Page 110 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“How?” They had elite magic.

“He used a witch that had been a rival of your mother.”

“Our mother helped him,” Kaz frowned.

“Don’t worry, I made sure your mother suffered in death.” My eyes flashed red as my brothers looked proud of me.

“They killed us all with a simple swipe of their hands. They couldn’t get to you because Cassius and the gods were there. When Ardella realized we were all dead, she offered us a place with you or the option to move on. It was clear we chose you, always would.” Kaz smiled.

Rage consumed me. My father had killed them all and tried to kill me. Shaking my head, I tried to control the darkness clawing its way out of me.

“Don’t.” Kaz grabbed my hand. “It’s time to stop holding it in and let your powers all the way out, Thea. Then I want you to go and make them pay for what they took from us.”

I nodded. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and stopped trying to push the dark back inside.Finally, it whispered as I let it slither its way out of me. It turned and twisted up and around me, clawing its way into every part of me, and as it did, power surged through me. It rippled in waves around me, and there was no way to force it back inside of me now that it was free.

Sybil and the twins smiled at me when I glanced at them. My clothing had all turned black, and I had constant ribbons of darkness floating around me. My vision pulsed black. My veins were black under my pale skin.

“You have some work to do.” Sybil smiled fondly at me. “It’s our time to go.”

“B-but Atticus, I promised him I would get you out and home to him.”

Ardella stepped forward as Sybil’s eyes filled with tears. I would have to tell him that she died years ago.

“Atticus is waiting for you, Sybil.” Ardella smiled. “He did not want to live without you.”

Sybil burst into tears at this news.

“But how did he know?” I asked. “I spoke to him not that long ago.”

Della frowned at me.

“That was not Atticus you were talking to in the forest.” Then who the fuck was it? “That little boy had illusion magic, and Cassius paid him to make him look like Atticus so he could talk to you. He thought you hated him for killing you and wanted to speak with you but didn’t want to upset you.”

“Clever boy,” Sybil laughed. “I cannot wait to see Atticus,” she muttered as she glanced at Ardella.

“We should go.” Kaz frowned, and all I could think of was Lyra. Just then she appeared a short distance away.

“Wait,” I whispered. Lyra was going to be devastated. Now with my memories back, I could remember how much she and Kaz loved each other. Kaz glanced at me oddly, but then turned when he heard Lyra.

“Kaz?” she whispered.

His chest seized when he saw her.

“Lyra.” He ran at her, picked her up, and hugged her. I frowned as he kissed her, and she sobbed with happinessbecause she didn’t know that it was goodbye. Kaz held her face as she talked and cried.

I couldn’t hear what he said to her, but I didn’t need to because a cry tore from her as she fell to her knees, screaming as if her heart had been ripped from her. Tears fell down my face as I watched him sink to his knees in front of her as she begged him not to leave her again.

I turned from them to give them privacy. Sybil hugged me first, then Kai. What did you say to someone for the last time? No words came to me, and I felt stupid for not knowing what to say.

Kai stepped forward and hugged me tightly again, giving me a kiss on the top of my head.

“Love you, sis,” he whispered, but I could hear him crying. “I wish I could watch you make Cerithia pay for what they’ve done. Maybe we will get to know each other in another life.” He pulled back and gave me his handsome smile once more.

“I love you too.” I cried as he started to disappear. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”

He smiled. “Tell Cassius I said bye, and thanks for taking care of you.” Kai took two steps backward from me and disappeared, and it was a knife through my chest.

Sybil smiled brightly and hugged me so tightly I thought she’d crackmy ribs.

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