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“Why would Jesper lie about them not being there?” I hissed. “He would have told me that he killed them; that was the whole reason he went to Exile. To punish me by slaughtering them! That leaves you, did you do something to them?”

I hadn’t realized Cassius’ hands rested on my hips until his fingers gripped me tightly. I hated that it felt warm and comforting.

“What could you possibly do that would warrant the slaughter of Exile?” he questioned. His body tensed at my questioning.

“Because of you,” I whispered. I didn’t elaborate on what I meant, but he just stared at me oddly. “Just tell me if you killed them.” My voice broke. “I cannot continue without knowing.”

“Maybe you should ask your father or fiancé again. They are the ones who despise elitists. They will not even allow magic to be used on their lands at all,” he hissed back at me. “You really think I’m capable of slaughtering them? I’m not a monster, Thea. I hold elite magic; did you forget that?” he said my name so angrily, and it sounded so wrong coming from his mouth.

We stared at each other for a long moment before he huffed out a deep breath.

“I do not understand you,” he said, sounding so confused. “You chose Cerithia, yet you use magic to freeze a room so that you can kneel and cry at my feet. The letters you gave me... you betrayed your own kingdom for Crimson. I beheaded Lavtan myself for everything he did to you.” Cassius looked so sad, but I didn’t have an answer to give him. “Then you come here and think I’m capable of doing such an atrocious thing, but the man you chose to marry has left you looking like this.” He waved his hand at my bruised face. “You turned your back on me and closed me out without ever giving me a chance to defend myself.”

“I didn’t choose him! I chose you, and you betrayed me.” I could feel the tears stinging my eyes, but I didn’t want them to fall. I had begged him through our bond and called to him in my dreams. He never showed up. Cassius’ hands gripped my hips tightly at my declaration. My heart fluttered when I looked at his handsome face, wondering why he didn't come for me in our dreams.

“You’re getting married to him in three days.” His eyes looked away from me. “You didn’t choose me.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I scoffed. “Did Haden tell you of his last visit? How cruel Jesper was to me? Do you think I would choose a man so awful?”

“Yet you are tying yourself to that monster forever? A man who puts his hands on you like this?” He touched my face softly.

“What was my alternative, Cassius? Stay here and marry you? You forget the fact that you stabbed me through my goddamn heart!”

Hurt, shame, and guilt are what I saw flicker across his face as he stared at me.Gods, why was I being cruel? Because I was angry at him. I still loved him, but I was angry at how everything had happened.

“I am a slave, no matter where I am. Someone will always try to cage me, use me, or betray me.”

“I didn’t kill them,” he whispered as his eyes broke their contact and his hands fell from me. I pulled my dagger from his throat. For some reason, I believed him. I didn’t need reassurance from him. So, if he hadn’t done it, then what happened to them?

I straddled him still, even though there wasn’t a reason to. I had put my dagger away. His eyes found mine, but there was nothing I could decipher in them.

Then suddenly, his shadows swarmed around me, holding me tightly as he stood up. They tightened on me like a vice.

“Go ahead and kill me,” my voice wavered slightly. “Death will be a mercy compared to what Jesper will do to me when I go back.”

“I would never hurt you, little viper.” His back was toward me.

“You killed me.”

“I know,” he answered. “And I’d do it again.”

My eyes flickered at everyone watching us; their eyes were all sad. Even the king frowned at me, like I was in the wrong. I felt like I was in the wrong. His shadows caressed me like they missed me as they released me.

“You shut me out, my love, and you never gave me a chance to explain why I killed you. You will not let me into your dreams, and you refuse to come home. I do not know what to do anymore. Stay here, please. You do not need to go back to them. I will protect you.”

“I can’t stay,” I whispered. If elite magic fae had families in Cerithia, then I had to try and go back for them. I would not fail Sybil or the twins ever again. If I couldn’t save them, then I would save their loved ones. I had to find out what Jesper or my father did to them.

My response made Cassius’ shoulders slump. He released me a moment later and started walking to the castle. Panic set in. That was the only thing I felt as I realized this would be the last time we were likely to see each other.

Anger and hurt burned through me, and I ran at him, shoving him hard from behind and making him stumble.

“No, you don’t get to walk away!”

“Thea.” He looked so hurt. “Please stay. He will never lay another hand on you again. Why are you allowing them to do this to you? I can keep you safe.”

I shoved at him again, but it was a weak attempt. There were so many things I wanted to say and do, but they all slipped my mind as I glared at him through tear-filled eyes. He looked at melike I had lost my fucking mind, and I probably had.I was angry that I couldn't stay.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his nostrils flaring in anger.