Page 59 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

Don’t leave me again.

This was too much. I walked around him and hurried from the castle, not giving a shit about my men. Cassius followed me, but I ignored him as I headed into the woods towards Cerithia. It took little effort for him to catch me, and when he did, I saw the tears in his eyes.

“Please, my love, don’t be scared of me.”

I couldn’t think of anything to say back to him. I was overwhelmed.

“Let me go. I’m not scared of you,” I demanded, and he immediately dropped my arm. “I’ll see you at the meeting.”

His shoulders slumped, but he nodded and watched me walk away. I was terrified when I looked at him, but it was because I couldn’t lose him. I was leaving so I could figure out where my bloodstone was, and I needed him to be at a distance because if my father suspected anything, he would kill us. Cassius was destined to die, and I had to figure out how to stop my vision.

Chapter 18

Thea

Della stared at me, her mouth hanging open, at a loss for words. My heart raced as I watched her reaction. Was this good or bad? My breath caught as she shut her mouth and lightly cleared her throat. I was on my way back to Cerithia when I begged Della to find me.

“My apologies. I lost my composure,” she whispered. Her star-like eyes seemed to glow more brightly. “And how did you come to this conclusion so quickly?”

Her eyes were giving away her excitement.

“I know I am Cassius’ wife.”

She opened her mouth before shutting it again, at a loss for words.

“And his fated mate. I know he killed me, but he did it to save me. I know I am a blood witch. I found the blood witch coven.”

“For fuck’s sake, Thea, when the hell did you learn all of this?” Della looked around like someone else would pop out and fill in the gaps. I chuckled softly.

“The witches told me that he was Prince Cassius, and they said he was my mate. They told me a lot, and everything kind of just fell into place.”

“How did the witches tell you? There is magic that forbids it.” Her eyes narrowed on me skeptically.

“They’ve been kept behind a ward.”

Her mouth opened, then shut, then opened again. Della began pacing back and forth in front of me, her pretty black dress trailing behind her. Why was she always so fancy?

“This is great news, Thea.” Her words instantly calmed my nerves. Cassius was the right choice.

“I just need my bloodstone, and I will break the curse and fulfill the prophecy. But I searched for it before and couldn't find it anywhere."

“Well, part of the curse is that your father must have in his possession in the castle. So, it’s somewhere in the castle. Have you tried using your darkness to feel its power?”

“Yes, every day since I found out about the stone, but it doesn’t feel it anywhere. I’ve looked so much that I do not know where else it could be.”

Dellafrowned.

“That’s odd.”

“I thought so too. Is it possible that he got rid of it?”

This was so frustrating. For the first time in a while, I felt like I had clarity about what I wanted and needed to do. I wanted Cassius, and nothing was going to stop me... well, except this damn bloodstone missing.

“No. He physically cannot get rid of it. The only one who can take it from the castle is you; that is part of the curse.”

Mentally, I began thinking of all the places I might have missed, but I knew I checked every room in the damn place.

Della was silent, making me turn my attention to her. Her hands were clenched tightly by her sides, and her eyes were bright white as she looked up at the sky, and her whole body trembled.

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