Page 74 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“Are you ill?” I finally asked her. Her big brown eyes widened when she realized I was asking her. My magic didn’t hum like she needed healing, but something was odd with her.

“No.” She hesitated. “Do you see illness in me like you did with Sy?”

I glanced at him but didn’t see anything coursing through him. It was her that I was drawn to.

“You’re…glowing.” I looked at her and didn’t understand what was happening. Petra’s eyes looked over herself oddly. She didn’t know either. A moment later, I saw Della appear behind them. She was smiling, but Sy and Petra didn’t seem to see her.

“She’s with a child," Della answered. “You can see a new soul forming; that is what the glow is.”

“What do you mean?” I asked and realized that Sy and Petra were going to think I lost my mind because they couldn’t see her.

“After Cassius killed you, you needed part of my soul to make sure you could come back each time you died, so you can see souls—life. Just like I can.”

I just stared at her. There was a lot to unpack about that, but now was not the time.

“You need to get back to Cerithia; they are going to be checking on you to make sure you aren’t interfering.”

I nodded and turned my attention to Sy and Petra again. I smiled softly when I saw the faint golden glow around her. My smile dropped when I realized the man who followed me also glowed.

“I need to go.” I panicked.

“Wait!” Petra stopped me. “Who were you talking to?”

I swallowed hard as I turned back around.

“Ardella, the Goddess of Life. She’s a friend of mine.” Gods, I sounded like I had gone mad.

“What did she say?” Petra frowned. I realized that she was worried about the glowing.

“She was telling me why I see you glowing,” I answered.

“Is it bad?” Sy panicked.

“No.”

“Tell us,” Petra begged. “I will go crazy thinking I am dying, and you aren’t telling me for some reason.”

I nibbled my lip nervously. I didn’t want to ruin this moment for them.

“I don’t know if I should. It might ruin the surprise,” I said honestly.

“You won’t,” Sy promised.

“You’re pregnant,” I confessed. “I can see the glow of your child’s soul.”

They both gaped at me. Obviously, this was a surprise to both of them. A second later, Petra reached forward and squeezed me tightly in a hug.

“It’s so special that you told us,” she cried softly. “We miss you.”

I pulled back and looked over both of them as they held each other tightly. They were familiar, but no memories surfaced. I turned to leave the room, but Sybrien pulled me back so he could stare me in the eyes. His dark eyes glanced into mine like he was looking for something.

“You don’t remember?”

I shook my head.

“Then why did you do it? Why would you care ifwe died?”

“I don’t have an answer for you. It just felt wrong. I have to go before anyone knows I’m missing. Please tell Falgon and Crimson that my father and Jesper plan to send assassins to kill the royal bloodlines in the next few days.”

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