Page 79 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

“But he was just a fae,” I said, confused. “So why can he do that?”

Brim nodded and smiled like I had finally asked the right question.

“Exactly, he was supposedly just fae, but I am not so sure of that now. He can’t be just a fae. I don’t know why, but I think the heavens intentionally made him the way he is because he is… important. The heavens intentionally did this. We just don’t know why.” Brim frowned.?

“Did he say anything else?” I asked.?

Brim nodded, and I knew it wasn’t good.?

“Just tell me.”?

My throat was dry and itchy with stress as Brim sighed heavily.

“He started getting red lilies when he met you, and he had a mating bond with a different female that he did not feel anything toward."

I stood up and stared at him. Confusion coursed through me at a new level. That made no sense; he was not a god, and we were not mates—why did he get lilies? Then I felt the wrath of an army inside of me at the thought of him being mated to another woman. I would fucking kill her. ?

I yelled so loudly that the wall of his home shook. “What the fuck, Brim!” Anger coursed through me. “How dare you not tell me any of this?”

“He bound my tongue!” Brim threw his hands in the air. My mouth dropped open in surprise. Tongue binding was also a rare ability.

He continued. “Tell me how afaecan see so far into his own future that he knows of his next life, can tell you when he dies, can bindmytongue, and can summon me to him without detection?” ?

Oh, my gods.?

“A fae can’t,” I said. Brim nodded. “But what can?”

“That is what I do not know. But he was the first one to get the red lilies as an omen of bad luck, and shortly after, he was murdered. And that got me thinking, Della, fae don’t reincarnate to be exactly the same as in their previous lives. I had visions of you and him meeting in Kizar during his present life. So, I went to Kizar and saw him for myself. This Haden is identical to his old self; I’m guessing down to every scar. The heavens do not do that. Creatures can’t come back exactly the same. Do you know how confusing that would be to the loved ones still alive? And what are the chances that he ends up being born a village away from his previous family?”?

My body froze in realization, and I swallowed hard. Somehow, I knew this. I knew that Haden should have been different when he came back. Some parts of his personality were the same as before, but physically, he was the exact same. And sometimes he did and said things that made me think he remembered me, butit was only when he was void. My heart was pounding. I could not wrap my head around this.

“He calls me Storm. He called me that before, and the first day I saw him, he said it again. And he has nightmares of the night that he died. He should not remember anything if he was reborn. Sometimes he repeats things he said in his first life. What does this all mean?”

“Who the fuck is Haden? More importantly,whatis Haden, and what does he remember right now?” Brim looked at me.?

“Is he dangerous?” I asked. Stars, I did not think I could stay away from him even if he was.

“To you, no. You are his mate; he loves you. And I can’t stress how much he loved you before, even when you weren’t mates. I don’t think he is a danger, but I do think he is hiding something. Honestly though, I have no idea if he even knows these things after coming back.”

What the hell are you hiding, Haden?

“You can’t tell anyone about this,” I begged Brim. “If he is this powerful, then someone will want to know why. I don’t want him to be in danger.”

“Della, after how long we have known each other, I would hope you know you are my favorite god. I will not say a word, but please, tell me if you find out anything about Haden.”?

“I will.”?

"Who was his mate?" I asked, my eyes flashing white. Brim gave me a look, knowing that I wanted to go kill her.

"You won't hurt her." Brim was so sure of himself. I would. I wou— "It was Sara."

What the actual fuck? My anger disappeared. Brim was right; I wouldn't hurt her. Tears stung my eyes.

“I meant what I said earlier. Haden loved you so much, even when you were not mates. He loved you so much that he thought it could change fate itself, and I am wondering if he was right.You felt that you loved him enough to change fate, but did he do something to change fate first?”

Why wouldn’t Haden tell me all of this before? I could have saved him… Maybe though, maybe he didn’t want to be saved. Maybe he wanted to die because he saw what I would do. He had known he was going to die the morning he proposed to me. Did he only do that because he knew he would die? I was questioning everything now.

“Della,” Brim said. “There is something else I wanted to tell you.” He walked up to me and held my hands tightly. “Something terrible is going to happen to you.”?

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