Page 14

Chapter 14

Della- Present Day

I wandered 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 hope with 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 at him .

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 a village 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.

I realized he was smiling, and I finally snapped out of my gawking. He was going to walk straight into me, but it didn’t matter. He would not see or feel me. So, I stayed where I was because I wanted to admire him longer. The red-haired woman was talking his ear off when I glanced up into pretty, dark blue-grey eyes that reminded me of a violent storm in the sea.

Shit, he was perfect. He was just as he was all those years ago.

I admired everything about him, staring far more than what would be deemed appropriate if he could actually see me. His brows furrowed as he looked toward me. But I just kept staring. Amusement filled his eyes as he smiled slightly. I wondered what the woman was saying to him to make him look happy. Jealousy bloomed in my chest.

Was I too late? Was this his girlfriend? I swallowed hard as those memories of mine and Holden's bond hit me. Were the heavens this cruel that they would show him to me and not let me have him after I waited centuries for him? I would die. Even a god could not survive that type of damn torture. He stopped a foot in front of me, and that smell of a frosty winter morning slammed into me and made my grief swell.

“Excuse me,” he smiled down at me. His head tilted slightly to the side as his curious eyes stared at me. His voice shot straight through me and gripped me in a welcoming hug. He sounded the same.

My eyes widened when I realized he was looking me directly in the eyes. I turned to see who he was talking to, but I was the only one standing there. I pointed to my chest, and his smile widened. For the love of the stars, he could fucking see me, and I was staring. My cheeks heated. He was going to think I was crazy.

“Who are you talking to?” The redhead raised her brow curiously.

He turned to her and back to me.

“To her.” His pretty eyes drifted over my face slowly. Shit, did he like what he saw? Fuck, that would kill me if I waited all of this time for him to not want me. All these new fears were hitting me at once, making my chest tighten.

“Haden, there is no woman in front of you.”

My heart slammed into my ribs as I heard his name. Haden. She called him fucking Haden. He looked at the redhead as my mouth fell open with excitement and fear.?

“Kira, she’s right here.” He pointed at me. I could see her eyes searching for me, but she wouldn’t find me, not unless I wanted her to. But he could. My heart felt like it was going to explode into a million pieces. I could not believe it was him. I had dreamed of this for hundreds of years, but I did not ever think it would happen like this—so casually.

Haden.

Mine .

I grinned at him when his stormy eyes met mine.

“You don’t see her?” He asked as a smile tilted his lips.

“No, maybe your father hit you a little too hard in the head because there is no one in front of you, and others are starting to stare.”

He didn’t look away from me, like he couldn’t.

“Her eyes look like the stars,” he whispered to himself.

My breath caught when I felt the small feeling of being pulled toward him. Relief flooded me as a euphoric, warm sensation that began in my heart and raced to every part of me. The tugging in my chest became persistent before suddenly the golden string of our bond emerged from me and made its way to Haden. When it went into his heart, he showed a slight sign of discomfort as he rubbed his chest. I waited to see what would happen. After a moment, the bond snapped in place between us, its connection slamming into me like a breath of fresh air. Images of it doing the same thing the night Haden died before it failed to take root made me hold my breath.

It tugged and hummed strongly between us. I could feel the tears stinging the back of my eyes as I thanked the heavens for forgiving me, promising to protect him with everything I am. My gaze could not look away from the golden bond that swarmed between us. It was bright and glowed with flecks of gold and silver around it. It was very strong.

“Seriously, Haden, everyone is staring.”

He looked away from me and looked at the fae watching him talk to someone who wasn’t there, like he was a freak, and that pissed me off— a lot. He hesitated for a moment, like he didn't want to leave. He swallowed hard as he sidestepped around me and kept walking. I turned to watch him, feeling a deep sense of longing for him.

After a minute he turned to see if I was still there. His lips pulled into the most breathtaking smile when he saw I was still watching him. I waved at him awkwardly, thanking the heavens that they gave me Haden as a mate in this life. I could keep him forever, and I never had to lose him again. He turned and kept walking.

Desperately, I hurried to where he had disappeared and looked for him. There was no way I could leave. I made myself unseen even to him and scoured the streets to find him. After a few minutes, I located him at a street vendor trying to sell some sort of vegetables. The redheaded woman was still lurking close by. My gaze drifted over her. She was stunning with her copper-colored hair and bright blue eyes. Her clothes were far fancier than what Haden wore. They were definitely from different social classes.

