Page 19

Chapter 19

Haden

“ I thought we could spend the day together,” Remiah said, barging into my bedroom. Quickly, I hid the drawing I was working on. Remy raised her eyebrow at me.

“What?”?

“Let me see.” She walked closer. I shook my head, no, and her blue eyes narrowed on me. I sighed heavily and pulled the drawing of Della out. Remiah’s eyes glanced over the page, looking impressed by my talent. She smiled fondly. “You captured her beauty really well.”?

“Thanks.”?

“So, are you going to tell her you like her or what?”?

“Gods, you are so nosy.” I rolled my eyes and stood up. “I’m sure she knows.” I tightened my fist as the memory of last night flooded me. I could only remember pieces, but I kept seeing my hand holding her against me by her neck. Fuck, I hope my void did not scare her away. “What did you want to do?”?

“Let’s go to our favorite spot. I can pack us food.”?

I nodded as she clapped excitedly and went to get food ready. I stood up and got dressed as Remy rummaged around in the kitchen. I walked out and couldn’t help noticing how different we both were now that our parents weren’t beating us daily. Is this what others felt all the time?

“Ready?” Remy turned toward me.?

“Let’s get going.” I smiled and took the basket of food from her. We headed toward the clearing behind the house. We hadn’t been here in years. Remiah seemed to have a permanent smile on her face as she closed her eyes and lifted her face toward the sun.?

“Gods, it’s such a perfect day,” she sighed. “Do you think the water will be too cold to swim?”?

“Yes,” I chuckled.?

Remiah frowned slightly before she bent down as we walked, plucking wildflowers and making a bundle of them. She lifted them to her nose, her blonde hair tumbling around her face.?

“I love flowers. If I ever get married and move away, I will demand a field of just wildflowers that I can see from the home.” She turned to me. “Will you tell Della thank you for me?”?

I hesitated for a moment, and she continued.?

“There were so many times over the years that I thought of hurting our father, but I was never brave enough to actually do it. I really thought that we would die miserable and pathetic like our parents. She saved us.”?

Pride filled my chest because the woman I was falling for had saved us. I still did not think that Della realized how much she gave to Remy and I by standing up to our father.

“I’ll tell her,” I promised.?

Remy stopped and looked at me with an expression that I couldn’t read. She looked like such a proud older sister, even if she was older by only a few minutes.?

“I want you to meet Mikel.” Remiah glanced away from me for a moment before staring at me intensely. “I think he is going to ask me to marry him,” she blurted out.?

My mouth fell open, but I could not think of any words. Remiah began laughing as I struggled to form any thought.

“You always said you didn’t want to marry,” I finally said.?

Remiah shrugged and began walking again. The features of her face were softer than they were growing up. Mikel had done that for her—made her believe that life could be kind.?

“That was before I met Mikel. I cannot picture a life without him, Haden. He consumes my thoughts. But it is more than that. I keep thinking that I would do everything over again—the abuse, the shitty parents, being poor—if I knew that he is where it all led to. I truly thought that I was not worthy of love or happiness until Mikel found me.”?

She glanced at me as we continued to walk forward. I mulled her words over in my mind.?

“I never thought you’d be the sappy romantic.” I smiled at her, and she swatted my shoulder.?

“I know; it’s honestly disturbing how much I love him.” Remiah’s soft laugh filled the warm air around us.

I knew what she meant because I had been trying to convince myself that it was crazy to feel the way I did about Della already. I hardly knew her, but it felt like I had known her for my entire existence.?

“For the first time in my entire life, I feel like I can be excited about my future.”?

“Della makes me feel that way too.” I smiled softly.?

We walked in silence for a few more minutes before a large pond came into view. Remiah and I had stumbled upon it when we were young. I had used my frost magic to freeze it over, and we would slide around on it. Until Remiah had fallen through the ice one time. I had barely saved her, and when we arrived home, we were beaten for being soaking wet. Our parents never knew that Remy had almost died that day, but I would never forget it. It was the first time the void had taken over me because I was frozen in fear. The void saved my sister, and I still thank the stars for that because I would’ve ended myself if she was taken from me.?

“Well, what are you waiting for? Freeze it, snow boy,” Remiah taunted me as I laughed. I lifted my hands, and my magic seeped from my palms, blowing like a cold wind. It covered the edges of the pond, and the ice slowly formed inward until it reached the center. I made sure the ice was beyond thick enough to hold us. When I stopped, Remiah was just watching me curiously.?

