Page 15 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

“I promise I’ll believe you. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to lie to me. Honesty is the best foundation of a relationship.”

“Is this a relationship?” I asked.

Haden nodded once, confirming what I already knew. I liked him way more than I should have so quickly, but he was just as fucked in the head because he felt the same. I nodded as I nibbled on the second pastry. My chest tightened with worry as I stood up and set the food on the small bag. I squared my shoulders as if that would make me feel more confident. But as soon as I met Haden’s stormy eyes, I deflated.

“I don’t have a typical job.” I started, and he nodded as if to encourage me. “I’m… gods, this is going to sound crazy.”

Haden watched me without his face changing.

“My name is Ardella, and I am the Goddess of Life.” I stared at Haden, looking for any indication that he thought I was a lunatic.

His eyebrows pinched together, but apart from that, nothing changed. After a moment, his eyes traveled over me—assessing me. Gods, he thought I had lost my fucking mind. I tried not to show how anxious I was, but he still hadn’t said anything. My body was tense as the silence stretched between us.

“I can go.” I turned.

“No, stop.” Haden’s voice echoed around me, and I turned to him, but he wasn’t looking at me like I was crazy.

“That is why you have that odd magic,” he said. “The starlight.”

“Yes. Do you believe me?” I asked.

“You are far too pretty to be anything but a goddess.” He smiled. Something about him believing me made me rush forward to hug him. Haden wrapped his arms around me, and everything felt like it would be alright. How could the heavens not see that he was the one for me? He rubbed his hands down my back, making my worries seem to disappear.

“Do you want to see my other magic?” I asked. “Then you can show me yours.”

I pulled back and smiled. Something like worry flashed in his stormy eyes.

“How did you know I have magic?”?

“I’m a goddess; I can feel it when you are close to me.” I grabbed his hand. “Come on.”?

I led us outside and closer to the pond so rain would not get into his house. I dropped his hand and moved a little bit farther from him. Haden’s eyes watched me closely as I lifted my hands out to my sides. Dark clouds rolled over us, and Haden’s handsome face tilted toward the heavens to see what it was.?

Then lightning split and scattered across the sky above us. Haden looked at me, and his mouth fell open. My eyes hadturned pure white as I summoned energy from around me to form a small tornado on top of the pond. Thunder echoed in the sky, and rain began to fall around us. Haden gawked at me as I lifted my hand, and a ball of lightning appeared in my upturned palm. I pointed at a small tree on the other side of the pond, and it shot from my hand, striking into the tree with a small explosion.

I stopped my magic immediately, and the dark clouds moved away. The rain dried up instantly as I looked at Haden.?

“My storm,” he muttered.?

I smirked at him.?

“Your turn.”?

Haden nodded as he looked into my eyes. His eyes went from dark blue to sky blue as the temperature around us dropped significantly enough that I could see our breath. Haden’s fists were covered in a frost that seemed to radiate out and cover his entire body. I gasped when the ground around his feet became frosted as well. The layer of ice quickly shot out from him and covered the entire field. Even the pond froze, the strange noise from the ice forming sounding strangely like music.

A cold gust of wind knocked into me, and I turned back to Haden, smiling as my hair whipped around my face. Then he lifted his hands, and snow burst from them. I turned my face to the sky, where the tiny white flakes fell in what felt like a winter blizzard, but the sun was shining brightly. The snow fell on my hot skin, melting instantly. I was so distracted by the beauty of Haden’s magic that I didn’t hear him approach me.?

His cold fingers gripped my chin, pulling my face down so I could see him. He leaned forward and softly pressed his lips to mine. His mouth was cold as his tongue swept past my lips and tangled with my own. I pulled him toward me and deepened the kiss. Haden’s snow began whipping around us in a flurry as he tangled his hands in my hair.

Suddenly, I was knocked to the ground by a forceful wind. I stared at the snow falling from the sky as I lay on my back.

“Shit,” Haden muttered as he leaned over me. “Are you alright? My magic got out of control…”

Sitting up, I grabbed my arm as an odd tingling sensation ran through it. Haden kneeled and moved my hand, exposing my skin as a silver shape began appearing, expanding quickly in lines and whirls that seemed to glow with an eerily beautiful light. When the magic finally stilled, a glittering array of snowflake tattoos was left behind, so bright that it reminded me of the way that the snow shines when the sun hits it just right. Haden’s fingers traced the pale lines of the snowflakes that started at my shoulder and moved down my arm.?

“Gods, I didn’t mean to do that. I didn’t even know I could,” he said frantically. I glanced up at him as he panicked and laughed. Haden stilled as I laughed louder.

“Why are you laughing?”?

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