Page 34 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

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The next morning, I woke up to Della sleeping in our bed. Smiling at her, I gave her a soft kiss on the cheek before going to the kitchen to fix us something to eat. Before I could start seeing what I had for food, I spotted them outside of the kitchen window.

“Fucking great,” I whispered.

I glanced around, making sure Della was still sound asleep on the bed in the living space. I slipped out the door and headed to the tree line, where they stood in their cloaks. Della couldn’t see them; she would start asking who they were, and if she did that, then she would figure out who I was. I was avoiding that at all costs. Walking past them without a word, I knew they’d follow me deeper into the trees.

Once I was satisfied that we were out of sight from Della, I turned to them, my eyes flashing red. I knew Elra was in the middle as she stepped forward.

“Take that ridiculous hood off,” I snapped. “Who are you hiding from? I know who you are, idiots.”

Elra slipped her hood off and glared at me.

“You are always so pleasant to see, Haden.” She glared.

“What do you want?” I asked.

Her eyes narrowed on me as I crossed my arms and stared at her with hatred. I didn’t move away as she acted like I would back down.

“What the fuck are you doing?” she asked. I knew what she was asking, but I played dumb.

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I am saying; do I really need to say it out loud?” Her voice was full of irritation.

“I think I’m going to need you to say it because I don’t know what you are talking about,” I lied.

She pointed to the house.

“You are playing house with your whore.”

I clenched my jaw tightly but didn’t give her the reaction she wanted.

“Della is not yours to keep. She is the key to ending the curse, so quit planning a life with her, or I will fucking kill you myself.”

I glanced at the five others standing behind her and sighed heavily.

“That’s it? That is all you came here for?”

“You son of a bitch!” Elra stepped forward, and I gave her a look, letting her know I was not above punching her in the face.

“I dare you to touch me, Elra, and I will rip you to shreds and send you straight to hell.”

She hesitated, which was the smartest thing she had ever done. Her eyes flickered over me and then to the house. Elra was thinking hard about something. I didn't like that she knew Della was this close.

“You are actually in love with her.” She accused. “Are you insane? She will never love you back.”

“She already does.”

My chest was filling with anxiety. I should not have said that. Elra’s eyes gleamed with her evil fucking soul.

“Do you really think she would love you if she knew who you are?” She laughed, and so did the rest of them.

I would like to say that she would love me no matter what, but I wasn’t sure about that. Della loved me, but it was because I manipulated her into loving me, kind of.

“You better remember why you are here.” Elra stepped toward me. “To break our curse, not to crawl into that goddess' bed and pretend like you have a real future with her.”

“I know what I am doing.”

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