“What?” I smiled.?

“Do you think it’s odd that I didn’t get magic?” Remiah had never mentioned the fact that she had no magic, and I did. But it was odd that as my twin she had none, and I had elite magic.

“A little.” I nodded.?

“Do you think it’s strange that no one in our family has ever had magic, but you somehow ended up with it?”?

“I haven’t really thought about it. I suppose it is a bit strange.”?

Our parents did not have magic, and no one before them did either. I always thought that magic was inherited, but maybe it was just random luck. Remiah began running toward the frozen pond and slid across the smooth ice. Her smile was bright, and her laugh was contagious. I dropped the basket of food and ran toward the pond to join her.

My boots slid across the ice effortlessly. The wind blew around my face, and I smiled as Remiah followed me. I lifted my hands and let my magic explode from me. The thick forest around us turned into a winter wonderland. Frost and ice clung to the tree branches, and snow flitted through the air and mixed with the sun shining. It was stunning.

Remiah stopped sliding around and stared in awe. I don’t know if she had ever seen me use my magic so much or carelessly. Her stormy blue eyes widened as she took in the change of scenery. She blew out a long breath that could be seen in the cold air. Her eyes found mine, and she gave me a smile I had never seen from her before. It was full of pride and happiness.

“Haden, fucking hell, I didn’t know you could do this. Why have you never shown me before?”?

I shrugged.?

“I didn’t really think my magic was that impressive until recently. I’ve never explored all of what I can do.”?

“This is impressive.” She smiled and began sliding around again, letting the snow fall onto her face. “When I prayed to the heavens for you and me to be happy, I never thought that they would answer.”

Her words made my chest tight. Remiah had always been the more realistic of the two of us. She never let herself dream of a life beyond what we had. I knew she didn’t want to get married before because she was terrified she would end up with someone like our father. I was worried I would turn into him. Maybe that is why I never had any interest in anyone before, because I was terrified I would end up being a piece of shit.?

But now I could see that I would never be like him. When you grow up in an environment like we did, it is hard to see past the trauma and hurt to the possibilities. Remiah and I had every opportunity to make our lives exactly what we wanted.?

Maybe that was all we needed growing up—someone, anyone, to think we were worthy of loving. I watched Remiah giggling as she moved around the ice. I couldn’t wait to see where life took us now. I couldn’t wait to see my sister get everything she deserved because she was the only reason for living that I had growing up. Remy saved me countless times.?

We stepped off the pond and headed for our food, which was not much. I kept glancing around to see if Della would come.

“Is there a reason you keep looking around frantically?” Remy asked.?

“Della promised she would come see me every day, and the sun is starting to set.” I frowned.?

“Well, the day isn’t done yet. She’ll come.” Remy smiled, but I was worried I scared the shit out of her being void last night. I could not control myself in that state, but the void also acted on the impulses I tried to bury. And it knew how badly I wanted Della.

I glanced around the clearing and sighed.?

“Hi.” Della’s voice came from behind me, and I turned quickly.?

“You came.”?

“I promised I would. I keep my promises, Haden.” She turned to Remiah and smiled. “Hi, Remiah.”?

“Della.” Remy’s eyes looked at me like she was trying to communicate something without talking out loud.?

“Well, you’ve seen my face. I have to go.”?

I stepped toward her desperately.?

“You just got here.”?

She smiled at me.?

“Did you miss me, Haden?” Gods, she was still being a tease. I gave her a knowing look. “I know, but I had a busy day with work, and time slipped from me. I would stay, but it's family dinner night.”?

Family dinner night? Della looked over my face for a second.?

“I go to my family’s house once a week and have a big meal with them. I never miss it. So, I’m sorry, but I can’t stay.”?

“Okay." I said, disappointed.?

Della turned like she was going to leave but stopped and turned to us. She hesitated for a long moment.

“Would you two like to come?”?

“To your family dinner? Wouldn’t that be odd?" I asked.

Della smiled brightly at my nervousness. She stepped forward and tilted her head to the side.?

“No, I think they would love both of you.”?

“We didn’t bring nice clothes.” Remiah chimed in. Della flicked her wrist, and her magic shot out of her. The silvery mist circled around both Remiah and I, so quickly our hair moved in the wind. When the magic pulled away, our outfits were different. I glanced up at her.?

“You don’t have to, but you haven’t tasted good food until you’ve had my family’s food.” She was trying to convince us, and it was working. I wanted to spend more time with her. Shit, I wanted to meet her family. I looked at Remy, and she nodded enthusiastically.

