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“You’re the Prince?” A sense of tension filled the small space.
“Yes.” He nodded. “I know it looks like I’m keeping secrets from you and trying to disguise things, but I truly cannot tell you because of the curse. No one from the Crimson Kingdom can speak of it. I want nothing more than to tell you everything. I’ve spent seven years trying to bring you back to me. I wait each year for the trials because I can see you again, even though you don’t remember me. And I’ll keep doing it every year until you remember every detail about us. I will never give up on you.”
“Why am I cursed?”
“I don’t know. If I knew I would tell you.”
My head hurt with everything I heard. How could I still not remember anything when Cassius gave me so much information?
“Why do I dream of you? I’ve dreamt of you for as long as I can remember.”
He gave me a smile.
“I’m part dream stalker from my mother’s side. I needed to see you, even if you didn’t know who I was. So, I went to your dreams to visit.”
A tugging feeling overwhelmed me, and I looked backward as if someone would be there. I tried to shake the feeling away, but I couldn’t.
"I’m waking up.” I turned to Cassius. He stood staring at me, his body tense with worry.
“Can you use your magic?”
“I have magic cuffs on.” I could feel myself being pulled from the dream. “We're not that far into the forest.”
Before he could respond, I was ripped from the dream.
?????
My eyes squinted in the brightness of the sunlight. I was sitting on the ground again, and once my eyes adjusted, I could see that Nev was seated at the side of a small stream in front of us. He sat there staring at the water for a long time before turning back towards me.
“Oh, you’re awake?” he asked, seeming confused.
He continued doing whatever he was doing in the water without acknowledging me again. I scanned the forest for anything I could free myself with, but there wasn’t anything. The gag was back in my mouth so I couldn’t speak. The sound of the creek running made my mouth feel even drier. The sun beamed down on me, making me sweat even though I was still only in Cassius's’ shirt.
A few minutes later, Nev returned, looking triumphant as he held a fish in his hands. He built a small fire, and I watched as he skewered the fish and roasted it slowly. My stomach growled loudly. I was so famished.
“If I ungag you, will you not ask a million questions?” he asked, skeptical of my ability to follow through on the request.
I nodded yes. He still didn’t seem sure of my answer, but he untied my gag anyway. I sucked in deep, desperate breaths, but the air was so hot that it didn’t make me feel any better.
“I need water.”
Nev sighed in annoyance but grabbed a bottle next to him and held it up to my mouth so I could drink. It was cold and crisp and tasted so good against my parched tongue.
“Are you going to feed me?”
“Yes,” he said grudgingly. “I have to keep you alive. Besides, walking this far to the Cerithia territory is taking longer than I thought it would, so we need to rest here for the night.”
I didn’t say anything at this announcement. My eyes scanned the woods again and I waited for Cassius because I knew without a doubt that he would come for me. Even though he pushed me away, I could see the want lingering in his eyes when he stared at me. Obviously, he warred with his feelings for me, but I don’t think he or the Crimson Royal family would let what Nev did slide. He had already gone directly against the rules of the tournament.
The black Wisp caught my attention as she floated close by with several others. Something about their presence calmed me, but I wondered why they were black flames. The darkness hummed at the sight of them, like they called to it and were trying to beckon it to release. The darkness slowly crept through me, like it was preparing to attack. I wasn’t sure it would get past the magic barbs on me though.
“Why are you so quiet?” Nev asked.
“You told me to not ask questions,” I reminded him.
“Yeah, but you literally never do what you should.”
“Well, I want food, so I’m keeping my mouth shut. Maybe after dinner, I’ll pester you with questions.”
