Page 85 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“I need to get back before my father knows I’m missing. I’m sorry it took so long to get to you; I was in a meeting.”

She stepped forward hesitantly before hugging me. Her lips pressed into the skin above my heart. When she pulled away, I grabbed her wrist.

“Come home with me.”

She smiled brightly at me. Gods, did she break her curse? She looked at me like she used to before she forgot. There was no way she broke it; she didn’t give me the stone.

“I didn’t break the curse,” she answered my thoughts. “I’m working on it.”

Emotions clogged my throat.

“You’re really going to do it this time, aren’t you?”

“I hope so, but I have to figure out where my bloodstone is first.” She frowned at me. “My father hid it, so I’m trying to find it.”

“I can help find it.” I offered, but she frowned at me.

“I need you to stay away, Cassius.” Tears filled her pretty eyes. Why would she say that? “Once the curse is broken, I have to fulfill the prophecy. You will be in the way if you try to help.”

“But I want to make sure you succeed.”

“I know, but promise me you won’t interfere.” She was serious as she stared at me. Something was bothering her. “Promise me, Cassius. What is the point of all of this if I lose you at the end anyway?”

I didn’t want to promise her.

Her face softened as she stepped forward again. Thea’s fingers traced my face softly.

“You need to trust me.”

Her words mademe flinch.

“I trust you more than anyone.” I frowned. “But what if you die again and I could have prevented it? I will die with you.”

“You can’t always protect me, Cassius. This is one of those times that I’m asking you to let me do this on my own. I’m telling you I need to do this without worrying about you.”

“I just love you so much,” I whisper. “My biggest fear is seeing you die again.”

“And my biggest fear is forgetting you again or losing you because you want to save me. You have saved me countless times before, my love. Let me save us this time.”

I didn’t know if I could promise that I could stay out of it. She was everything to me.

“Then at least try,” she answered me.

“I don’t know how much I like this mind-reading,” I confessed, which made her chuckle softly.

“I like it quite a lot.”

“I will do my best to stay out of your way,” I said. But I knew that I would have a very hard time not helping her. Especially if she broke her curse. If she died, then that would be it, and I would follow her into the next life because I refused to live in a realm where she did not exist with me.

Thea’s eyes softened, letting me know she was reading my mind.

“Cassius…”

“I mean it. You own me, mind, body, and soul. In this life and in every life that follows. I cannot exist where you do not. You are my entire existence.”

Thea leaned forward and kissed me possessively.

“I love you,” she whispered. “I will remember you soon.”

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