but it wasn’t a fatal wound. Cassius’ frantic eyes looked around for me, and relief spread across hisfeatures when I stood twenty feet from him. I couldn’t believe my plan had worked. I ripped the arrow from my thigh.

---