33. Chapter 33

Chapter 33

H e grabbed my hand and led me down the small pathway in the town. It was mostly cute houses, some small fountains, and a few shops. It was like a mini version of Crimson City.

“The day you gave the bloodstone to your father, I said horrible things to you. I wanted them to think I didn’t care. I didn’t want them to use you as a way to get to me, because they would have in a heartbeat, Thea. And I would have done whatever I could to protect you.” I looked up to him and felt his sincerity through our bonds. “I couldn’t let you choose me once your father showed up at the clearing, because he would have killed you immediately. When I disappeared from the field, I went to Exile. You had told me about it once before, but I couldn’t find it. I searched the Forbidden Wood for days until I found it. I swore to you that I would always protect our family, and elite magic fae are a part of that family.”

My chest was heavy with anxiety. Did he hurt them? Fated mate or not, I would leave him for that.

“It’s alright, my love.” He squeezed my hand as fear gripped me. “Because you weren’t in Exile anymore, the border had faded. It took some convincing on my part to have them come with me to save them from your father or Jesper finding them. Sybil was the one to convince them. She remembered me while the others only remembered bits and pieces.”

Was he telling me that they were here? My eyes looked around as they started emerging from their homes. Elite magic fae lined the street, smiling at me. Tears sprang from my eyes as I saw their faces. They were alright.

“Thea!” Sybil was running toward me with Kaz and Kai right behind her. I dropped Cassius’ hand and ran to them. My arms squeezed Sybil and the twins, and my heart exploded with happiness and shock.

“I thought you had died,” I choked out. “I thought I had failed you all.”

“You’ve done amazingly. Cassius brought us here to protect us, to save us until we could be out freely without fear of your father and Jesper.” Sybil smiled through her tears of happiness. “You picked a good one.” Sybil grabbed my face and smiled brightly. All the other elitists came and hugged me as well.

I thanked them. They had chosen to follow me to Exile all those years ago. They had pledged loyalty to me, and some had died because of it. After a moment, I looked for Cassius. He was standing where I had left him, smiling. Love filled my chest when I looked at him. He had done this for me. He loved me. I walked to him and stopped a few feet in front of him.

“Are you happy?” he asked.

“Yes.” I felt the overwhelming urge to tell him how much I cared and loved him. There was nothing that I could say. No words would ever be enough to describe what I felt for him. I decided on the most basic form of the phrase. “I love you, Cassius. More than the stars and moon. I will thank the gods every day that they gave me you as a mate.”

As the words fell from my lips, something inside me shifted, as if I were exactly where I should be. Cassius’ face lit up as he lifted me off the ground to kiss me.

“I’ve waited a very long time to hear those words fall from your mouth, wife.”

The term immediately shot lust through me. Cassius was mine, and nothing was going to change that.

Someone cleared their throat lightly as I deepened the kiss with Cassius. When I pulled away, Kai and Kaz stood in front of all the elite magic holders as they all smiled at me and bowed.

“Captain,” they all addressed me. I untangled myself from Cassius and watched them all stand. They all looked at me like I was their hero.

“You should talk with Sybil and the twins,” Cassius whispered into my ear as he hugged me from behind. I twisted in his arms and kissed him before stepping away. “I’ll be back for you in a little bit.”

My heart clenched; I wanted him to stay. He smirked slightly.

“I’ll miss you too, but we will have a lifetime together.”

I nodded as I headed to Sybil, who wrapped me up in another hug. She pulled away and took my hand, leading me to a nice cottage. My eyes took in the bright space that held so much personality in it. Sybil had decorated the large area with so many herbs and flowers that it looked like a garden.

She got us tea as I admired her cozy home.

“This doesn’t seem real,” I smiled. “My father and Jesper tried to convince me that Exile didn’t exist, that I had imagined it all.”

“It was like our memories in Exile weren’t our own,” Kaz frowned at me from across the table. “Even now, we can’t remember what happened right before we went with you. I just know for certain that your father is a bastard.”

“We knew bits and pieces, but it all made Crimson look bad,” Kai frowned as he gave Kaz a pointed look. “We’ve never made it out of Exile in the past seven years. Now everything is so clear. Our families didn’t abandon or turn us in as we thought.”

“How are you doing?” Sybil looked at me with her motherly eyes. “Cassius filled us in on everything that’s been happening. He visits us often.”

“I’m doing better after today,” I smiled as I grabbed her hand. “I finally let Cassius explain everything. So, it’s less confusing, but still hard to piece together everything without my memories.”

Sybil glanced at the twins saying something without actually speaking. The twins frowned at me. My skin prickled because they looked concerned. Was this going to be about Cassius?

“Just say it. The silence is torturing me.” I pulled my hand from theirs and grabbed my hot mug of tea. The smell of chamomile did nothing to calm my nerves.

“When are you going to get the bloodstone?” Sybil was the one to ask. A sigh left me in relief.

“I don’t know. I haven’t talked with Cassius.”

She frowned sadly at me.

“He’s going to tell you to not get it.” Sybil sipped her tea. “He and I talked about it.”

“Well, that makes sense. We can just build a life starting now.”

Kaz was the one to grab my hand and squeeze it in comfort. The gesture did the opposite to calm my fears, though. He was not the gentle, calm one.