“All right, we’ll go.”?

Della’s smile was contagious as her starlight mist wrapped around us. When it faded away, I had to close my eyes tightly to keep from throwing up. After a moment, I opened my eyes, expecting to see a grand castle or mansion based on Della’s pretty dresses she wore. But the home looked…homey and welcoming.?

Della’s eyes did not leave my face, like she was waiting for a reaction.?

“Are you sure this will be alright?” I asked.?

“Yes, Penelope always makes too much food.” She smiled. “I should warn you guys first. They are the nicest fae you will ever meet, but they are nosy and will ask you a million questions. They are a hugging family, too.”?

“What the hell does that mean?” Remiah asked.?

“Every single one of them will come and hug you, even if you try to shake their hands. They are very loving.” Della turned and took a few steps before stopping. “One more thing. Penelope has been working on her desserts for hundreds of years, and she is still terrible at it. We do not tell her, and we always eat all of it.”?

I smiled at the odd bits of information she shared. Remiah and I nodded. Della returned the nod before heading up the steps and walking inside. Immediately, I could feel the difference this home had compared to mine. It was bright and littered with artwork, but it also gripped me like a hug. Something about the welcoming scent of dinner and laughter coming from in front of us made my brain itch.?

What would it have been like to grow up in a place that felt so safe, like this? What kind of man would I have become if I lived feeling like this? Della walked around the corner, and the chatter stopped.?

“Ardella!” A woman screeched. But as Remiah and I rounded the corner, everyone became silent. My heart pounded in my throat.?

“I brought guests.” Della gave the woman an odd look, and the woman glanced at Remiah but seemed emotional when she saw me.?

“This is so wonderful.” The woman walked up to Remiah and squeezed her tightly. “I am Penelope. You must be Remiah.”?

Remiah nodded at the short woman with dark hair. When the woman looked at me, I had to pause. Her eyes matched mine almost exactly.?The void hummed with happiness inside of me, and it was not an emotion he usually shared.

“Haden,” she said softly. Then she gripped me in a hug that felt like it should be reserved for family. I hugged her back, unable to help myself. Gods, she was nice. She pulled back and stared at my face. “You were right, Della; he is very handsome.”?

“Penelope,” Della groaned and covered her face as it turned bright red. I chuckled softly at her reaction.?

“How’s it going, sweetheart?” A tall man stepped forward, and gods, he looked more like my father than my own father did.?

“It's going good, Henry.” Della wrapped him up in a hug.?

“It’s been too long since we’ve seen you.” He laughed when Della made a noise.?

“Henry, it's been a week.” She rolled her eyes, but I saw how much his words meant to her. “Not even a week actually, because I stopped by to give Penelope that recipe I found for dessert.”?

Henry’s eyes widened as he looked at Della before winking. She bugged her eyes out at him. Henry gave Remiah a big hug before he paused to look over me.?

“Haden,” he said, strained with emotion. He gripped me tightly and didn’t let me go for a long moment.

“Oh, I’ve got to check the vegetables.” Penelope ran into the kitchen.?

Another man stood up. He had the same stormy eyes as me. He looked at Della.?

“Good thinking with the recipe. Did you warn our guests about Mother’s desserts?”?

Della’s shoulders shook in silent laughter.?

“Yes.” She looked at me with some deep emotion swimming in her pretty eyes. “Haden and Remiah, this is Holden. He is Henry and Penelope’s son. And this wonderful woman is his wife, Sara.” Della hugged both of them. Like his parents, Holden hugged Remiah before looking me over and gripping me to him like I had been here a million times before.

“Let’s sit.” Della smiled. “Remiah, you can sit here. This is your seat, Haden.” She pointed to the chair next to hers.?

I watched everyone glance from Della to me.?

“Don’t scare him, or he’ll never come back.” She smiled at them. Della looked at me. “Henry painted everything you see on the walls.”?

“Really?” I glanced around. Gods, he was talented. I wished I had his artistic abilities. “They’re amazing.”?

“Thank you. It took me a long time to figure out my muse, but once I found it, I couldn’t stop.” Henry smiled.?

“Are you artistic too?” I asked Holden. He shook his head.?

“Not a single artistic bone in this body, unfortunately. My brother had all of the talent.”?

Had. Past tense.?

“Haden just recently started drawing, and it is so good,” Remiah gushed. My face heated when everyone looked at me.?

