Page 54 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“I could burn you to a crisp,” I threatened.

“Easy.” He held up his hands. “You won’t do that.” Haden was so sure of himself. I held up my hands and formed a ball of fire, but Haden just flicked his wrist, shooting frost out. It froze my ball of fire and made it fall to the floor, shattering. I opened my mouth to say something, but I didn’t know what to say. I was impressed.

“No need for magic right now. You should rest.”

“You think I’m going to sleep while you watch me creep?” His smile widened at my insult. “Or in Crimson?”

“It wouldn’t be your first time staying the night.” He winked at me. “Cassius isn’t available, and he trusts me to look out for you, not that anyone here wants to hurt you.”

“Well, I don’t trust you.”

He frowned slightly at me but shrugged and pretended to do something. I rolled my eyes as I looked around the room. My legs were tired, so I sat on the bed. My eyes wandered around the room before I remembered my men.

“Are my men still alive?”

“Of course, and well fed.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, but it didn’t seem to bother him.

“Where is Cassius? Can’t the shadow boy just appear in places?”

Haden started laughing so loudly that I smiled at the comforting sound. Haden’s big smile got bigger when he saw I was smiling too.

“He’s going to love the nickname.”

I knew without a doubt that Cassius would not like that nickname. After hours went by, I started snooping through the drawers of the desk. I paused on the book of family crests. Something about it made me set it on the bed. At least it would help me pass the time. My eyes were growing heavy, but I fought with everything I had not to fall asleep, but then I heard Haden snoring. He had sat on the floor with his back leaned against the door.

Seriously? He didn’t think I would hurt him. Oddly enough, I didn’t have any desire to. I nibbled my lip as I ripped a page out of the book and crumpled it. I tossed it at Haden, and it hit him in the face, startling him awake.

He glared at me.

“Why’d you do that? Cassius has been running us ragged; I’m exhausted.”

My heart pounded.

“I want to ask youabout Della.”

Haden stood up quickly, his eyes wide with uncertainty. His hand rubbed the back of his neck before looking at me.

“What about her?” he frowned.

“She came to visit me, and I didn’t believe that she was a goddess or my friend. She said you would tell me that she was real.”

Haden had stopped moving and stared at me with a look of longing in his eyes that made me sad to see.

“She’s telling the truth.” He nodded. “Did...” he stopped for a moment. A war seemed to be going on in his mind. “Did she say anything else?”

“She said you hate her. She told me how you wake up each day and curse her existence. You hope that she is unhappy and miserable.” I frowned. “She said you haven’t missed a day since your sister died.”

Haden’s eyes filled with tears, but he turned away from me quickly.

“I didn’t realize she heard my curse.” His voice was cold, but it seemed forced. “Now that I know that, I’ll make sure to remind her how much I wish I never met her.”

He turned to me, his eyes filled with hatred, but lurking under that was a deep sadness.

“Did you love her?”

The question made Haden’s anger dissipate instantly.

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