Gods, what was his new family like? Obviously, they were poorer than before, but I bet they were kind. I couldn’t wait to meet them. I couldn’t wait to meet him and see how different and similar he was to the man I fell in love with. This was all so exciting and scary at the same time. What if he was exactly the same? I stared at the back of his head as he talked to the man who was looking at him with unkind eyes. He was talking poorly to Haden, and Haden wasn’t saying anything back to the man. I frowned. Why did he think that was alright?

I looked at the woman to see if she would say something. But she didn’t. She was staring at something behind me, and I glanced at a handsome nobleman smiling at her. I turned back to her, and she was looking at Haden again. My gaze didn’t leave the redhead.

She watched Haden closely. Was this a girlfriend? Instantly, jealousy overtook me. My mate bond did not like that my mate may already be with someone else. This is what I should have felt with Holden—this wrath of a thousand suns. Haden turned and looked over his shoulder, staring directly at where I stood. His pretty eyes flickered around as if he could sense me close by, but he couldn’t see me.

I froze in my spot and watched him looking around for me. Longing slammed into my chest again as I stared at him. I did not know I could long for someone so violently as they stood a few feet away. He rubbed his chest softly as his stormy eyes frantically looked for me. He glanced at the woman, and I didn’t see a flicker of anything in his eyes for her.

“Fine.” Haden frowned at the man with unkind eyes. I watched him slide a small pile of money to Haden, who immediately seemed disappointed by the amount. Haden and Kira began walking in the direction they had originally come from. I followed closely, hoping to learn anything about my mate that I could.

It was painfully silent between the two of them. I walked just a few feet behind them and watched closely for any indication that they were a couple. I wanted to respect his choices, but I would kill her if they were together. No one was taking him from me. He was mine.

“Did you really see a woman?”

Haden paused slightly before continuing to walk. I perked up at the topic of conversation.

“Yes.” Fuck, I couldn't believe even his voice was the same. The heavens heard me and listened. My chest squeezed tightly with appreciation. I had missed that sound so damn much. Haden glanced over his shoulder and smirked slightly to himself.

He knew I was watching.

Kira crinkled her nose at him without him noticing. My anger surfaced. Why was she looking at him like he was crazy? When he glanced at her, she put a fake smile on her face.

“Something is wrong with me, isn’t there?” he asked her. No, you are perfect. “As if I needed more of a reason to be an outcast.”

His comment made me hesitate for a moment. Haden was an outcast, and I wanted to know why. How could he be an outcast? Fae here obviously had no taste or sensibility.

“Well, maybe your father hit you a little too hard.” She shrugged. His father hit him. My eyes burned pure white at this news. It did not cross my mind that his new family would be cruel. Kira acted as if this was normal and completely fine, but I would rip his father’s hands from him if he hurt Haden. I prayed to the stars that he did not have a cruel life this time.

“Yeah, maybe.” He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced around. “I’ve never seen anyone before, so maybe it was just a one-time thing.” I saw him frown as if the thought made him sad. How long would it take for the mate bond to snap into place for him? Was it instant, or would it take a while?

“Was she pretty?” Kira asked with an edge of jealousy.

“The woman in my mind?” Haden laughed. She nodded. He was oblivious that she liked him. “Very pretty.”

“Hmmm.” Kira crossed her arms over her chest and looked away. I was smiling brightly behind them because Haden said I was very pretty.

“You know, Liam asked for my hand in marriage.” Kira glanced at him. Okay, I didn’t like the way she was staring at him. It’s obvious he didn’t want her.

“Congratulations.” Haden smiled genuinely.

“I told him no.” Kira’s shoulders were tense and uncomfortable as she watched Haden’s reaction.

“Why would you do that?”

She swallowed hard.

“I don’t know; I thought maybe someone better would come along and notice me.”

“He is the highest nobility in the village.” Haden looked completely oblivious that she was talking about him.

“Bloodlines and rank aren’t the most important things.”

“Yes, they are. You like fancy things, and you will want a mate who can provide everything for you. As someone who grew up with nothing, trust me when I tell you that you do not want to worry about where your next meal will come from. Love is not enough to survive that.”

My gaze drifted over Haden. His clothing was ripped and torn. His boots were falling apart on his feet. Guilt clawed at me. My mate was not well taken care of. I would change that once I got the courage to talk to him. I would make sure he had everything and wanted for nothing.

“I was thinking that maybe you might be interested in me?” Kira spoke boldly to Haden. I was tense as I watched confusion, and something else, cross his features. If he admitted he wanted her, she was dying tonight.

“Me…” he said slowly. “Kira, I do not have feelings for you.”

Instantly, Kira turned beet red as anger took over her pretty face. Her hands fisted at her sides. I let out a heavy breath filled with relief.

