Page 159 of A Cursed Son

“Right, because nobody’s trying to find me. We’re too far from the river or from any place with lots of fae and magic, so it would draw attention. We’ll get back home, where it’s safe, then check your magic, and I’ll find a way to protect you.” He steps closer and caresses my hair. “And I’ll hold you tight every night.”

I exhale, a lot more relieved than I imagined. “You don’t mind that I’m Tiurian?” I don’t even have the strength to pretend I’m surprised or suggest he could be wrong.

“Of course not. But we’ll need to be ten times more careful.” He takes a deep breath, then chuckles. “I’m guessing dream me already knew that, azalee. And maybe you’re right that he’s nicer.”

“You two are the same.” And I love you both. I don’t know why I hold back those words.

He passes me my sword and helps me strap it on my back, then holds me close. “I think real-life me has just panicked, and might have scared you. It’s just… I’ve sworn to protect you, and now everything’s a lot more complicated than I imagined.” He kisses the top of my head. “We’ll have a lot of time later, when you’re safe.”

“I know.” I’m leaning on his chest, comforted by the sound of his beating heart, when I hear a loud thud.

The colors are different. I look up and notice that the crystal formation has turned red, making the sanctuary eerie and strange.

Red. If they’re beacon stones, it means danger.

My eyes meet Marlak’s but all I can see is pain—and horror.

Now I can understand Marlak’s panic. We’re far away, in a chamber with only one way in or out. If there’s something dangerous out there, about to come in, we’ll be trapped. That said, I still think his magic is strong enough to defeat most foes.

He’s pale, trembling, his eyes distant. There’s either something horrific and incredibly powerful out there or he’s again reliving a painful memory. I reach out to touch his hand, but he steps back and laughs.

Laughs. He’s laughing.

His reaction is so strange that it petrifies me. “What’s the joke?” I manage to ask between gritted teeth.

He’s laughing so much that it takes him a few seconds to reply, “Oh, Astra, do I have to spell the answer?”

“Just say it,” I hiss.

“You, Astra, you are the joke.” For some reason he looks amused as he says that.

I don’t like his tone, his words, his posture. “Explain, husband.”

He widens his eyes. “Husband? Oh, you surely didn’t take any of that seriously, did you?” He shakes his head. “Oh, you did. Poor, little, innocent Astra.”

My stomach sinks and my mouth is overcome with a bitter taste. “It’s not funny.”

“Oh, no.” He laughs. “It’s sad. Did you ever think I liked you? Did you?”

My insides feel cold and hollow. I’m too stunned, too shocked to even try to comprehend what’s happening, and stupid tears are pricking my eyes and closing down my throat.

He laughs again at his own idiocy, at his own cruelty. “I can lie, Astra, and lie incredibly well, so make sure you don’t forget that.”

There’s a whirlwind in my stomach and a loud buzz in my head. “Great.” I can’t believe I was able to find my voice. “Just open this sanctuary and you’ll never need to see me again.”

“Why? You truly don’t want to understand what happened? Don’t want to learn from your mistakes?”

I swallow, then force words through a lump of ice in my throat. “I don’t care.”

He shrugs. “Unlucky for you, I do care, so I need to tell you.” He stares at me. “I used you, got what I wanted…” He points to the nook where we just had sex. “And I don’t mean that. I don’t mean the blandest, most boring fuck ever.”

“It takes two to dance. If it’s boring, it’s because you’re boring.”

He gestures to me. “Well, hard not to be boring with someone like you. I lied a lot, Astra, but at least I was honest when I said you were unattractive.”

“At least I’m not half roasted, asshole. Poor you, so ugly that you need to create elaborate schemes just to have sex, since nobody wants you.”

For the first time since he started his farce, he has a smile that isn’t cold or cynical. Only a mad person would look so genuinely relieved to hear he’s ugly.