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A cry caught in my throat. I could see the remains of Exile across the meadow. “No!” I cried as I ran to the burned buildings, hoping to see something—anything—that would let me know the inhabitants were still alive. I paused at the green door that marked where mine and Sybil’s home once stood. It was half burned, and now it led nowhere. It was the only part of our home that still stood.

All the structures had been destroyed a while ago, but the smell of burning wood still clung to the air. I turned and looked at the dead grass and the dead trees—everything just felt... dead. Exile was gone.

So where were the elite magic holders that had resided here? My mind flashed to Jesper telling me that Crimson must have killed them to prevent them from fighting in the war. He hadn’t been lying. Crimson had killed them all; everyone that I held dear was now gone forever because of them. It had to be Crimson. My father and Jesper had no reason to lie about Exile being gone. They would have taken them prisoner and used them to control me. Fear trickled into my mind. I couldn't take a betrayal from Cassius. My darkness wanted to take over to shield me from these dangerous thoughts, but it was stuck inside of me.

Disgust, anger, grief, and confusion filled my every breath and tainted my insides with the strong need for revenge. Someone would pay for this. Someone would answer for taking them from me. All of them suffered and died because of me.

I had failed them, and it made me want to kill someone, anyone. Darkness clouded my thoughts as I looked at the destroyed town that I used to hate so much but where I would now gladly live the rest of my days.

Sybil's and the twins' faces haunted me. They hadn’t deserved this. They deserved to get out of here and be with their families too.

Justice, they deserved justice.

I turned and made my way back out of the village, then headed straight for my horse. I climbed on her in a numb haze, not sure of my next step.

I let Kaida lead me, and as the fates would have it, she headed toward the Crimson Castle.

If Cassius was there, I would kill him. I would slit his throat if he told me he had done it. I couldn’t even process the emotions I felt at the sight of the castle looming in all its dark glory. There was sadness, for sure, and yet happiness was somewhere in there as well.

This place just called to me.

Home, my mind called it, and I had to shove those thoughts aside as soon as they appeared. I had no home. I belonged nowhere.I pressed on and rode through the towns without looking away from the castle. It was my destination, my only purpose tonight.When I got to the gates outside of the castle, the moon was high in the sky. I jumped off my horse, and she immediately ran to the stables where Cassius’ horse stood. She had missed him.

“Don’t mo—” I tossed my dagger at the guard who dared try to stop me. Dead.Kill them all.My mind was on a rampage. I looked at the guard running at me with a sword and felt my fire magic begin to simmer, but it couldn’t break free. Instead, I tossed my dagger at him, hitting the Crimson crest on his uniform dead center.

“Cassius!” I yelled for him so violently that the ground vibrated. I knew he heard me. How could he not in the dead silence of the night. I paced in front of the castle, my eyes burning with fire and shadows. I watched the door, waiting to see him walk through it. I had already retrieved my viper-handled dagger. I was willing to die tonight if it meant justice would be served.

It was then that Cassius stepped out of the castle doors and stopped immediately at the sight of me. He was wearing black trousers and a loose-fitted black shirt. Suddenly, he was running to me, like he couldn’t believe I was there. Instead of embracing him when he reached me, like he probably hoped I would, I tackled him to the ground and straddled him. My dagger was instantly at his throat.

“Little viper?” he asked in a confused voice. “Is this a dream?”

“Where are they!” I bellowed at him. His dark eyebrows pulled into a confused expression, and his golden eyes traced over every line of my face. I could hear guards coming, but I paid noattention to them. Cassius was my target. I could hear swords being unsheathed.

“If any of you hurt her, I will kill you myself,” Cassius barked at them. His declaration confused me, but I didn’t release my dagger from his throat. His golden eyes didn’t leave my face, like he was worried that if he looked away, then I would be gone.

“Thea?” It was the King of Crimson who spoke, but I still didn’t look away from Cassius.

“Where. Are. They?” I spoke with so much hatred in my voice. “Did you kill them all?”

“My love, I don’t know who you are talking about.”

“Do not call me that.”

“It’s a habit,” he frowned. A light briefly shined on my face as a door nearby was opened, and I saw his eyes widen in shock. “Who the fuck did that to you?” I had forgotten about my cuts and bruises. I knew they had been bad, but I hadn’t even looked in a mirror since Jesper forced me to read the words carved on my stomach. Cassius’ big, calloused hand brushed against my face, and I pushed my dagger into his flesh harder. He dropped his hand and looked at me like he could feel my pain.

Rage was all I felt at that moment. He didn’t get to pretend to care about me now. Not ever again.

“Where is everyone from Exile?” I demanded.

“Why do you think I would know?”

“Jesper came to get them, and he said they were gone. I came to see for myself, and no one was there. So where are they, Cassius?”

His face turned cold in the blink of an eye. Disgust contorted his face at the mention of Jesper, and his body was suddenly angry and tense under me.

“So, you thought it was me? Or did your precious fiancé blame me, and you believed him? Or is he your husband now? The date on your wedding invitation slips my mind at the moment.”

He was jealous. I pulled back slightly at his onslaught of jabs, my emotions still raw from the abuse I had suffered.