Page 32 of Secrets & Curses of Cerithia

“You are the last fae I would call for anything.”

Cassius’ golden eyes dimmed, but he left me alone. Wisp floated outside of the room. I picked up the bread from my tray and threw it at her.

“Glad to know that you were never on my side.”

Her flames turned white, but I turned my back to her and sat down on the bed.

Did my family know that Cassius had me? I’m sure they would find out once they reached the border and I was gone. Shit. The guards were in Falgon uniforms. They would probably send guards to Falgon to rescue me, not Crimson. I pushed the plate of food off the bed, making a mess on the floor, before crawling under the covers.

I hated how the blankets smelled of Cassius, yet I wanted nothing more than to breathe in his scent. Flustered, I sighed heavily and sat up in the bed, glancing at the doorway. No one was there, but I could hear faint talking from somewhere close by. I stood and walked toward the doorway, trying to hear the conversation, but it was useless.

I tried to clear my mind but couldn’t move my gaze from the bed. Flashes of Cassius and I together plagued me. Gods, this was fucking torture. Tearing my gaze away, I started pacing around the room, wondering what Cassius wanted from me.

“I see you didn’t want the food.” His voice stopped me in my tracks. I turned to see him standing at the doorway, just out of reach. His eyes glanced over me as if he were looking for wounds before they found my own. My chest ached at the sight of him. This was not how I expected to see him for the first time after his betrayal. A flash of stabbing him back made me flinch and look away.

“So, you did plan the kidnapping,” I sighed.

“No. I told you I was tipped off by a friend.”

I forced myself to look at him again because I didn’t want him to know that he held any power over me. Would he enchant me again, or would he use whatever dark magic he had to trick me?

“You haven’t come to kill me yet; why?” His question confused me.

“It isn’t because I didn’t want to. My father didn’t think I was ready,” I sighed. “I can kill you now if you’d unchain me and let my magic free.”

Cassius glanced at the chains and smiled, like he knew something I didn’t. Gods, he was too handsome for a man who murdered me.

“Maybe your father is scared to have you close to me," he smirked.

“Why would that scare him?” Would he admit that he would enchant me?

“Because you might remember me and decide you made the wrong choice in the clearing.”

“I didn’t.” I crossed my arms and watched him closely. My darkness still couldn’t feel any fear from him, and I couldn’t understand why. “My father knows my loyalties lie with him.”

Cassius’ eyes flashed black as he straightened up, clenching his fists.

“I’m more interested in knowing if you let that little weasel, Jesper, manipulate you into having feelings for him.”

It was my turn to stand tall and glare.

“Fuck you.”

“You have, many times, my love.” Cassius gave me a smug smile.

“You are a bastard!”

“So I’ve been told.” He took a step toward me.

I stepped back away from him. He watched me move away and kept coming closer, but I matched each forward step of his with a back step of my own, causing him to pause and frown.

“Have you had more memories of us?”

“No,” I lied. “Even if I did, I know none of it was true. I know the truth of what happened.”

Cassius chuckled loudly before looking at me.

“No, you don’t.” He stepped forward again, but I had nowhere else to go. I was pushed against the wall. “You want to know how I know you don’t know the truth?” Another step forward. My heart raced as he stalked me like prey. “Because you would be here, in Crimson and with me, if you knew the truth. You would be sleeping in our bed tonight. You would be begging me to touch you just how you like. You would be calling out my name to the stars to let them know who owns your body, Thea.”

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