“Why not?” She demanded an answer. “I’m noble. I’m pretty. Any guy in the village would beg for my time.”

Okay, conceited much? I scoffed as I watched Haden’s reaction to see if he was lying about his feelings for her. A cold indifference flickered in his eyes for just a moment. Oh, that was new; he looked pissed. The flash of anger made a chill run down my spine.

“I don’t know.” Haden dismissed how angry she became. “I just don’t.”

“Fine, it's not like you could afford to keep someone like me anyways.” She shook her head, making her copper hair sway behind her. Haden’s face let me know that she had hit him with an insecurity. This bitch . I was not letting anyone treat him poorly.

I lifted my hands to my sides, and the sky suddenly went from bright and sunny to dark within a moment. Both of them looked up, concerned about the change of weather. I smiled as I focused on Kira, ready to evaporate her with lightning.

“What the—” Haden’s sentence was cut off when lightning flashed between the two of them, making Kira fall to the ground. I readied my magic again to send a bolt of lightning directly into her cold fucking heart, but Haden stopped me when his eyes looked directly into mine, and he froze.

I swallowed hard as his eyes traced over me again. He seemed to realize that I was the cause of the weather change and lightning. Okay, note to self: I can’t lose control of my emotions around my mate because he can see me. I lowered my hands and stared at him, unsure of what to say.

“Storm,” he whispered, and it instantly shot through my mind, replaying a moment I did not want to remember. I shook my head and focused on him. Why did he call me that? Did he remember me? No, that was impossible.

“I don’t like the way she is talking to you,” I muttered.

Haden’s mouth opened like he was going to answer me, but Kira stood and looked at him, then to where he was staring.

“Oh, my gods, you’re seeing a woman again, aren’t you?”

His eyes turned icy blue, surprising me. He had magic again. When he breathed out, his breath could be seen as if it were cold outside. Shit, he was feeling overwhelmed. Was it because he was seeing me or because Kira was questioning him?

“Sorry,” I whispered before making myself disappear. Haden turned around quickly, looking for me, but frowned when the only woman he saw was Kira. Her anger at his rejection was clear on her face.

“You’re a freak,” Kira snapped.

I could feel the anger bubbling up, but Haden didn’t say anything as he turned and practically ran away. I went to follow him, but Kira’s comment made me stop.

“You’ll fucking regret that,” she said with a sneer in the direction where Haden disappeared. She turned quickly on her heel, and I followed to see what she was up to. Kira walked with confident strides through town before she came across a group of men that were Haden’s age. She smiled and walked up to them.

“Kira.” One of them smiled.

“Did you guys hear what happened with that freak, Haden Vale, today?”

Their eyes widened with excitement at the gossip. She told them all about how he was seeing a woman who wasn’t there. They laughed and made jokes about Haden. Fury engulfed me at how cruel they were being. I wanted to kill them all. Would the heavens understand if I slaughtered the lot of them?

I was about to do just that but stopped. I was the Goddess of Life; I was not supposed to be killing the fae. So instead, I smiled and lifted my hands, causing a huge gust of wind to knock into Kira. She cried out in pain when her body fell awkwardly on a pile of wood, snapping her arm. I stood over her as she sobbed loudly. The men rushed to help her, and all I could think of was how good that made me feel. I could already tell she was going to be a fucking pain in my ass.

No one was going to treat Haden like that. He was to be a god, even if he didn’t know it yet.

?★★★?★★★?

When I arrived at Haden’s old family home, which was only a few villages over, I felt overwhelmed. There was still the grief of losing Haden in my heart, but now it was colored with the new possibilities I would have with him. The home had not changed in the nearly 300 years I had been visiting. I paused at the gate and smiled as images of when Haden and I first met flashed in my mind.?Grief flooded me at the memories playing out in front of me.

I knew a part of me would always grieve my first life with Haden. But I also knew that this was my chance at happiness, one where I did not need to worry about not having a bond or him dying. Haden was mine in every single way this time—for his entire existence.?

I pushed the gate open with images of Haden and me playing on repeat, as if my mind and heart knew I could think about it without falling apart because he was back. His family knew about the bond to Holden. I had waited hundreds of years to bring it up, but it needed to be told. Holden did not understand why I wouldn’t save Haden first, so I told them what happened. I did not tell them about giving the bond to Haden or taking a sliver of his soul.

And this was one secret I could not keep from them either. They had saved me from a path of destruction after Haden died. They were my family. They deserved to have a part of their heart healed too. My chest was tight with excitement and fear. I couldn’t wait to tell them, to see their faces when they saw that he was exactly the same.

