Page 64 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

Fuck. Her eyes glanced at me as her father revealed I was the prince. I waited for the anger and betrayal to flood those pretty eyes, but it didn’t come. Did she already figure that out about me? Thea blinked slowly before looking at her father and forcing herself to be confused.

“I’m sure the marriage proposal is just some twisted way to use me against you,” she spokeso coldly. “I will gladly fight this war for you and Kizar if that is what you wish.” Fuck, those words made my stomach roll with disgust and betrayal. My crown tattoo burned with such violence that I had to bite my lip to keep the painful sob in.

Her skin burned with bright swirls of orange and red, making her father step back away from her. Everyone visibly took a step away from her but me. Jesper stepped forward and made her look him in the face.

“You will kill the Crimson bloodline to break your curse?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. “Crimson is my enemy. I am a princess of Cerithia, a soldier of my kingdom, and my loyalties lie with Cerithia and my father.”

“Thea…” I began to beg. “This is no trick. I just want peace, and I want you.”

Her red eyes found mine.

“You probably want her so you can kill her again,” Luren announced. “You are the whole reason she is cursed in the first place.”

No. Time slowed as I watched her reaction. I should have fucking told her myself. It should never have come from Luren.

“What is he talking about?” She glanced around, refusing to look at me.

I turned around to look at my father and the guards in attendance. I turned back to her and took a shaky breath.

“You are cursed because I killed you eight years ago,” I said so calmly. “I cursed your soul, and you’ve been trying to break the curse ever since. I plunged that viper dagger into your heart, and the gods cursed us for it. But I did it to save you.”

Thea didn’t give any sort of reaction to this either. Shit, she was in shock. I didn’t dare to look away from her. Her darkness burst from her and swarmed around her in a frenzy. I was losing her. My jaw clenched tightly to keep my emotions in check.

“Then I guess I will return the favor and plunge the dagger into your heart next.” Her father smiled at me, knowing that he had the upper hand.

My body deflated at her words.

“Thea, don’t do this,” I pleaded. “Choose Crimson, and I will explain everything to you. There is more to the story than this.”

“Choose Crimson? I don’t know you or Crimson. Why would you ever be that stupid to think I would fall for this weird act you have going on?”

Tears blurred my vision. She fucking hates me.

“My love,” I whispered in anguish. The term of endearment made her face fall for a brief moment.

“Don’t ever call me that disgusting name again. You are the last male I would ever be with.”

It was like a punch to the stomach to hear those words from her. My marriage bond burned with heartbreak, but I blocked it from her. I was trying not to confuse her more. So, I took her venomous words and watched her walk away.

“Cassius,” she spoke loudly to me, making my heart jump like she would take back her words. “I’ll see you on the battlefield.”

My shoulders slumped when she turned and walked away without a glance back. My body wanted to follow her. My heart didn’t understand why I wasn’t running for her.She belongs tome, with me.

“Cassius…” my father spoke softly.

“Let’s go,” I demanded without saying goodbye to the other kingdoms. They would understand. My shadows swarmed around us, and we were all standing back in Crimson a moment later. I knew I should have just walked away, but I looked at my father, then Haden, Leer, and Zade. Pity was evident, but I didn’t want their pity.

“Son.”

“Please, just don’t,” I muttered as I clenched my fists tightly. “It was different this time. She looked at me differently when we sparred. She loves me.” I didn’t know whoI was trying to convince—me or them. We fucking slept together; she couldn’t stay away from me for long. It was different this time.

“She will come around. Give her time to process that you killed her,” my father pleaded. But my mind was a dangerous thing. It had already conjured up losing her again. Images of Thea dying plagued me immediately. I would lose her again. I wouldn’t survive it this time. It would swallow me whole.

“She hates me.” She left me when she found out that I was the man from her dreams. Thea walked away.

“No, she doesn’t.” Haden stepped forward so I could focus on him. “She loves you. Don’t trick yourself into thinking that she doesn’t. Even today she didn’t look like she hated you, and she found out you killed her. Maybe she is up to something.”

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