“It’s not that good.”?

“It’s good.” Della smiled as she sipped her drink.?

“You showed her your pictures?” Remiah asked. Remiah glanced at Della and gave her a big grin.?

“It's not a big deal.” I shifted uncomfortably. Remiah glanced at everyone as they watched the exchange.?

“Haden found his muse, and it’s Della.”?

“Remy,” I groaned, embarrassed.?

Della and Remy began chuckling. But Henry’s eyes filled with something I would expect from a proud father.?

“I’m glad you found your muse. That is the hardest part of becoming an artist.”?

“Here we go.” Penelope started bringing in enough plates to feed a small village. Gods, Della was not kidding. My mouth was watering as we began plating the roast and vegetables, as well as three different breads. Remiah handed me the plate of broccoli, and I immediately passed it to Della.?

“You don’t care for broccoli?” Penelope asked.?

“It’s never been my favorite.” I smiled. Penelope smiled brightly.?

Remiah and I had never had food like this before. Shit, we had never sat down at a table with our parents and shared a meal or a conversation, for that matter. I listened to them laugh and joke. But I could not take my eyes off of Della. She seemed so relaxed and carefree as she laughed at Henry’s terrible jokes.

Something tugged in my chest at the sight of her happiness. I really liked her like this. Remiah chimed in to the conversation more than I did. She had always been more talkative than me. But they included me when I went silent for too long. I sat back and couldn’t help the jealousy in my chest.

I would’ve given anything to grow up in a loving home like this. I couldn’t imagine having parents like Henry and Penelope. Holden was so kind and loving that I wondered if I would have ended up like him. But I ended up with the shittiest parents in the realm. Della’s hand covered mine and squeezed.?

“Are you alright?” she whispered.?

I held her gaze and nodded. She gave me a small nod back and looked across the table at Penelope. Della still squeezed my hand tightly in hers, and I didn’t dare remind her so she wouldn’t pull away.?

“Not to be rude,” Remiah said. Oh gods, I braced myself for whatever shit she would say. She looked at Della. “You said this was your family, but you don’t look like them, and you call them by their names.”

Everyone became quiet and looked at Della. She removed her hand from mine, and I instantly missed it.?

“They are my family, but not by blood.” Della frowned. “I knew their son before he passed away; he was my…best friend.”?

I saw the grief flash in her eyes and wished I could take it away from her.?

“You don’t think Della and I look similar?” Holden scoffed playfully.?

“Sorry,” Remiah said to Della when she saw how sad she got.?

“It’s alright.”?

Della’s eyes fell to the plate in front of her, and she pushed the food around without eating any. Penelope and Henry frowned at her but smiled when they saw me looking.?

“I hope you saved room for dessert!” Penelope stood up and went to the kitchen. Henry’s eyes widened as he looked at me. I saw a terror flash on Holden’s face. Della’s shoulders shook with laughter as she met Henry’s eyes.?

“I think since Della gave you the recipe, she should try it first tonight!” Holden called out. Sara was trying her hardest not to laugh. Della grabbed a piece of broccoli and chucked it at his head.?

“Wonderful idea,” Penelope called from the kitchen.?

“Watch your back,” she whispered to Holden. He and Henry started laughing loudly. I waited for her to look at me, but she didn’t. She seemed to be avoiding my gaze intentionally.?

Penelope brought out a plate of small pastries that had some sort of berry inside of them. They looked and smelled good. How bad could they taste? Penelope plated one for each of us before they all looked at Della. She grabbed it and bit into it, chewing slowly.?

“This might be the best one so far,” Della said.?

I smiled when Holden’s eyes bugged out of his head. She said it was good. I grabbed mine and took a big bite. Immediately the tartness hit my mouth. Oh shit, this was not good at all. I tried not to show it on my face. Everyone at the table ate their dessert without complaint, and I wondered if this is what true love was.?Holden began choking on the bitterness of the pastry and took a drink of water. Della smirked as she finished hers.?

“Excuse me,” she said softly. Henry gave her a small smile. I watched her disappear up the stairs. Where was she going? The table fell into conversations, and I waited for Della to come back.?

“You can check on her if you are worried,” Henry called over to me. “Up the stairs, first door on the left.”?

I nodded and headed up, feeling all of their eyes on my back as I went. There was something oddly familiar about the walk up the stairs—like I had made the trip before. When I got to the room, Della was standing at a wall of hand-drawn pictures.