Page 97 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“It’s wonderful to meet you, Thea. You look just like your mother.” He smiled at me like I would expect my father to—with pride and care.

“Where is she?” I asked.

His eyes drifted to Della before looking back at me.

“Hiding,” his lips twitched when Della scoffed. “She does not want the goddess to force us to move on yet, so she refuses to show herself until absolutely necessary.”

He moved toward me and stopped.

“She is close to you, always.” He glanced at Della.

“Why can I see you?” I asked.

Della stepped forward.

“It’s just like with Petra; you can see souls because I gave you part of mine. This is Killian’s soul. When your mother comes out of hiding, she will appear as if she were still living, but with a glow to her as well.”

That made sense, I suppose.

“Why are you here?” Dellaasked him.

“I wanted to make sure that Thea got my vision I sent to her and to make sure she knows it has not changed. Cassius is still going to die.”

My gaze snapped up to his. He sent me the vision of Cassius dying. I stepped toward him, and he frowned at me.

“I’m assuming by the devastation on your face that you did get it. Bayla insisted that I send it to you and Brim so that it can be stopped.”

“Are you a seer?” I asked.

“No, I was a fae with elite magic. I had the ability to see major events that would alter the lives of those important to me.”

His words made my throat tight with emotion.

“I’m important to you," I asked.

Killian stepped forward and smiled.

“You are a part of Bayla, and that makes you invaluable. I have watched you for years, Thea; you are the daughter Bayla and I never had a chance to have. As far as I’m concerned, you are Bayla’s daughter and mine. Your father is a total bastard. You are nothing like him and everything like Bayla. Besides your mother, you are the most important woman to me. It is why I had a vision of you; even in death, my magic wants to help you.”

Tears filled my eyes as I stared at him. I could feel the sincerity in his words. Killian was everything I would have wished for in a father. I tried to hug him, but I stepped through him.

I turned around and saw him smiling brightly at me.

“A downside to being just a soul is we cannot touch the living. We are so proud of you.”

I nodded as the tears streamed silently down my face.

“I have one other motive for coming.” He looked at Della before returning his gaze to me. “Your mother has a message for you.”

I perked up at this news.

“What is it?” I could hear the excitement in my voice.

“She knows that you are trying to break your curse without Cassius knowing, so perhaps the vision won’t come true. She said the answer is simple. Give him the stone as he sleeps.”

I opened my mouth to protest that it would not work, but I shut it and looked at Della. Was it really that simple?

“Would that work?”

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