Page 65 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“She’s slipping through my fingers,” I snapped back. “It’s turning into all the times before.”

“Cassius, she hasn’t looked at you like she hates you once. For fuck’s sake, she kissed you more than once." Haden lowered his voice. “She slept with you. She practically gave herself to you on a silver platter when she came for her scouting trip. You can see it in her eyes that she misses you even if she doesn'tunderstand why. She loves you.”

But I showed her my golden eyes, and she didn’t change her hurt expression. Did she notice it was me in her dreams? She had to, and I saw the disappointment in her eyes when she realized it was me.

“Lust and love are two different things. Now she knows who I am and what I did. She might choose to have nothing to do with me ever again.”

“We don’t know that. You are going to drive yourself crazy by thinking the worst.” Haden frowned.

I knew she loved me, deep inside her soul, but she couldn’t remember.

Just then, Thea’s soul appeared in front of me. I could see the silhouette of her in the soft green glow. Her eyes were staring at me like she wished she could hug me, but she couldn’t. She flashed a series of colors, and I wasn’t sure if she had done that besides when Thea had been in trouble. Wisp was warning me about Thea.

Immediately my shadows swarmed around me, and when they lifted, I realized that I was hiding in the corner of her father’s throne room behind the drapes. There were perks to being at war with Cerithia. I could now cross freely into their lands.

I froze when I saw Thea walk into the room. She looked irritated, but she was trying to look as if she wasn’t bothered.

“I’m going to town today,” she declared to her father.

“What for?” He raised an eyebrow.

“I haven’t been since I returned. I want to explore our kingdom, and I’m bored. You won’t let me go fight.”

I smiled softly at her eagerness to come fight me in a battle. He nodded like it made sense. Her hands fisted tightly at her sides when her father turned away from her. What was she up to?

“That’s fine. Do not leave the city and be back before dark. We will meet in the next few days to talk about a strategy for war.”

“Alright. I’ll see you at dinner.”

She turned and immediately headed out of the castle. I used my shadow magic to go into the forest that surrounded Cerithia. I watched her walk cautiously through the streets. The city was bustling with fae, and some of them avoided Thea as soon as they saw her, choosing to cross the street or duck into the shops. I’d fucking kill every fae who treated her like she was a monster.

Her pretty green eyes glanced around before she frowned and looked down. The fae whispered and pointed at her, but Thea seemed to be trying to ignore them.

“What are you doing, my love?” I whispered to myself as I followed silently in the woods. Thea stopped and glanced around as if she could sense me close by. Gods, she lookedso lost and confused. I just wanted to go tell her that I love her, but I didn’t know how she would react to seeing me. So, I continued to watch her as she lingered in the streets of Cerithia, seemingly trying to find something.

Thea’s soul appeared in front of me, flashing between green and orange. I didn’t know what that meant. She didn’t usually use those color combinations. She flew from me and drew my attention to a small cleft in between two trees. Small flashes of light seemed to be coming from within the space. I cautiously walked over and peered inside, only to find a small child who was using elite magic. He was a brave boy to use elite magic in this kingdom. It was obvious he was hiding from the prying eyes of the other fae by practicing in the woods.

I paused for a moment and watched him turn from a small child into a grown man. Illusion magic. A moment later, he turned into a boy again. Thea’s soul was still flashing colors at me, and I took a step forward. She burned a dark green, which I knew meant I was doing what she wanted from me.

The boy froze when he saw me approaching. I doubted he knew who I was, but I approached cautiously.

“I’m sorry I was using magic; please don’t tell the king.” His soft voice trembled.

I kneeled so I could talk to him quietly. It made me sick that a boy this young was scared of his king.

“That was very impressive.” I smiled. His dark eyes moved over my face as if he were trying to sense any danger that lurked. I would never hurt a child, but I did want his help.

“Mother said I shouldn’t use it because the king will be very angry with me,” he whispered. His clothing was ripped and torn. His golden skin was covered in dirt. What kind of king lets his fae live in squalor like this? Especially children.

“I’ll make you a deal. If you help me by using your magic, then I won’t tell anyone that you used it.”

He hesitated, and his stomach growled. I frowned.

“And I’ll pay you so that you can get some food.” I smiled.

“What do I have to do?”

“Can you make me look like a different male? Maybe an older one with dark eyes and white hair?”

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