Page 119 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

My whole body went rigid.

“Cassius knows?” I asked. I could hardly hear anything past my heart pounding in my ears. My vision pulsed red as visions of Cassius hit me over and over again. My throat was closing as fear ran through my veins and squeezed my lungs. I was going to pass the fuck out.

“Yes, he found out the morning he was doing the peace treaty with your father. He could hear your thoughts.”

My darkness swarmed around me, making the trees sway in a frenzy. No, this couldn’t be fucking happening. I tried everything to keep him safe. Hewastelling me goodbye when I visited him. Tears sprang into my eyes as his words sank into me. Cassius was saying goodbye because he knew that there was a real chance that he didn't make it out of this.

“He knows that you saw him dying today, so he was going to stay away, but Kizar and Cerithia attacked us last night. They are here somewhere.”

“My vision is coming true, and I don’t know how to stop it, Haden. I could never save him in time in my visions.”

I glanced over his shoulder when I saw movement. I grabbed my dagger and held it out before she stepped out. Della held up her hands like she was showing me she wasn’t armed. Her eyes immediately flickered to Haden, and I saw sadness and longing in them. Well, this was awkward knowing that he was her fated mate and that he fucking hated her.

“Della?” I dropped my dagger. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve been waiting a long time to see you fulfill the prophecy. I didn’t want to miss it. Besides, I will be needed once fae start dying.” Her gaze wandered back to Haden.

Haden turned to see where she was, but his eyes flickered around like he couldn’t see her. I looked at her for an answer.

“Ardella is here?” Haden asked me confused.

“Yes, she’s standing right in front of me.” I looked at her as she stared openly at him with devastation filling her eyes. “You can’t see her?”

“No.” He tried to hide the emotions but didn’t do it quickly enough.

“He can’t hear me either,” Della whispered to me.

“Why?” I asked her, and Haden frowned.

“Because he told me that he never wanted to see my face again, and I realized the last time I saw him that he meant it. So, he will never have to see or hear from me again.”

I frowned at her and felt my tears well in my eyes for her.

“Della…” I started, but she shook her head.

“What is she saying?” Haden frowned. “You can show yourself to me.” He glanced around, but Della didn’t appear to him. Haden closed his eyes tightly before turning them to the ground. When he looked back at me, I saw the heartbreak on his face.

“Cassius knows I broke my curse, and my father has him somewhere in the castle,” I told her in a hurry.

“The vision...” she started.

“I know. I’m going to go see if I can free him. Will you make sure Haden is safe?”

“I will always make sure he is safe,” she frowned.

Haden scoffed even though he couldn’t hear her.

“Don’t worry, Thea, I can’t die.” Haden glanced at me, then glared around us to show Della he was pissed off. His eyes held such hate for her. “Right, Ardella?”

She flinched at the use of her full name.

“You aren’t the only one that the Goddess of Lifecursed.”

He snapped towards her, and I could feel her heart breaking from here. He was being cruel to her. “Remind me to ask you about that later,” I muttered as I back to the crowd of the wedding guests.

“They have Cassius and the entire Crimson royal family.” Haden frowned. “So many guards died. Cassius tried to negotiate his family's release in exchange for himself, but they ended up taking all of them.”

Gods above, why was I cursed with such an evil father?

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