Page 37 of Secrets & Curses of Cerithia

“Now that I have everyone’s attention,” I said calmly. “I hope this was a nice reminder that I can gut every single one of you in here by myself. If you think I will continue to tolerate your shitty attitude toward me, think again. I don’t care if you are noble, commoner, or royal.” My eyes flicked to my family. “I will not hesitate to put you in the ground. Does anyone have anything they’d like to say to me?”

No one dared breathe too loudly as I glanced at them. Leer stood in the back of the room with a proud but terrified look on his face.

“I didn’t fucking think so. Sleep well.” I smiled innocently.

My father didn’t dare come at me this time. I walked out of the room slowly, heading toward my shower to wash the blood from me.

Chapter 12

“Do you always have to be so damn difficult?” Cassius glared at me.

I rolled my eyes as he moved toward me, but when he turned me toward him, I saw the humor in his eyes. I smirked at the look on his face.

“I do love when you give me attitude, my love.” He leaned in and kissed me softly. “I was thinking that we should stop pretending you’re a prisoner here,” Cassius spoke as he pulled away.

His declaration made my smile disappear as golden eyes glided over my face, waiting for me to say something.

“What does that even mean?” I whispered, too scared that my voice would give away the excitement I was feeling.

“I want you to stay in Crimson because you want to. I want you to choose me.” His emotions were raw and unfiltered. It may have even been the first time I saw fear in Cassius’ eyes. “When I think of you leaving me, my whole body aches withlonging for you. The gods and the stars above know that I would be nothing without you, Thea. They created me to love you, and I intend to do that whether you love me back or not.”

Cassius continued in his worried state.

“I never stood a chance. You had me the moment you called me a coward in the woods on the night of the blood moon. You’ve consumed my every thought since that day, and I’ve dreamt of a life with you. You are everything I never knew I longed for, Thea, and it terrifies me that you could leave. Not even the gods could keep me from you. So please, put me out of this torment and tell me you’ll stay. Even if you do not love me back, stay, and I’ll spend a lifetime treasuring you and making you fall in love with me.”

Cassius seemed to realize he was rambling and closed his mouth. Through my magic, though, I could feel his overwhelming emotions bubbling up and taking hold of him.

I paused for a moment to allow the silence to fall before whispering, “You’ve lost your mind…” His shoulders slumped in disappointment at my words, “…if you really think that I do not already love you. My heart and soul chose you long before my mind caught up.”

Cassius’ mouth seared mine in a breathtaking kiss.

?????

My eyes shot open, and I stared at the ceiling of my bedroom, Cassius’ words haunting my thoughts. How could he be so convincing? I sat up in bed, my chest heavy with longing for a man I couldn’t have. My dreams had become my own personal hell. There was no relief from the torment of his betrayal. Ever since returning to Cerithia a few days ago, I hadn’t stopped thinking about Cassius.

The way he looked at me and smiled in my presence made my insides clench. I couldn’t understand why he didn’t fear me. Stars above, I was sick and twisted to long for the man who hadruined my life. But there was a burning deep inside me, a rage because he acted as if he didn't kill me.

Gathering my emotions as best I could, I stood and dressed in my guardsmen’s uniform. Training would be a great distraction from Cassius—and from the fact that my father hadn’t been seen since I ruined his party. The reminder made me smile.

It was easy to fall back into a routine of training with the guards when I never wanted to sleep and didn’t have anything to distract me.The guards saluted me as I walked along the front of the fields.

"Who would like to challenge me today?" I asked. A guard stepped forward, and we prepared ourselves for a fight. I was distracted by thoughts of Cassius today, more than usual. It might be the day a guard wins against me.

My face turned at the impact of the guard punching me in the face. Shit. I blocked his next punch, ducking low and punching his stomach. The guard crumpled to his knees, and I pulled my dagger and held it to his heart.

“Dead,” I sighed.

The other guards grumbled at my victory. I allowed one challenge a day, and if a guard pulled a death move on me, the men could have two days to themselves. No one had beaten me yet.

I grinned at the men as they all muttered under their breaths and got back into formation.

The men liked the way we trained, and happy guards would be more loyal than mistreated guards.

“They can’t afford to take a day off.” Jeb looked at me disapprovingly.

“A day off will not lose us this war.” I rolled my eyes.

“It’s not how we do things in Cerithia,” he argued again. “This is something I would expect from Crimson,” he said, speaking loud enough for all the guards to hear.

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