Page 79 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“I know you’re here, Ardella,” he sighed.

Della appeared in front of me.

“Leave Thea alone,” she warned. “Nothing is wrong with her, but she is getting closer to the prophecy.”

I stared at Della and frowned.

“Why are you lying to me too?” I whispered. “Please just tell me.”

Della’s eyes filled with uneasiness. She had become my friend over the years, and I knew when she was lying.

“Cassius, she is busy. Please just let her be. This is the year she comes home to you.” Della stepped forward and hugged me so she could whisper, “Sometimes we have to keep things from those we love in order to protect them.”

Haden glared daggers at me when our eyes met over Della’s shoulder. It made me wonder how he didn’t realize they were mates. With Thea, I can’t stand any other male touching her even if they are a friend. Did he feel the tugging in his chest that I felt with Thea? What did he think that was?

“She’s avoiding me.” I glanced over at Della’s face so I could see if she knew this.

“Yes.”

“Is it something I did?” My chest tightened.

“No.” Della frowned and almost turned toward Haden but stopped herself. “She’s doing it because she loves you.”

I sighed defeatedly and closed my eyes tightly as my bond told me to go find my wife and my logical side told me to give her space.

“She misses you too, but give her more time to do this.”

Della left before I could respond again. Fuck.

“I still want to talk to Jesper and see if he lets anything slip.” I knew Thea was on to something, especially since she asked me about Jesper’s mother, who died a long time ago. Then she asked me again when I was Atticus, and Sy said she asked the same question to him. What was the fascination with this dead woman? I would stay away from Thea for as long as I could, but at some point, my matingbond would demand I find her, and I would not be able to stop myself.

“Alright, what do we need to do?” My father asked.

My gaze flickered to each fae standing in the room with us. They were all willing to support me and Thea even if my ideas were crazy.

“I’m going to find Jesper and take him to Kizar, but I will need to scout Cerithia to take him when he’s alone.” I looked at Haden. “I’m going to go alone.”

“That’s not a good idea,” Haden protested.

“Della will let you know if something happens to me. I’ll go tomorrow.”

Haden wanted to argue, but he knew I would not be persuaded with reason. I was barely gripping onto reality right now. No one but maybe my wife would talk me out of it, and she was actively avoiding me.

“Fine, but I don’t like it.”

“If it helps me understand what’s going on with Thea, then it will be worth it.”

?????

My gaze followed Thea as she walked into the throne room where Luren and Jesper were waiting. My chest ached at how pretty she was. She was in a black uniform with her green cloak on. Her hair was in a neatly done braid. I didn’t dare look away from her because I knewshe would be gone in a minute and I would miss her even more.

Thea glanced around as if she sensed me, but her eyes didn’t linger where I hid in the shadows. Then I felt the power of her darkness humming through the room as if it were searching for something. At first, I thought it was me it was looking for, but when her darkness caressed me softly before continuing to look around, I knew she was trying to find something else. Whatever it was, she didn’t seem to find it when her lips tilted into a small frown.

Wisp appeared in front of me, flashing red and black in warning. Great, even her soul was warning me away. I frowned at her, and Wisp turned dark green and twirled happily in front of me before disappearing.

Luren was warning Thea about some plan he had pretended to hear about me taking her. So he ordered her to stay in the castle under close supervision. Thea’s face gave away nothing, but I felt her hatred through the bond.

“Fine. Is that all you needed?” She was impatient. What was she in such a hurry to do?

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