Page 63 of Secrets & Curses of Cerithia

“Because I wish this was real.”

He just pulled me to him and wrapped me in his arms as an answer. This wasn’t a memory or a visit to my dream. This was my broken mind trying to escape the hurt and darkness by making a scenario where Cassius saved me. I buried my face in his hard chest and breathed in the familiar scent of rain and forest. I had missed him terribly. He wrapped the dark green blanket around us and gave me a kiss on the forehead.

“Let’s sleep until you feel better, my love.”

I nodded as I dozed off into a peaceful sleep.

?????

When I woke up, I was confused about being in my room in Cerithia. Had I not been in Crimson with Cassius? I didn’t feel much better than the last time I had been awake, but my eyes could crack open a bit more. I froze when I saw Jesper sitting ina small chair next to me, like he had been waiting for me to wake up.

“Thea.” He stood so he could grab my hand and kneel next to me. “Fuck, I thought you were going to die.”

I was confused by his worry.

“Your father would have killed me.”

That made sense. He didn’t care if I died, just that he didn’t die consequently. I tried swallowing, but my throat felt dry and itchy. How long had I been asleep? I couldn’t even muster up the strength to ask.

Jesper looked over my face thoughtfully as I looked around confused. He gave me a small smile, like he cared about me. If I had my dagger and strength, I would have slit his throat open.

“You haven’t been conscious for nearly a week, darling.”

A week. I didn’t say anything because I couldn’t and I didn’t want to. I could feel my eyes wanting to close and rest again, but Jesper lifted me up and out of bed. I cried as my body ached. Maybe he was taking me back into the cell now that I was awake. Instead, though, he carried me up the stairs. My eyes drifted closed but opened when a door opened. A hot bath had been drawn, and it smelled like lavender.

“Let’s get you cleaned up.” He helped me stand on shaky legs as he pulled my ruined uniform from my body, turning me so I could see myself in the mirror. I immediately looked away from the blood and bruises, but Jesper moved my head back toward the mirror.

“You don’t like your tattoo?” He gave me a wicked smile. My eyes drifted to the words carved into my stomach:useless crimson whoremarred my skin. “The back one says ‘traitor’ if you are curious,” he laughed.

And everyone thought I was the monster of Elloryon. I held the tears in, no longer showing them I was broken and weak. I would be fine after I healed. Besides, I had already decided on aplan. I would sneak out and head for Exile to free them. I needed to do that as soon as I could ride a horse again. Then we would get the fuck out of here and never return.

I flinched when the hot water scalded my cuts and bruised skin. Shit. Jesper sat in the bathroom with me and stared at me as I washed myself off. Was he worried I was going to run? I couldn’t even walk on my own. I stared into his eyes for a moment, and I decided then and there that I would plunge my dagger deep into his heart and stop it one day soon. Even if it cost me my life, it would be worth it.

“Care to share your thoughts?” he sneered.

I shook my head.

“You’re lucky your friends from Exile weren’t there anymore. I was so angry; I would have slaughtered all of them if they had been,” he said so coldly.

“Gone?” my hoarse voice whispered.

“My guess is Crimson killed them as soon as you chose Cerithia. They would have never let you rescue them, especially since they would all follow you into battle. They are loyal, if anything, but only to you for saving them the first time. Can you imagine elite magic fae in our war? We would be unstoppable.” His cold, unforgiving eyes stared at me. “I guess we are unstoppable with you. Your demonstration of magic was absolutely perfect.”

“You guys lied to me. You never had elite magic fae.”

“We needed you not to go crazy on us,” he shrugged.

“And now? There is nothing stopping me from killing all of you.” My eyes coated over with blackness. Jesper just smiled at me.

“Don’t worry, we improvised.” He ran his fingers through his blonde hair. “The elite fae have families in Cerithia still. We have guards stationed at every home, ready to kill them if you piss me off.”

“You found all their bodies in Exile?”

Tears fell from my eyes. Jesper had to be lying. Cassius would never do that to me or to them. Would he? Jesper wouldn't lie about killing them, or even taking them. It would only give him more power over me.

“No, but my guess is they burned them in their homes. All the structures had been lit on fire. Such a shit hole.”

The structures were all burned. He really did go to Exile just to slaughter them. Sybil and the twins' faces flashed into my mind. I pictured them standing in the small home in Exile as I headed for the trials. I would give anything to go back to that moment. Tears fell silently. Crimson couldn’t have done that. There was no way that Cassius would do that. He had elite magic.

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