Page 44 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

“Did you fall ill with something? You are not making any sense.” He frowned as he checked my temperature with the back of his hand. “Our new maid, Pia, can bring you some tea if you’d like.”

“No.”?

“You may think that you loved him, but that is impossible, Dells. We only love our mates. I’m sorry that you lost him, but whatever it was, it wasn’t love.”?

I finally felt something other than grief.?

I instantly felt fucking enraged.?

I jumped out of my bed and pointed forcefully at the door, lightning crackling from my fingertips. “Get the fuck out of my room!” I yelled. Mikel stood up quickly, confused about what he had said wrong. “You know nothing, Mikel. I loved him. I love him! I love him.” I broke down in uncontrollable sobs.

“Ardella… I’m sorry.”

“Get out! Leave me alone. Do not come back in here.”?

Tears filled Mikel’s eyes when he saw how truly devastated I was. He didn’t leave, though. Instead, he came over to me and pulled me into his chest, at which point I promptly fell apart. I gripped him to me, and he held me in his strong arms as I sobbed loudly.

“I loved him with everything, Mikel, and he is dead.”?

“Shh, it’s okay.” He rubbed my back.?

“No, it’s not. That isn’t all of it. I met my mate and did not love him. I loved his brother.”

Mikel stilled against me.?“You met your mate?”

I nodded and pulled back. I couldn't tell Mikel any more about what I had done. We were not allowed to change fate or reject our mates.?Both of which I had tried to do.

“I did not love him, and he didn’t love me. He rejected me,” I lied. “I fell in love with his brother.”

Understanding flitted through his eyes. He knew what this meant for me. I was alone now, forever. Mikel’s tears fell silently down his face as he pulled me back to him.?“We’ll figure it out together.”

“Why did the heavens punish me?” I asked. “I do not know how I am supposed to live like this, like I did not experience true love. And then feel a grief so intense that I can’t even think of anything but him. I can’t picture one good thing about my future. I do not even want a future.”?

Mikel’s hands were still on my back as the reality of my grief hit him. He squeezed me again, and I closed my eyes tightly. Haden’s smiling face immediately filled the darkness in my mind. Mikel laid me down and covered me up.? His tears glowed down his face as he watched me, rubbing my hair for comfort.

“I will bring in some hot tea; that will help your mind relax,” he said with a frown. I could see that he did not know how to helpme, and that hurt him. I nodded and wrapped my blanket tightly around me.?

Mikel walked out of the room, but the door cracked open almost immediately, and a petite blonde woman walked in holding a cup of tea.?

“I was already brewing you a cup of tea. I heard you crying all night and figured you’d be tired.” She set the cup down, her friendly eyes taking in the mess I was. “I’m Pia. I am here for anything you might need.”?

I sat up and sipped the tea she made. Gods, that was good. Pia smiled softly before turning to leave.?

“Thank you,” I muttered.?

“You’re welcome.” She paused. “I am sorry about your loss. If you need anything, a shoulder to cry on, or someone to talk with about him, my door is always open.”?

I nodded as I swallowed the lump in my throat. Pia left, and I sipped on my tea. My eyes ached with exhaustion, but I knew sleep would evade me. And if it didn’t, Haden’s memory would haunt me. I stood up and went to a small desk in the corner of my room, then grabbed a few sheets of paper and sat down.

I began writing all of the memories I could of Haden. I did not use his name, just in case Mikel found it. I didn’t want him to go snooping around and figure out what I had done. When I couldn’t remember anything else, I started writing him letters.

My emotions and thoughts about my days without him spilled from me, flowing from my quill and leaking across the page before me like tears made of ink—grief in every line. There was something freeing about writing to him, almost as if he could read my words. So, I decided that I would write to him as much as I could. And I would always end my letters the same way.Always, your Storm.

Chapter 13

Della-200 years later

Ilaughed hysterically at Henry’s terrible joke. Penelope slapped his shoulder, telling him that he wasn’t funny, but I could not stop laughing. Sometimes it felt like I was the only one who understood his dry humor and appreciated it. Henry's eyes shined brightly.

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