Page 35 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

“You better, or I will kill you, and one of us will take your place. This curse is ending, and you don’t even know what will happen to Ardella when that happens. She might not survive this." Elra stepped forward. "She will end you when she knows why you are here. That you are using her to break a fucking curse. She will rip your soul out without another thought. She is the heavens' favorite goddess, for fuck's sake."

“Are we done with this conversation? I have shit to do,” I sighed in a bored tone to hide that a cold sweat formed on my skin. My heart was beating like crazy because I knew Elra's words were true, but I truly loved Della and did not know how to let her go. Maybe she would understand why I did what I did.

“Haden?” I heard Della yell, and I instantly froze, watching each of these pricks to see if they would do something. I would skin them alive.

“Speak of the whore,” Mateo said with a smile. My attention turned toward him when Della began walking toward the woods. She was in my tunic and showing way too much skin to these pricks. “Gods be damned, Haden, I see why you follow her around like a little bitch. She is fucking stunning. Maybe I should see if she’ll suck my co—” I punched Mateo in the face. He looked at me, his nose bleeding black blood. His eyes widened before smiling.

“Well, it looks like we found the first thing that Haden has ever given a shit about in his pathetic life.” Mateo chuckled but flinched when I went to punch him again.

“Haden?” Della’s voice was getting closer.

“Fuck off, all of you,” I hissed.

“Count your fucking days, Haden. You have clearly lost sight of what you are supposed to be doing.” Elra smiled before they disappeared.

Shit. I stepped forward, and Della came from around the tree.

“Storm?” I smiled to throw her off of what I was doing.

“What are you doing out here?” She looked around like she expected to see someone pop out.

“I thought I saw someone in the trees, but I must have been seeing things.” I lied and hated it. She nodded and held out her hand for me to take. I slid my hand into hers and walked her out of the woods. Della glanced at my face like she could see I was struggling with something.

“I did not like waking up to you missing from bed.” She smiled when I looked at her.

“My mistake, Storm; I will not do it again.”

I tugged her to me and kissed her.

“What are your plans for today?” I asked. As much as I wanted to spend the day with her, I needed to go see Brim. My visions of the future were changing, and not for the good of Della and I.

“I have some meetings, but I should be back within a few hours.”

“I have some things I need to get from town, but I should be back before you.”

“Will you pick up some pastries? They are so good.” Her eyes gleamed with excitement.

“Yes, I will get anything you wish.”

She looked at me with such love in her eyes that I felt like a piece of shit. I did love her, but that was a problem. I knew that.

“I love you.” I smiled.

“I love you more.” She kissed me before her magic wrapped around her and she disappeared.

As soon as she left, I felt the small pulsing in my mind. I knew what it meant: a vision was coming, but this one felt more intense than the others I had before. Shooting pain coursed through my mind, making me fall to my knees, groaning as visions plagued me.

Della was yelling. Why was she crying so violently, like she was dying? I looked around, but the vision did not let me see what was happening around her. But what Della did next made my mouth fall open in shock. Della became so enraged that she grabbed her mating bond with Holden and severed it with her magic. Gods cannot reject mates.

“Haden!” She screamed so loud that it ripped me from the vision.

I opened my eyes and glanced around confused before another vision came barreling into my mind, making me fall over onto the ground. My head was pounding violently as bits and pieces came to me.

“I know how to change fate,” I said to Brim. I was desperate for Della. I would do anything.

“You can’t change fate, Haden,” Brim said with conviction.

“Yes, I can."

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