I didn’t bother knocking; I hadn’t knocked on this door for hundreds of years. Everyone would be here already. I was usually the last to show up for family dinner night. I breathed in the smell of delicious food, but my stomach was too queasy to eat. Haden’s family had no idea that there was a possibility he would come back to me. I could never bring myself to tell them, just in case he didn’t.

When I walked into the dining area, everyone turned to me as if they sensed me.?

“Ardella!” Holden stepped forward, lifting me into a tight hug. Sara came over and smiled fondly before tugging me to her for the next hug.

“You two look well.” I smiled.

“Sara has never felt better; thank you for healing her.” Holden looked at his wife with nothing but love.

“Della.” Henry smiled fondly at me as he gripped me and lifted me off the ground by a few inches.

“Henry, you're going to break my spine,” I wheezed. He chuckled and set me down.?

“Sorry, Della, it's just so good to see you.”?

“I was here last week and every single week for almost three hundred years,” I laughed.?

“It's not enough.”

“Della, sweetheart, ignore Henry. I think he forgets that you are a goddess and have things to do, unlike him since he retired.” Penelope rolled her eyes as she hugged me.?“He is driving me up the wall,” she whispered in my ear, making me laugh.

“Hi, Penelope. It smells so good in here.”?

“I made your favorite.”?

I smiled at the huge steaks on the table before I looked up at them.?Gods, I had never been more excited about anything in my life.

“Actually, I would like to take all of you somewhere for just a few minutes. I promise it won’t be long, and then we can come back and eat.”

“A surprise?” Henry’s eyes shined brightly, but he had no idea what I was about to show him.

“Yes, one that I think will make you all incredibly happy.”

Holden’s blonde brows pulled together. His hair was starting to turn white, and his youthful skin was now aging. It was odd to see him like this; he still looked so much like that boy I first met all those years ago. This is what Haden would look like if he hadn’t died.

“Yes, let’s go.” Sara clapped her hands. Her blonde hair was starting to fade to white, but she was still so beautiful.

“I am so excited.” Penelope reached forward and gripped my hand. I nodded and used my starlight to take us to the village in Kizar where Haden lived. When my magic disappeared, everyone was looking around confused.?

“We are still in… Kizar?” Penelope asked, confused. I chuckled at her disappointment. “Is this Raynor?”?

“Della, my dear, this is not what I thought you had in mind,” Henry teased.

“No one can see us, but we can only stay for a few minutes.” I glanced around and smiled. “He’s coming.”

“Who?” Holden asked.

“Him,” I whispered when Haden appeared at the end of the path. His stormy blue eyes glanced around as if he could feel me close by. I heard Holden take in a shaky breath. But I watched Penelope's and Henry's faces as they recognized their son. They were in shock at first before they started smiling and crying.?

“Haden,” Penelope said with such love in her voice that it made my chest ache.?

Holden shook his head and stared at Haden. I saw the devastation for only a moment before happiness took over. Haden walked past without seeing us, but he stopped and turned. His eyes seemed to glance to where I was standing before he smiled softly to himself. He knew I was watching.

“Storm,” he whispered, like I would come out. He glanced around, only two feet from his parents. He knew I was close by, but I wouldn’t show myself to him right now.

“Is it… him ?” Holden asked me.

“Yes,” I whispered. “It is.”

“What is his name?” Holden asked.

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.

“It is Haden.”?

“Oh, gods,” Penelope cried as she hugged Henry. “It’s our baby.”?

“Has he seen you?” Henry asked.?

“Yes,” I nodded.?

“Does he remember? He called you Storm.”?Henry looked at me for a brief moment.

“No, he doesn’t remember, but I admit that it is odd he calls me that.” I frowned. “Are you guys happy?”?

They all turned to where Haden was walking away before turning to me. Then they rushed me, giving me a group hug, and I smiled.

“This was the best gift,” Holden cried. “If you ever tell him the truth, will you introduce us?” Holden asked.

“Of course. You are my family.” I smiled as Haden disappeared. “And his, he just won’t know that.”?

“Is he your mate?” Sara asked, hope in her voice. My face broke out into a big smile. They all stared at me when they realized that was a possibility this time.?

“Yes, he is.”?

They all hugged me again, and I used it as an opportunity to move us back to the family home. When they pulled back, I felt tears brimming in my eyes. This is what I had waited for, and it was finally here. I didn’t know how to feel. But there was a fear present—fear that I would lose him again, fear that he would not love me like he did before.?

Instinctively, I grabbed the ring on my right hand and twisted it. The ring that Haden proposed to me with had not left my finger since the day he gave it to me. I just hoped the heavens did not mess this up again because it might be enough to kill me if he was taken from me.