Page 15 of A Kingdom so Crimson

His lips pressed hard against mine, stealing my breath. He held my face in his soft hands and kissed me again. His intimatetouch burned a hole in my frustration with an electrifying fire that consumed me until I couldn't breathe. A sudden flash of light seared through my closed eyelids as a sharp surge of energy stung my lips, tingling up into my mouth. In reflex, we pushed each other back, both with furrowed brows, hissing at one another at what just transpired. Bewilderment covered my mind as I touched my numb lips.

"What was that?"I cursed, angry at myself for letting my emotions take control. He touched his own lips when a loud snap bounced off the trees, echoing around us and quieting even the insects. We both jerked our heads towards the source, instantly on edge, knowing the warnings of the creatures that prowled at night.

He raised a finger to his lips, silencing me as we stood defensively, listening to any more unusual sounds. I strained to listen past the rustling of the stream from behind and the chorus of frogs. Another faint shuffle caught my attention, this time to our left. Cal heard it, too, his gaze shifting toward the source of the sound as the air around us grew thick with tension. The shuffle grew louder, almost clumsy, as I readied my stance. We stood still, listening. My heart thrummed in my ears when a pair of coppery-yellow eyes blinked once and then disappeared. The hair on my neck stood up, and my body pebbled with bumps down my skin. More movement arose, causing Cal to step back when a fawn emerged into view, nibbling on shrubs. The fear escaped my body immediately, returning my breathing to its natural rhythm.

"Scared of a fawn?" Cal teased, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. I shoved him away before walking towards the tree, settling down on the soft ground, and inhaling the earthy night air. Calum joined me, sitting close into my warmth.

We sat silently for a moment before he spoke. "I—" he hesitated. "I needed to know."

I looked at him with irritation in my eyes. All that firey passion moments ago had faded, turning into anger and guilt.

"Know what, Cal?" I demanded sharply.

He looked at me, almost saddened, yet his golden eyes still showed bright amidst the dark world around us. "Your lips, Eliah. Your lips on mine."

I stilled as my anger fueled—only anothertoyto play with. I gritted my teeth, fighting off my girlish emotions. Iwouldn'tlet myself fall for him,ever.He wasn't capable of giving me the happiness I yearned for, and I couldn't remain. I refused to spend my life here in his shadow.

"Don't you dare place me as a piece in your game, Calum," I snapped. "I will never play."

I looked up at him, despising myself forenjoyinghis soft lips, which turned into a playful smile. "You couldn't bear the thought ofonegirl not swooning for you?" I hissed, scaring a few birds out of their nests. I wrapped the shawl tighter and stood, walking farther away from him.

We stayed there in silence, listening to the quiet music of the woods as I let my anger settle into the kernel of light within me.

"Why did you bring me here, Cal?" I asked, breaking the silence at last.

His eyes turned somber as he looked at me, his smile fading. He scuffed his polished shoes and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"I know something, El. Something that I—I couldn't live with myself if I didn't tell you," he confessed.

I furrowed my brows, waiting for his explanation.

"Do you remember the Leonardian War? After King Tyran's reign."

My thoughts flashed back to the history lessons with the scrawny professor who Jesri insisted Cal and I endure. One lesson stood out more than the others about the massacredirected by King Leonard. Thousands of Magics perished. The profound sadness of that realization had brought me to tears that night as I wrestled with the horror of an entire race being destroyed and, henceforth, forgotten.

I shook my head. "Only the massacre," I said, my voice trembling with the weight of the memory.

His brow furrowed in concern. "The war started when corrupted Magics summoned something," he explained, his tone grave. "They were seeking something dangerous. After the summoning, hundreds of other—" he paused, glancing around cautiously. "Creatures appeared. King Leonard rallied several neighboring armies to hunt them down, exterminating anything with even a trace of magic—no longer trusting those with such abilities."

My mind raced through the books I had read earlier, remembering reading something about the Spellcasters and their archaic plans that failed. "These…Magics, were they called the Spellcasters?" I whispered, feeling a sense of apprehension, as if speaking their name aloud might conjure them.

His eyes narrowed in surprise. "Yes, how—"

"Jesri's library," I interjected. "I was looking for information about the King's Match." I continued, detailing my search and how it yielded nothing further.

"You found this in Jesri's library?" he questioned.

I nodded, causing him to caress his jaw in thought.

"What is it?" I asked, eager to leave the darkening woods, now chilled by a brisk wind.

"The existence of the Spellcasters has been erased from most historical records, and if any text were found, it could be punishable by imprisonment or death."

My brows shot up in shock and confusion, sensing Calum felt the same way.

Sensing he didn't want to question his uncle, he continued. "The Kings were determined to ensure that no one would attempt such actions again since their failures led to something terrible."

"What do you mean, terrible?"

---