Page 55 of A Kingdom so Crimson

My heart sank at the mention of Levon. None of it madeanysense. All I could recall was the suffocating darkness, thecreeping tendrils of shadows, and the struggle to breathe in that cursed corset.

I shivered, willing myself to stay grounded in the present.

"No, Cal," I replied, my voice tinged with frustration and confusion. "I don't remember anything."

He released a frustrated sigh, rising from his seat and casting a resentful glance towards the door. "They're all eager to see you. Finish getting dressed, and I'll be waiting downstairs," he muttered, his tone heavy with annoyance. With that, he headed towards the door, again leaving me empty and overwhelmed with unanswered questions.

"Cal," I called out. He stopped, barely turning toward me at the open door. "It's good to see you," I said hesitantly. His lips turned up, and he glanced over his shoulder to give me a wink before he closed the door. I let out a breath and walked toward my armoire.

Quickly dressing in my underthings, I pulled out a cream-colored tunic that hugged my body, woven with threads of silvery gold that caught the light. Slipping into dark brown pants adorned with several pockets, I grabbed a brush from my vanity and began the task of untangling my stubbornly knotted hair. After weaving it into a braid that fell down my back, I finished lacing up my tarnished boots and sat at the vanity.

I took a long, hopeful breath, yearning for things to return to normalcy, for a chance—my thoughts abruptly halted as I caught sight of my eyes in the mirror. I blinked repeatedly, rubbing them in perplexity. Instead of their usual gray-blue hues, the rims emitted an unusual light brown that faded into a muted yellow and then into a vibrant green. The colors seemed almost otherworldly, reminiscent of the constellations I gazed at during sleepless nights, similar to their distant lights that shimmer with an ethereal glow.

I blinked again, frustration coursing through me as I forcefully rubbed my eyes, hoping they'd return back to their normal gray-blue.

I am delusional. My mind is playing tricks on me.

With an abrupt movement, I thrust myself out of the chair and yanked open the door, stomping down the hall and the stairs onto the polished floors below. The voices echoing from the dining area only fueled my annoyance, spurring me to hasten my steps as I reached the main front doors. I was not interested in conversing, especially when wrestling with unanswered questions myself.

With a surge of anger, I shoved the large doors open and stepped outside, immersing myself in the warmth of the sun and the soothing caress of the passing breeze that rustled through the trees.

Inhale, exhale.

What's going on?

Rubbing my eyes again, I made my way towards the running path that Levon and I used to run nearly every morning before Kaizen's arrival disrupted our routine, leaving me to run alone with him, always trailing behind like an unwanted shadow. I pushed aside the irritation, trying to regain my focus as I turned into the incessant chirping of insects and the soothing sway of the trees.

"Nice to see you on your feet again." A deep voice interrupted, jolting me out of my thoughts and into a defensive stance. I clenched my teeth, not in the mood for talk,especiallywith him—always there and endlessly following. "Trying to escape, hm?" Kaizen mused.

Forcing the irritation from my voice, I turned towards him. He was in his usual attire with his hood on and a bow slung over his back. "Anything to get away from you," I retorted before continuing forward in a jog. He followed and kept pace with me.

"What a pleasantthank youfrom someone whose life I've saved again,orphan," he breathed, his smirk betraying the irony in his words.

"Don't call me that," I snapped, no longer bothering to hide my disgust as I tried to bolt down the path into the woods. But before I could go further, he quickly grasped my arm, yanking me back to him. I hissed at his hold and yanked my arm away as he turned and stood in front of me, blocking the path. My gaze drifted to his bruised hands; the patches of dried blood were stark against his skin.

"Whatwouldyou like me to call you then?" he taunted, his voice barely above a murmur, taking a deliberate step closer. His arms folded tightly across his chest, concealing his hands as if to shield me from the sight of his wounds.

I stood my ground, looking up at his burning amber eyes, unwilling to break his stare. He stepped closer, closing the gap between us and hollowing out my chest.

"Lost your voice?" he grumbled, leaning in so that I could feel the heat radiate from his body. My heart pounded and pulsated throughout me like a fiery wave. "Perhaps you can tell yourbrotherI don't bite," he whispered, his lips barely brushing the shell of my ear and sending chills down my neck. He pulled back and nodded toward the back window of the estate where Calum stood, watching.

"He'snotmy brother," I countered, stepping away and trying to find a change of subject. "What happened to your hands?"

His eyes narrowed, a smile curling on his lips. "Is the orphan worried about me?" he teased, his voice dripping with mockery, igniting anger to swell within my chest.

"Don'tcall me that," I spat, my glare sharp enough to kill.

He chuckled, tilting his head. "Well, you never told me what to call you."

"I don't want you calling meanything.Now move, or I'll—"

"Or you'll what?" he stepped closer, closing the space between us until I could feel the heat of his breath. "Fight me?" His gaze bore down on me with anger, taunting me. "Remember how well that went last time?"

My teeth clenched as rage surged through my veins like molten lava.

"Get. Out. Of. My. Way." I hissed, my hands balling into fists.

"Make me," he whispered with a deep growl like this was all a joke to him. Before I could stop myself, I lunged, slamming into him with all my fury. We hit the ground hard, and I straddled him, my fist connecting with his jaw, sending a jolt of pain up my arm.

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