Page 82 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“Don’t move, Cassius!” One of them yelled loud enough that more guards came. I lifted my hands and let them cuff me.

“Get word to King Jesper that we caught Cassius in the castle.” A guard demanded. That would take days, and by then Thea would have come to save me. They dragged me into a large room where the floor and walls were made of stone. They kicked my legs so that I sunk down in the middle of the room before tying both my wrists outstretched to my sides.

“Why are you here?” one of the men asked.

I ignored him and sent an image of what was happening to Thea. The guard smiled as he moved behind me, and I heard the whip unravel before I felt it slice through my tunic. I groaned in agony as the hits kept coming. Still, I said nothing to them. Della appeared in the room, and I could barely see her through the threat of unconsciousness.

“Damn it, Cassius,” she sighed before disappearing.

I smiled because I knew Thea would come for me. Then I couldn’t fight anymore, and everything went black.

Chapter 23

Cassius

Igroaned when I opened my swollen eyes. Kneeling on a hard floor overnight was starting to hurt. I tugged on the chains that had my arms stretched out to the sides. I could escape this easily. Della appeared in front of me again.

“I’m starting to think your plan isn’t working.” She glared at me. “I told you that Thea is busy.”

She gave me a pointed look and huffed.

“It’ll work. I passed out, so she didn’t sense I was in danger through the bond.”

Della began pacing back and forth like she was worried too. I laughed quietly, making Della stop and stare at me.

“What?” I asked.

“I can’t believe this is your plan. Who in their right mind would willingly be taken as a prisoner, and to Kizar noless? Jesper’s guards are a bunch of morons.” Della was not impressed.

“A man who is desperate for Thea to recognize the depths of her feelings for him,” I said smugly. I hadn’t seen her in too long, and Della said she was too busy to come see me. Della hadn't filled me in on how Thea was doing, so I knew they were up to something. But why would Della keep things from me now? She wanted Thea to break her curse, but why couldn't I be involved?

“Thea needs to focus on what she is doing. I told you to give her time.” Della gave me a disapproving look.

“I did.” I watched her closely. “It’s been well over a week. She hasn’t come for me; she hasn’t let me in her dreams; she hardly communicates through the bond. I’m going fucking crazy.”

“So, this is your plan? She’ll feel you through the bond and come rescue you, making her realize that you are more important than anyone else.”

“Yes.” Della looked off to me. Why wouldn’t she look me in the eyes? “Do you know something?”

“Of course not,” she spoke quickly. "Thea knows her depth of feelings for you, which is why she is staying away."

Before I could ask her about why she was lying, the wooden door opened and a dozen Kizar guards walked in. I watched them circle around me, weapons drawn. Theyhad whipped me last night until I passed out. My back was sore and uncomfortable, but Thea would fix me when she came.

“Who are you talking to in here?” Their captain narrowed his eyes on me.

I glanced at Della, who stood next to him unbeknownst.

“Myself.”

The captain stepped forward and kneeled in front of my face, his dark eyes piercing into my own. I had sent an image of being beaten to Thea, but she still hadn’t shown up. It hadn’t been that long, but I would prefer not to get my ass kicked again.

“You are mad, aren’t you?” The guard spoke. “Our king always said you weren’t right in the head. A madman he called you.”

I leaned forward and headbutted him, his nose breaking. They had no idea how fucking crazy I could get. The captain stood and punched me as hard as he could. Fuck. Instead of showing him the agony I was feeling, I laughed.

“You’ll pay for that,” he hissed. “Give me the whip,” he barked at the guards without looking away from me. Della suddenly stood straight up and smiled at me. All the guards froze when the lights flickered violently. Thea.

The guards in the room didn’t feel the shift in the air. They didn’t realize that Thea’s power commanded all theenergy around her. That she made the realm bend and mold to her for her use. Her power demanded attention so everyone would see how fucking perfect she was. The guard in front of me unraveled the whip and drew his arm back as if he would whip my chest. But he paused.

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