Thea's Tale (Sisters Of The Curse Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

him. She could tell that he thought she’d known and not told him. That she’d been leading him on. She had heard the anger behind his words. It was subtle, but she was so attuned to him that it had felt like a slap.
    She headed for her chambers. She had to talk to him, to make this right with him. Then they could work together to find a way to change her father’s mind.  She pushed away the thoughts of how this might hurt Sebastian. He would be further hurt to be married to someone who loved another, who was not a true partner.
    Stopping in front of the doors to her chambers, she took a number of deep breaths, and used her handkerchief to gently dab at her eyes. She didn’t want to involve her sisters in this mess. She squared her shoulders and reached for the door handle.
    The hand over her mouth choked off her scream.
    “Shhh! Thea, it’s me.”
    Thea whirled around to see Casimir. She threw her arms about him, and for the first time all evening, she felt safe. The feeling was momentary as she felt him pull her arms away.
    She leaned away from him. “What—?”
    “Tell me, did you know?” His hands gripped her shoulders, his face hard. “Did Sebastian speak the truth?”
    “I did not know! Could you not tell? It was all I could do to not run screaming from the room! Do you know me so little?” Thea whispered angrily.
    Casimir didn’t answer, but folded her into his arms as she’d wished for earlier in the evening. “I did not think you knew. I was afraid you did, but didn’t want to think you did. I ask your forgiveness.” He buried his face into her hair.
    Thea could se e a shadow move closer to her as she looked over Casimir’s shoulder. She waved a hand behind him. She had nearly forgotten Archibald. Of course he would be there. Casimir was lucky that Archibald hadn’t brained him for sneaking up on her.
    She let his head rest against her, feeling secure in the warmth of him. “What are we going to do?” She asked him, her voice muffled.
    “Thea, I must be honest with you. I do not wish to cause you further discomfort, but I cannot hide this from you.”
    She pulled back from him, afraid of what he would say. “No matter how painful, I would you be honest with me.”
    Casimir sighed. “Sebastian knew. He knew of my feelings for you. Perhaps not the depth, but he knew I care for you. He has known for some time.”
    “What?” Thea’s head whirled. She thought back to when she was standing between Casimir and Sebastian, wishing the floor would swallow her. “Is that why you were so harsh when we stopped to talk to you?”
    “Yes. I feared he had taken you into his confidence, and that you played with my emotions.” She could hear the hurt in his voice.
    Thea threw herself at him. “Never. There has never been anyone but you, Casimir. I’ve had suitors for my hand since I was sixteen, and never until I met you did I have any interest in a man.”
    He drew her closer to him, holding her tightly.  “We will speak to your father together.”
    “I’ve already talked to him.”
    Casimir drew back, looking down at her. “What did you tell him? That we wished to marry?”
    “No. I told him I cared for another, and that I did not wish to marry Sebastian.”
    “What said the king?”
    “He berated me for not alerting him to my preference. I did the same regarding his decision to not consult me once Sebastian approached him.”
    “How did you end things?”
    “He roared at me, and I slammed out of the room.”
    “Thea, that…”
    She put her hand to his lips. “Do not chide me. I know I didn’t make our situation any better.”
    A noise further down the corridor made them both still. Thea held her breath. Someone was opening a door. She could see the torch flames flicker as the air moved.
    “Let us go to the woods so we may talk more freely,” Casimir whispered.
    “Will we be safe?” Thea couldn’t help but be worried. While they’d snuck a few moments together as groups of