“I love you too. I don’t know what you are talking about,” I said, panicking.

Della frowned at me, a real sadness taking over her face.?

“You could have changed my fate, but you didn’t, and now I am damned.”?

I shook my head, trying to process her words.?

“I would have moved heaven and hell for you.” Her glowing tears fell quickly. “I would have rewritten fate for us.”?

“Storm, please, I don’t understand!”?

“Then wake up, Haden. Wake up and see why the noise of the fire scared you. This is the night that you destroyed us.”?

Then she shoved me backward, and I was falling through the stars and heavens straight for the ground.?

?????????

I sat up in my bed, gasping for air. What the fuck kind of fucked-up dream was that? Shit, I was hot. Why was I sweating so damn much?

“Haden!” Remy yelled from her room.

My gaze immediately went to my door, and I realized I could see smoke barreling in. The flicker of flames could be seen under my door, and I could hear the noise of burning wood popping like it did in my dream. Our home was filled with flames and smoke. Shit. I got up and ran to Remy’s room only to be met with a collapsed portion of the wall. She was trapped.

“Haden!” She cried from the other side. “Please, help me!”

“I won’t leave you,” I promised as I tugged and pulled on the wooden beam, but it would not budge.Please, I begged. Tears stung my eyes, and I began to crouch to stay away from the smoke surrounding me. I used my frost magic to try and stop the flames from moving, but it was too much for me to have any effect at all. The heat was too overwhelming for my cold. I hurried to my room and crawled out of the window, then ran around the house to Remy’s window.

I jumped up and grabbed the ledge, peering through the haze inside. I saw that she was lying on the floor, unmoving. Her room had no flames like mine did, but it was filled with smoke.Fear ran through me, but the void did not come to save me with his bravery.

“Remy!” I called to her.

I hoisted myself up and through the window, dropping to the floor with a heavy thud. Pain seared through my leg, but I couldn’t focus on it now. I limped over to her. As I rolled her onto her back, I could see she was still breathing.

Coughing, I picked her up and carried her to the window. With all of the strength I had left, I pushed her through it. Just as she fell through the opening, part of the roof collapsed, trapping me under a beam. Terror and smoke filled my chest. I didn’t want to die. Della’s face popped into my mind. I couldn’t leave her now; we loved each other.

“Storm!” I yelled, hoping she would hear me. I felt my head begin to swim, though, and before I could call out again, everything faded into blackness.

Chapter 31

Della

Gods, I had been confused all day. I looked around my room because it felt different somehow, but nothing was out of place. My head ached and pounded as I tried to remember what the hell I was doing last night. But nothing came—no memories. Maybe I had passed out in bed earlier than I realized.

I glanced at my bed and frowned. I didn’t even remember coming in here. Last I remember, my mating bond was going crazy. What the hell was wrong with me? I glanced out of my bedroom window and stared at the dark sky illuminated by millions of twinkling stars.?

Gods, I missed Haden.?

Maybe I should wait to go to Haden’s house tomorrow; I’m sure he is sleeping.

But the other part of me couldn’t wait. My heart pounded as I thought of him. All day, flashes of him and me together had plagued me. My stomach clenched tightly as I went to my closet. I grabbed the small, black velvet box and opened it.

My star swirled orange and silver, a symbol of our mating bond. The orange represented the color of his soul, and the silver matched mine. Tonight, I was going to tell Haden he was my fated mate. I smiled softly. I had not known if this day would ever come. I loved him so much it was all-consuming. I do not know how I had lived without him for so long.

Suddenly, Haden’s voice boomed into my mind, sounding terrified. I dropped the box and left it on the ground, summoning my star mist immediately. I was at his home within seconds. Horror filled me when I saw it engulfed in flames. Fuck. I could feel death lurking closely. Someone was dying here tonight. I could feel their soul tugging me to them so I could collect them and send them on to their next destination, as was my job as the Goddess of Life.

“Haden!” I called out in a terrified voice. Panic raced through my veins as I desperately looked around for him. He had to be alright. He must be outside. He had to be safe.

“Haden, please!” I cried out as I ran toward the flames. A small movement by the side of the house had me running. Dread filled me when I realized it wasn’t Haden. It was Remiah. I dragged her farther from the house.