Page 128 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“Just kill me already,” he demanded.

“But I’m having so much fun.”

Jesper finally looked away from me. My darkness lashed out and pried his mouth open. It formed a dagger-like edge and reached in, ripping his tongue from him. Jesper’s bathwater turned red as he thrashed around in agony. His death would be painful and drawn out. I’m sure the fae here would recoil in disgust, but they needed to knowwhat happened when they fucked with me or my family. A moment later I summoned my fire magic and released it toward the bath full of water, making it rise in temperature.

“Let’s get your bath at a nice, hot temperature.”

Jesper tried to crawl out when he realized how warm his bath was getting. Slowly, I raised the temperature of the water, boiling him alive. His screams begging for death only fueled me to slow down his death. Jesper’s death was going to be agonizing, and somehow it still felt like he deserved worse; my whole family had deserved worse.

If anyone spoke around us, I did not hear them. I was too focused on Jesper’s pain and pleading. When his skin started bubbling from the heat, I would use Haden’s frost magic to cool the water down, only to do it all over again. His skin blistered and melted off of his bones and muscles slowly. His bathwater turned more red as he bled out.

The sight of his body was disgusting. His skin and body had practically melted into fae soup in the tub. I moved toward him when I could feel death coming for him. I stared at him in the eyes.

“Tell my family I said hi when you get to hell.”

Jesper was gasping for a breath he would never catch. But even now I wanted to take away his air, so I shoved him under the water, making sure his last lungfulwas water. When he didn’t fight back, I pulled him out. He was dead. His whole body slowly submerged into the water when my magic released him. My darkness swarmed around me; I was out of control, and I didn’t know how to stop. More. I wanted more vengeance.

Maybe I should kill all the fae in the arena. My dress blew in the warm gusts of wind. It was covered in blood. My toes curled on the dirt beneath them. Dust filled my lungs as I readied my magic for more blood.

Chapter 33

Thea

“Thea,” Cassius’ voice pierced straight through the darkness. “My love.”

I turned slowly and saw him and all the other prisoners now unbound behind the barrier I put up. Cassius stared at me like he was worried. Closing my eyes, I shook my head, trying to pull out of this rage I was feeling. Gods, what would they all think of me?

I wanted more vengeance. This wasn’t enough of a punishment. If I could bring them back to life and kill them again, I would.

“I love you,” he called out to me.

My eyes opened, and I stared at him.

“You did so fucking good, Thea.” He smiled at me.

He was proud of me, not scared. I stepped toward him, shattering the illusion magic I had around me. The illusion splintered and shattered like glass around us, showingthe true massacre in the field. I saw that the crowd was still trapped in their seats as I glanced around. My shield magic dropped, and Cassius ran to me. His arms wrapped around me and lifted me from the ground as he buried his face into my neck.

“I love you,” he whispered. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Cassius pulled back for a moment and then embraced me in a soul-consuming kiss. Gods, I had missed him. All those emotions that I had bottled up from Exile came crashing down around me. Tears spilled from my eyes as I held him to me. Cassius pulled back and grasped my face in his hands.

“I love you so much.” I grabbed his face in my hands and stared into those captivating golden eyes.

“You fucking did it.” He stared at me in disbelief. “I don’t know if I’m really processing that you did it,” he chuckled softly. The crowd started getting restless. Cassius glanced around at them. “What are you going to do about them?”

I stared at all their faces; they looked terrified.

Stepping forward, I spoke. “Cerithia will now be part of the Crimson Kingdom! We will not be at war with the other kingdoms. We will live in peace. We will treat all fae with respect and make sure everyone can afford to live. We will not tolerate hate or rebellion. Today, we move forwardand forget that my family ever existed. The Valeska family will treat you with respect and kindness, but we expect the same in return!”

The crowd glanced around at one another. I knew someone would object or say something snarky. It shouldn’t have surprised me that it was a few noblemen.

“You’re a monster!” one yelled.

“We will never accept you as our queen!” another retorted.

I flicked my wrist and evaporated them with my fire magic. Their bodies turning into ash and floating away in the wind.

“I suggest you all bow to your queen!” I yelled. “If any of you do not bow, I will send you straight to hell with my family.” I pointed to the dead bodies, and slowly the guards bent their knees and bowed in front of me. Cassius stepped up with me and hugged me. “And bow before your new king, my husband, Cassius Valeska of Crimson!”

---