“No, you need to get it,” Kaz whispered. “You can’t fulfill the prophecy without it.”

I shook my head trying to understand.

“The prophecy hasn’t been fulfilled yet, and it won’t until you go for the stone. Do you want this to be our life for the rest of our existence?” Kai asked. “Every time you die, we will all be sucked back to Exile. Your father would never stop trying to kill you, us, Cassius.”

“Cassius doesn’t want to lose you, but if you don’t get the stone, we are all stuck living half-lives, you included. Do you want a life where you never remember anything from your past?”

I wanted to remember Cassius and me more than anything. But I also didn’t want to jeopardize our lives now. However, they were right. It wasn’t just me that was being affected by this curse. Everybody that really mattered to me was suffering through it as well. My eyes glanced at them; they were right. The prophecy hadn’t been fulfilled. Until I got rid of Jesper and my father, no one from Exile could live how they wanted. We would all constantly be hiding; Cassius would always be worried about me.

Another thought struck me then that seemed to pierce my heart straight through. We could never have children. They would never be safe. Cassius’ family would always be in danger. Tears formed in my eyes.

“You must retrieve your bloodstone. Not just for you and Cassius, but also for all of us who followed you to Exile to protect you,” Sybil sighed as tears ran down her cheeks. “It’s the only way that we can move on and truly be free.”

“I know,” I whispered. “But Cassius won’t understand.”

“Make him,” Kai pleaded. “We all have loved ones in Cerithia still being held hostage, so we can never have them. You can’t ask us to give up more than we already have.”

Hot tears streamed silently down my face. I couldn’t, wouldn’t ask them to give up more for me. Not when they had already done so much. They deserved their lives back and their loved ones. And I deserved to live with complete freedom.

“I owe you all so much. I promise I’ll go for the stone,” I said. A knock at the door sounded, making Sybil stand.

“Cassius.” She smiled at me. “He truly is such a wonderful man, Thea. By the gods, he fucking loves you.”

I smiled because Sybil never cursed. Cassius walked in the door as I wiped the tears from my face. He was holding a bouquet of wild flowers.

“I could feel how sad you felt,” he said, frowning as he leaned in and kissed me.

“It’s a lot to take in,” I answered. “I’m actually really tired.” I stood up. Worry overshadowed the happiness I had just felt. I knew I needed to get the bloodstone, but I wished I had more time with Cassius and the elite magic holders first.

“Are you sure?” Cassius frowned. “I wasn’t rushing you.”

Sybil stood up and smiled at me, giving me a hug, followed by the twins.

“We will catch up some more soon.” Sybil looked at me with guilt covering her features. I knew they didn't want to put me in this position, but it was inevitable.

Cassius hugged Sybil before grabbing my hand and leading us to Onyx and Kaida. His shadows lifted me to the saddle of Onyx instead of putting me on my own horse before he climbed on. Kaida followed close behind us. I gripped the beautiful flowers in my hand. Concern filled the bond, and I knew he could tell something was wrong, but he said nothing until we got to the stables.

“Tell me what is making you feel so torn.” He frowned as he brushed my braid over my shoulder.

I hesitated before answering, knowing that it would make him upset. “I still have to get the bloodstone.”

His hand fell away from me, and he stepped back. Terror filled me from the bond. I stepped towards him, but he stepped back again.

“No,” he whispered. “No, you don’t need to. We can start fresh from today. I’ll tell you every memory I can remember about us.”

Tears filled my eyes at the overwhelming sadness he was feeling.

“Cassius, you know that isn’t enough. The others can’t get their lives back until I get the bloodstone. Do you want me to be responsible for them never getting to find the family they left behind? I can’t keep their happiness from them any longer than it already has been. Besides, Brim told me that the prophecy doesn’t happen until I break my curse. It must happen to save Elloryon.”

“Please…” He turned away. “I cannot lose you again.”

“Cassius… I want to remember every detail of us. I want to know what it was like when we got married, when you took me prisoner, and everything in between.”

“You can’t do this.” His voice was harsh, but I knew he was just scared. “I forbid it!”

“I will always be hunted by my father and Jesper if I don’t complete the prophecy. And our family will always be in danger. I can feel how much you are constantly worried for me. That is not a way to live.”

“I will not let you do this.” His eyes flashed black, and anger zapped down the bond. “No.”

“You can’t stop me.” I frowned. “I want to be free. I want everyone not to be tied to me and to be able to live a life all their own. I want to have children with you, and we would never be able to do that if I did not fulfill the prophecy. I do not have an option other than to complete it.”

A sharp pang of sadness and lust shot through the bond before anger returned.

“I’ve lost you six times! I finally have you back, and you want me to let you go back to Cerithia to get a stupid fucking rock.”

“Please understand,” I cried.

“I understand,” he growled. “But it doesn’t mean that I’m willing to risk you for anyone else. You have to understand that every time I watch you die, a piece of me dies too. And each time, I don’t think I can make it. It took me seven months to leave our room when you died the last time. I’m alone. I’m haunted by our memories. I’m haunted by you wherever I am because I can remember, and you can’t. My life stops every time you are away from me.”

“Cassius…”

“I need time to think.” He turned away from me. “Go get some rest. I’ll be back.” He hopped on Onyx and rode off.

Cassius’ emotions through the bond stopped as he rode into the woods.