Page 27 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

Haden’s eyes flashed red, but he quickly blinked it away. What the fuck? I wanted to ask him why they did that, but he walked away from me. When he walked away this time, I did not follow. Devastation and hurt warred inside of me as I watched him practically run from me. I swallowed the lump in my throat. I felt like I was going to pass out. If gods could die, I would think I was at this very moment from a broken heart. I stumbled forward and braced myself on the shed.?

Anger filled me as I thought of how cruel the heavens were being to me.?

“What did I ever do to deserve this? You gave me the wrong fucking mate, and now he doesn’t want me. I will never forgive you for this, do you hear me? I will never forgive you for not making Haden mine.” Angry tears streamed down my face. “I’mgoing to be alone for my entire existence.” I cried into my hands. The one thing I had to look forward to was taken from me before I ever knew I had it.?

My star mist circled around me, and when it disappeared, I was back at Haden’s home. I sat on the steps and waited for him. I would waste away on the stairs if I had to. This is not what was supposed to happen.

I pushed my palms into my eyes and knew this was my fault. Glancing around, I knew I should feel guilty about what I did. It made sense why Holden and I didn’t have a true bond. I stood up and began pacing around, knowing that I messed with fate. The fucking heavens or stars did this as a punishment when they were the ones who forced my hand.

Haden was mine, and I knew that from the moment I met him hundreds of years ago. Gods, did he remember anything from before? Of course he didn't. His eyes turned red, and he seemed to know that he should hide that from me.

“You will not take him from me. I will always be two steps ahead of you.” I warned the sky. “I will find a way to fix fate because he was supposed to be my mate—you know it. You may have given the bond to his brother, but I will never choose anyone but him. I do not care who or what he is; he is worthy of me.”

?????????

It was getting dark out, and Haden never came home. I was pacing around his porch, trying not to lose my mind over the thought of him with someone else, even though he wasn’t mine. The thought instantly pissed me off. He was mine.?

I used my star mist to go to the village. The tavern loomed in front of me with big windows, and so many fae crowded in the place that I could hardly see through them. I watched carefully, looking for any sign of Haden. After a few minutes of staringthrough the window, I saw him sitting at the counter with a drink.

A woman perched a stool away, laughing too loudly, trying too hard. She leaned in, speaking with animated hands. I watched every movement, bile rising with each second. Then she scooted closer. Gods, it was worse than torture. But I couldn't look away. I needed to be near him, even if he didn't know.

She reached out, fingers brushing his shoulder. He flinched, then shrugged her off. A growl of thunder rolled overhead, deep and angry, rattling the windows as if the sky mirrored my mood. Lightning tore across the clouds—and then came the downpour. Haden looked outside. His gaze immediately finding mine. His eyes turned to the woman before he shook his head and stood up. My heart felt like it was being carved out of me with a rusty knife. My chest was caving in on itself.?

I turned away from the tavern. My gaze darted around quickly, as if an answer to my problem would appear. But I already knew there wasn’t an answer.

“Storm.” He gripped my shoulder, turning me toward him. “That is not what you think.”

“I have been waiting for you at home," I said softly. "So we could talk. And you… avoided me."

His expression faltered. Shame clouded his eyes. I saw the truth there, plain as daylight. Hehadbeen avoiding me. And suddenly, I felt stupid.

If he wanted to see me, he would have come. He would have called for me, like he promised.

I swallowed the words rising in my throat—the desperate, aching ones.Please do not leave me.

“I told you to stop following me,” he said.

A final blow.

Maybe he didn't love me like he claimed he did. I let this truth sink into me and take root deep in my bones. I glanced overhis face once more. I wanted him to be happy, and if that was without me, then I had to be fine with that.?

Maybe he wasn’t supposed to be mine.

Maybe it was a test from the heavens, and I had failed miserably. I looked away from him but hesitated. I did not want to leave him. I waited for a moment longer just in case he told me to stay. But he didn't. I stepped back from him.

"Okay, I'll leave you alone," I whispered, and it made my chest ache painfully. Defeat coursed through me as I used my star mist to go home before I fell apart.

Chapter 8

Della

My brother was blabbering about something I was not listening to. There were three other gods in the room with us, discussing issues in the realm of Elloryon, but I did not care. I had left the tavern a week ago, and I still felt like I was dying without Haden. He didn’t call to me, and I wondered if he ever would. I was falling apart.

“Ardella?” Mikel asked.?

“What?” I jumped, startled in my seat, and looked over at them.?

“What is the population doing? Do we need war or disease to wipe out some of it to keep the balance?”?

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