Page 78 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

He stilled and stared at me. I asked my magic to tell me what he was thinking. Cassius’ voice flittered into my mind instantly.

She wants me to stay. How could I say no to her, but why does she want me around?

“Do you want me to?” His eyes searched mine for something.Gods, she’s looking at me like she did before her curse. I’ve missed sleeping with her next to me.

“Yes.”

He let his clothes fall from his hands instantly as he crawled into bed and pulled me next to him. I could feel his heart racing under my hand and glanced up at him. He was nervous.

“I killed you,” he whispered.Why did I remind her?

“I know.”

But gods, I really didn’t fucking care.

“You should be upset with me.”Please don’t hate me.

“I know.” I frowned as I traced my finger down his chest and over his tattoos. Cassius turned so he was facing me. My breath caught when his eyes met mine. He looked pained and tortured as hewatched me.

“I don’t want to lose you again,” he confessed. “I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and have you hate me again because of what I did.”I did it to save you. I love you and would do anything to bring you back home.

My hand ran over his face.

“Let’s have tonight. I don’t want to think of anything but the way it feels when you are close to me.”

Cassius leaned forward and kissed me.

“Cassius…” I looked deep into his eyes. “I could never hate you.”

Thank the fucking stars. I just want you back home.

Chapter 22

Cassius

“This is a stupid idea.” My father gave me a pointed look. “He might just kill you.”

I shrugged.

“Jesper would be dead before he could get his hands on me. Thea has been avoiding me for a week, and when I go to check on her, it's like someone tells her I’m coming so she can leave. I need to know what is going on.”

“Why would Thea actively avoid you to that extent?” Haden asked.

“I don’t know, but I think there is something she isn’t telling me. Every time she looks at me, I can feel her sadness. I feel grief from her, and I don’t understand why.”

The room fell silent. My mother stared at me like she understood why I wanted to do this. Everyone else clearly thought I lost my mind.

“Why Jesper?” she asked.

“Because I overheard him talking to Thea, and I think he is hiding things from Luren. Maybe he and I can agree to get Luren out of our way.”

Haden whipped his head toward me.

“You want to team up with Jesper?”

“No, not really, but if I can convince him that I want to, maybe he will open up and tell me what the hell is happening with Thea. She doesn’t want to tell me something is wrong with her.”

Haden glanced around the room as if he were looking for something.

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