Page 18 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

“How powerful the god and their partner are,” I said. “It’s almost like a tiered system. On the top are the heavens, then the old gods, then the stars, then gods like me, the elite magic, regular magic, and no magic.”

“Old gods?” he asked.

“The first gods that were created. They hold the most power.” I wasn’t sure I should have told him about that. Something flickered in his eyes, and I wondered if he knew about any of this before. "But they hide from everyone."

“So, you don’t have a family?” He changed the subject.

“I have a twin brother, but that is all there is to my family.” I smiled. I loved Mikel; he had always been good to me.?

“We’re both twins.” A small smirk played across his lips. “When we have kids, then we have a high chance of twins.”?

I dropped my book. When, not if, we have kids. Haden laughed at the look on my face.?

“Is that too forward of a thought?” he asked.? His eyes traced over me as he tried to hold his smile back.

“No.” I blushed. “How many children are you picturing?”?

“As many as you are willing to give me,” he said casually.?

“Gods, Haden,” I breathed.?For a man that never made a move on me, he had me blushing. So he had thought of me in an intimate way.

“Sorry, I just like seeing you flustered for me, Storm.”?

That wasn’t helping. He was such a tease. I grabbed my book off the floor and opened it again, pretending to read it. Haden worked like he was doing the easiest job in the world, and I admired that about him. He was a hard worker and creative.

“Are you artistic like your father?” I asked.?

Haden didn’t look away from what he was doing.?

“Yes, but I prefer drawing houses, but every now and again I get inspired to draw something else.”?

“What was the last thing you drew that wasn’t a house?”?

“You.” He turned quickly to see my reaction. “It was after the second or third time I saw you. I was worried you would disappear, and I would forget how pretty you are.”?

I smiled to myself.?

“Well, I hope our children inherit your artistic abilities, because I have none,” I said just to tease him, but Haden lost grip of the wood he was holding, and it hit him in the head.

“Fuck.” He held his head as I rushed to him.

“I’m sorry. I was just trying to tease you like you were to me.” I panicked when I saw blood on his hand. Haden watched me as I grabbed him and shoved him onto the stool. “Lean down so I can see how bad it is.”?

Haden listened, and I noticed that the gash started dripping blood. Immediately, I used my magic and sealed his wound.?

“There, all fixed.”?

Haden lifted his gaze to mine. His hands wrapped around the back of my thighs and pulled me forward, so I was standing between his legs.?

“Kiss me, Storm.”?

He didn’t need to tell me twice. I pressed my lips to his, and he kissed me softly. Then he tugged me into him for a hug.?

“I’m sorry I made you get hurt.”?

“I started it with the teasing; you don’t have to apologize.”?

Haden just held me, and I couldn't help but think how perfect this was. I thought of him when I woke up in the morning, and he was the last thing I thought of when I went to bed. Even my dreams were of him, and still it did not feel like we saw each other enough.?

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