Page 79 of Secrets & Curses of Cerithia

“My men have not crossed into your lands, Cassius. What lies are you trying to spin here?”

Cassius’ eyes met mine, and I immediately understood what he was talking about.

Me. I broke the treaty.

“Thea, my love, did you not tell anyone where you were a few days ago?” Cassius smiled smugly at me. “I can tell Jesper probably found out, seeing as your face is covered with cuts and bruises.”

“Jesper?” My father questioned.

Jesper said nothing to my father, but his hand squeezed mine so painfully that I whimpered under the pain.

“Thea crossed into Crimson lands, killed my guards, held a dagger to my throat, and threatened to harm me. She is from Cerithia, and I do believe she is the captain of your guard, is she not?”

My heart hammered in my chest. What was this? Was he going to really sit here and intentionally get me in trouble? What if they did let him take me?

“Yes,” my father ground out. Both he and Gwyn looked like they would kill me.

“Tell them, Thea,” Cassius said with a sweet smile.

My eyes scanned the angry faces of my father and the queen. But when I glanced at Haden, he gave me a subtle nod and smirk.

“Yes, I did what he is accusing me of.”

The other kingdoms whispered as they watched the exchange. I didn’t know it was a treaty violation. Not that it would have stopped me.

“You can’t just fucking listen, can you?” Jesper snarled at me. He had dropped my hand, but only to smack me across the face, making me fall against the table. A loud gasp came from the royal families. Blood dripped from a cut on my lip that had been split open. Jesper tangled his hand into my hair to stand me up, then punched me so hard in the stomach that I fell flat on my back and saw black edging around my vision.

“If you want to keep your hands, Jesper, I suggest you not touch her again.” Cassius’ voice was dark, malicious in hiswarning. A moment later, shadows swarmed around me, lifting me back to my feet as blood poured from my split lip and onto the gray dress I wore. Cassius then stepped to Jesper and grabbed him by the throat, slamming him against the wall.

Cassius whispered, so only the three of us could hear.

“If you ever touch her like that again, I will cut your fucking head off.” Then he grabbed his dagger and slammed it into Jesper’s thigh before yanking it right back out. Jesper’s pained yell echoed in the silent space. No one dared move or breathe. Cassius’ chest rose and fell in angry puffs as his black eyes turned to inspect me. Then he turned his attention back to the crowd and stepped toward my father.

“As the treaty states, the land that was violated gets to choose the punishment. Thea will be imprisoned in the Crimson kingdom until her violation is paid off.”

“Fuck you, Cassius!” Jesper bellowed. “You are not taking her.”

“But I am Jesper, and there isn’t a fucking thing you can do to stop me. If you try to keep me from enacting my punishment, then I have grounds to kill you right here, right now. And I would gladly rip you apart. Actually, I think I would let Thea do the honors.”

I stood very still. Cassius was taking me. He was taking me to Crimson and away from this nightmare. Even if I were a prisoner, it would be better than being here. Relief flooded me at this news.

“You just can’t stand that she chose me over you,” Jesper hissed.

Cassius laughed loudly.

Haden and the other guards scoffed at Jesper. Haden glanced over at me and frowned at the sight of me. My eyes flickered to Wisp. She was twirling around Cassius, but I didn’t know if this was a good thing yet or not.

“You think that is the face of a woman who chose to marry you? Don’t flatter yourself, Jesper; Thea has better taste than a coward who raises his hand to her. Don’t you,my love?”

His eyes flickered to mine, but I didn’t speak.

I could feel a shot of calmness running up my arm. Cassius was trying to soothe me through the bond, but it wasn’t working. What if they didn’t let him take me? Would I be tortured slowly? Images of Jesper carving into my flesh and holding me under the bath water plagued me. I saw Cassius wince, and I wondered if he saw it too.

His shadows pushed out farther around him, like he couldn’t help it. They knocked Jesper forcefully so that he stumbled into the table behind him.

“You have to give a length of time for the punishment.” My father stared at me like he would come up and stab me if he could. “A reasonable time.”

“Three months.” Cassius looked at me.

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