Page 95 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

“Stay with me?” I asked.

She nodded as we both stood up and fixed our clothing. I grabbed her hand in mine as we went inside my home and headed to the bedroom. I closed the door, locked it, and pushedthe dresser in front of it, even though my parents were not supposed to be back until tomorrow. Della sat on the edge of the bed, watching me with a look I could not decipher.

“What are you thinking about so hard over there?” I smiled.

Her cheeks reddened.

“All of the years I waited to meet you were worth it. I would have waited hundreds more if you were who I would get at the end of it.”

I walked to her and sank to my knees between her legs. My hands traced over her face. I understood the deeper meaning of her words.

“I feel as though I’ve known you my whole life,” I confessed.

Something about my words made tears fill her eyes. Her hand lifted and brushed through my hair.

“I like you.”

I smiled brightly.

“I like you, too.”

“Do you believe in fate?” she asked. When she saw the confusion in my eyes, she continued. “That something greater than us decided who we would belong to—who we would love.”

“Maybe.” What Della and I had felt like it was written by the stars, but I knew better. We had both changed fate for one another. From the moment I saw Della, she had consumed me. My thoughts were hers; every breath I took was for her; my life was hers. She made me daydream of things that I once thought were impossible: love and happiness.

“Well, I believe in it, and I can’t imagine the heavens picking someone other than you for me.” Her eyes held mine as she said it. “But, I am scared that I will get attached, and then you will be taken from me,” she whispered.

Guilt filled me when I saw the hurt I had caused her. I grabbed her face in my hands and looked at her. Images of her smiling at me flashed through my mind. Memories of our first life togethermade me smile. I needed to get out of here. I was making this too complicated, like last time. I needed to remember that she was part of the plan, not someone I could keep.

I forced myself back, deep in the depths of our mind, and forced the other side of me out. As the change took hold, I closed my eyes and felt their color shift back to normal as the void faded back into the darkness. I was confused for just a moment before the images of what Della and I just did hit me like an arrow.

I instantly felt unworthy of her attention. “If you want me, I am yours. But I would not blame you if you wanted someone more worthy.” Even as I said it, I knew I would get rid of any man that tried to take her. If I were her last choice for a male, I would kill every male in the realm so that I was her only choice.?

"Actually, that's not true." I was feeling a surge of confidence. "I will never let another man have you. I'll spend my entire life making sure I am worthy of you. You're mine."

Della's mouth parted with surprise.

I leaned forward and kissed her. She hummed against me as she pulled me closer. I deepened the kiss only for a pounding on my door to startle me and cause me to jump back, fear in my eyes.

“Haden?” It was Remy.

Della stood up, eyes wide and filled with fear.

“I should go,” she said quickly, but before I could tell her to stay, she was gone.

I moved the dresser from in front of my door and opened it. Remy was smiling brightly at me. Her blue eyes looked into the room and frowned.

“I thought you were talking to someone?”

“She left.” I smiled.

“Are you smiling?” she asked.

I rolled my eyes as she let herself into my room.

“Sorry I interrupted.”

“It’s fine. How was your day?”

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