Page 46 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

“Some days it feels like 200 years, and others it feels longer. On bad days it feels like it just happened days ago,” I confessed.

“I feel that way, too.”?

We sat in silence for a long time, just sitting with our shared love and grief for Haden. I gripped his pillow tightly. Henry slung his arm around my shoulder and hugged me to his side once I couldn’t keep the grief inside anymore. Tears fell down my face as my body racked with silent sobs.?

“I still miss him so much that it is all-consuming,” I cried.?

“I know you do.” Henry tightened his arm on me and held me as I fell apart. “It just means you loved him so much that no amount of time can take that from you.”?

I squeezed the pillow to me even tighter. I thought time was supposed to heal wounds. But it just felt like each year that passed made my wound deeper, steadily ripping me open and exposing my heart.?Where would Haden and I be in life if hehadn't died? We would be married. We would have that family he dreamed about. We would be madly in love.

“Penelope and I would like you to take some of his things with you—for you to have when you are away.”?

I looked at him.?“Really?”

“Yes, anything you want,” he said with a smile. “As much as you want. I’ll let you look around and pick some things.” He stood up and left the room. I immediately went to his desk and grabbed the plans for the house he had been building. When I lifted the paper up, I paused at the sight of the picture of me that he had drawn. I lifted it and traced the lines of my face that he drew. My heart rate spiked. I had never seen his drawing of me, but it was so realistic.

He had told me once that he was scared I'd disappear and he'd forget what I looked like. That memory brought me comfort as my gaze stared at his artwork.

My eyes were closed, and my head was on a pillow. He had drawn me as I slept. I took that one too. Then I turned to where his clothes were. I grabbed a few tunics before looking around. Gods, I wish I could take his whole damn bed, but I only took his pillow. I grinned at the thought, glancing around once more before deciding that this would be enough. Tunics to smell him and pictures of his future plans he never got to achieve—me and our home.?

“I love you.” I paused for a moment as if I would hear his voice from where he was hiding in the room. Disappointment coursed through me when that didn't happen.

I walked out of the room and shut the door softly. When I came downstairs, his family was smiling at me and my items.

“Thank you.” I smiled even though tears burned my eyes. “This means everything to me.”?

“Of course. We should have done it sooner.” Penelope stood up and hugged me. "We love you."

"I love you guys too."

I was thankful that Haden gave me a family, even if I had to enjoy it without him.

Chapter 14

Della- Present Day

Iwandered through the small village in Kizar, undetected by anyone—always unseen. I took in the sight of all the fae as they laughed, kissed, hugged, and smiled at one another. A deep sadness filled me. I miss that. Haden had been gone for 293 years, and I still felt dead inside.

There was nothing special about this place. It was one of the worst villages in Kizar; the poverty level was extremely low, and most of the homes were falling apart. But I couldn’t shake this feeling of urgency that filled me. I was meant to be here, but I found nothing that would make sense for me to be called back here every single day for a week straight. This was a feeling I had never experienced and therefore did not understand.

So, I walked around without purpose, jealous of the fae who lived, even in squalor, because they felt something. I only felt longing, longing for something else to fill my boring days, longing for Haden. I was so lonely that I wasn’t sure if life would ever bring me any sense of joy again. I was losing hopewith every year that passed by without him coming back to me. Maybe the heavens thought I wasn’t worthy after what I did.

Pausing, I glanced around the street. The smiling faces around me felt like they were mocking me and my grief. I couldn’t take this anymore. I summoned my star mist to take me to my home in the stars but stopped when I felt that tugging again; only this time, it was more urgent. Turning around, I saw nothing out of the ordinary, making me frown with disappointment. Something was wrong in this place, but I could not tell what it was.

I made it a few steps forward when suddenly, a man ahead of me caught my attention. I stopped dead in my tracks—just to stare athim.

This was some kind of fucked-up dream. I closed my eyes and shook my head to wake up. Please do not do this to me. I will fall apart. I counted to three and opened my eyes. I didn’t dare move. I didn’t blink, just in case he disappeared. Haden was walking up the dirt path in town. He was taller than I remembered, but just as fit, just as handsome. I held my breath like it would scare him away if I breathed wrong.

His dark blonde hair was chaotic as if he had been running his fingers through it. He was talking to a girl his age who had bright red hair. She looked at him in a way I didn’t like—like he was hers. Gods, he was beautiful. Tears filled my eyes as I stared at him like he was a ghost. This couldn’t be real. He couldn’t be real. I shook my head as my chest ached and burned with grief and confusion.

Swallowing hard, I took a step toward him without thought. His pretty orange soul glowed inside of his chest.

"Haden," I whispered to myself.

My heart was beating so hard that I had to put my hand over it to make sure I wasn't actively dying. Haden was here. This is why I had been coming here for a week. For fuck's sake, he was avillage away from his parents. Had he been this close the entire time?

He was getting closer to me, but his face was turned toward the girl as they talked heatedly about something. I couldn’t stop staring at him. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was him. I had waited for this moment, and it felt like it would never come. His smooth skin, his straight nose, which led to kissable lips, and a perfect smile were the same as before.

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