Page 54 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“Shut up.”Auroraclosed her eyes to all that he was saying.Whenhe started to speak again, she stood up. “Isaid shut up.Igrow tired of your lies.”
“Lies?You’resaying my mother is a lie?”Thaneturned to face her. “Lookat her.She’sfair and soft, and her tears are snowdrops.Shewas a god of the heavens.”
“No.Youare just saying these things because you thinkIcan’t succeed.Ormaybe…”Shepaused. “Youdon’t want the curse to be broken.WhenIbreak the curse, there will be no reason for us not to be together.”Hermind spiraled out of control with all the reasons he wouldn’t want her to break the curse.Shehad seenPainand knew she was a better choice forThane.Painwas a god that promised heartache and sadness.Aurorawas the god that promised a blush of a new day.Asoft caress of hope.
“Yes, that’s it.Afterall these lifetimes and all the pain and misery losing you has caused me,Ihave decidedIdon’t want you.Godsbelow, listen to yourself.”
“I am.AndI’mlistening to you.Youwere withPainthe night before the witch.Howmany other nights are you with her?”
“None.”Thanethrew up his hands. “I’mnot doing this with you.”
“You’re right becauseI’mdone.”Aurorastomped off.Herretreat was slowed by the shifting wishes under her feet and because of the tears.Whydid he always have to hurt her? “Thecurse.”Shestopped and hung her head.Sheturned around and stomped back toThane, who stood amongst the broken wishes, his heart also breaking. “Thane.I…Ididn’t mean?—”
“I know.”Helooked at her, his eyes bright with sadness. “Ican’t lose you to him.”
“AndIcan’t keep doing this.”Shestepped closer to him, touching his hand.Hernext words were like ash on her tongue. “Ifwe don’t break it, it will break us.It’salready started.”
Thane took her hand. “Butat least you are still whole.Hewill destroy?—”
Aurora pressed a finger to his lips. “Itwas always going to happen.Fatehas woven the threads of our story before we were born.Ithink the curse was just a way to do it quicker.Deathwill cut them one way or another.AndifIhave to choose,Iwould rather choose when.Iwill not fail.”WhenAurorawas a child, her mother would whisper to her,Watchyour heart, little one.Itwas made to be broken.
Thane kissed her fingertips. “It’snotDeaththat will cut the threads.Iwill break them.Thatis whatPainandIfought about that night.She, too, had gone to see the witch.Iwill fail you.Idon’t know how, butIwill.”Thanecupped the back of her neck, pressing his forehead to hers. “‘Tountie the threads thatFatehas woven, one heart will be filled with hate.Andanother will lose her mate.’”
“It means nothing.Justa silly riddle an old woman spoke.Icould never hate you,Thane.”
“Not you.Me.”Thaneexhaled the words. “Itis my curse.Theheart that must break is yours.”
“The witch said it was a mortal, and why would you hate me?”Auroracupped his cheek. “Isyour love for me so weak?”
“No, but everything is not as it seems with a curse.Please,Aurora.Letit be.Letus not temptFate.”
Aurora feltCadelbefore she heard his footfalls on the shore.Itwas time.
“Thane, your father wishes to speak to you.Andyou,Aurora.”
Thane closed his eyes. “Forgiveme.”
CHAPTER26
AURORA
They couldn’t hide fromDeatheven if they wanted to.Thane’sconnection to his father was too strong.Theyappeared in the throne room asDeathhad commanded.Avast room with no ceiling and a floor made of a smooth, dark stone.Deathwas perched upon a chair seated in the middle of the room.ThesoulsThanehad collected cowered in the corners.
Thane let go ofAurora’shand and walked over to the whiskey. “Father.Whata horrible surprise.”
Aurora watchedDeath.Hedidn’t look atThane, just smiled at her, knowing she was trapped between what she wanted and him.Hisfeatures shifted between beauty and imperfection.Fatherand son had the same eyes and straight nose.AsDeath’sfeatures shifted again, it was not imperfections she saw but all she could lose.
Death stood and walked toward her.Hispresence seemed to suck the air out of the room.Deathand her father were not so different.Herfather also consumed the air and space around her.Therewas ugliness in her father too.Forhe did little to protect mortals from things like pain and suffering.Helet them lose loved ones to the god that stood before her.
“Such delicate things you gods of the heavens are.”Death’svoice was soft, and yet it was like nails on glass. “Yourgolden light and perfect features are all so breakable.”Deathreached out a dark-tipped finger to touch her.
She stepped away from him.Itwas one thing to say she wanted to seeDeathbut another to look upon him.Tofeel his touch.
“Don’t touch her.”Thanedidn’t move. “Whyare you here?”
Death walked aroundAuroralike a predator stalking its prey. “Iheard there was a foolish god who wants to make a deal.”
“You heard wrong.Youcan go.”Thanetook a sip of whiskey. “Tellhim,Aurora.Tellhim it was a mistake.Thatyou do not want to see him.”
