Page 34

Della

M y gaze drifted to Haden, and I smiled at the look of absolute terror.

His dead father was standing in front of him, and he did not utter a word.

Malamay’s shoulders slumped when he saw Haden.

I hoped he felt like the piece of shit he was.

The void that had been pumping through me finally released its hold, and every overwhelming emotion slammed into me.

“You stabbed my godsdamn son to get me down here.” Malamay tried to change the topic to something else.

“You think I enjoyed stabbing the man I love?” I actually didn’t feel bad about it, which I knew was not okay. I was losing myself more and more. This needed to end before I got to a point of no return.

“How?” Haden finally uttered a word.

Both of them rubbed the back of their necks at the same time, and I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips.

“Your father is a star,” I answered. “Apparently that is what all dead gods become.”

“No, not all," Malamay corrected me. “Only the ones who choose.”

More like the ones he chose. The others were forced to be reborn—gods don't die for good unless they want to. Haden began pacing around, and he was muttering something. Thea and Cassius were staring open-mouthed. Ezra panicked and bowed at Malamay.

“Get up, Ezra, we aren’t fucking royalty.” Malamay sighed with a hint of disappointment.

“Where is my mother?” Haden looked at his father.

Oh, that was a good question. I wanted to know this too. That fucking bitch better be in the stars still, or I might gut her now. I turned to look at the other two cloaked figures.

“She is in the heavens with me, but she is not allowed to be a star.”

“So, you two are together, happy?” Haden asked.

Malamay sighed with relief. Apparently, he had expected a different reaction.

“Yes,” he said with a smile.

Haden’s face fell into pure rage.

“You motherfucker,” Haden charged at his father, tackling him to the ground. He straddled Malamay and punched him. But Malamay got a good swing on Haden, knocking him off of him. Malamay stood up and wiped blood from his mouth.

“Haden.” He lifted his hand. “I know you’re upset.”

“You and that woman …cursed me, made me a fucking villain. I have been fighting my entire existence, and you two are in the heavens living happily.”

Malamay opened his mouth to speak but shut it. He knew he had no retort for that one. Malamay looked at me before sighing. Go ahead and tell him that you are not happy with Diath.

“You are on the verge of not being my favorite goddess.” He pointed at me with a warning in his voice when I laughed.

“I think I will be fine if I am not in your good graces, Malamay,” I sneered.

Haden looked at me oddly.

“You are the leader of the stars?” he asked his father. Malamay nodded. “Brim said you had a soft spot for Della.”

Malamay smirked at Haden. “How could I not?”

He was leaving out the part that I was helping his children escape Hell. Haden stared at me and must have seen that I was not shocked by any of this.

“You knew all of this?”

“Yes. Although I just figured out recently that your father was a star.” I lied so Malamay didn’t know that I knew more than he thought I did.

I knew this the entire time. I helped decide his fate, and I really fucking regretted it.

Now, it was my duty to make sure the stars were punished for my kindness all those years ago.

Haden’s eyes flashed red, and he looked back at his father.

“You told her to bring Remiah back?” he asked.

Malamay backed away from Haden.

“No, I gave her the damn Book of the Dead , but before you go punching the shit out of me again, let me explain.”

Haden had only made it one step toward Malamay before he stopped. Malamay looked at me, panic taking over his eyes. He was smart to fear his son. Haden did not realize how powerful he was.

“We had a fucking deal.”

“I’ve kept it.” I glared.

“He’s going to kill me. Tell him it was you who bargained for the Book of the Dead so you could bring his sister back. You came to me.”

I glanced at Haden, who looked at me for answers. Great, Malamay was spilling my secrets. My jaw clenched as I stared at him. He better tread very fucking carefully. I would gut him this moment, but that would fuck up my plans.

“I’ve kept that bargain, and you better too.” My eyes flashed red.

“Have you?” He narrowed his stormy eyes on me.

“Have you seen me? I have fallen from the fucking stars for our deal!” The ground shook in my wrath. “I know what is expected from me.”

Malamay backed off, but the damage was already done when I saw Haden’s face. He was watching me like I was a stranger. I suppose I was to an extent.

“Remiah was not supposed to die; she needed to come back because she was waiting for Mikel. He would have been without a mate forever. Their children are important for the sake of the realm later on. Mikel needed his mate back, and I took her, so it was only right I got her back,” I said.

“I cursed myself when I killed her because she is a mate. If I didn’t bring her back, then my curse would be to lose you permanently, and there was no way in fucking hell that was happening. ”

Haden’s jaw clenched tightly.

“I am more interested in what your bargain was.” Haden was too smart for his own good.

Malamay looked at me with a smile that made me want to fuck him up, and I would, but it would have to wait.

“You fucking asshole,” I sneered at him. “You did this on purpose.”

Malamay’s eyes twinkled with his betrayal. He was not supposed to tell Haden of our deal. He was trying to make it so Haden hated me, and I would be stuck in the stars with him.

He was an idiot.

“Did you want to tell him or have me do it?” This smug prick. I stepped forward, my lightning cracking through the sky. Malamay’s face dropped because he was terrified of me. He should be.

“She will tell me.” Haden interrupted us.

I took a deep breath and looked up at him.

“I made a trade with the stars. A book for a book.” I didn’t say anything else.

Haden stepped toward me with anger in his eyes. “You better tell me more than that, Storm. I am your fucking husband.”

Malamay turned toward me with murder in his eyes. His eyes flashed red as his whole body shook with his rage.

“You can't marry anyone but your mate.” His jaw clenched tightly.

“Thank you for stating the obvious, Malamay. Haden is my mate.” I glared.

“You lied to us! You remember what Diath said.” He stepped toward me. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

I would never belong to Mateo.

“Your cunt of a wife can go fuck herself.” I glared.

“What is going on?” Haden asked.

I looked at him and frowned. Gods, I needed him to be angry at me.

Haden needed to back off because this was about to become a nightmare for us.

The hardest part of my plan was coming, and I hoped he did not blame himself when it happened.

But maybe being angry at me would save him a little of this heartbreak.

“Do you remember when we first met?” I asked.

“In front of my parents’ home.”

“No, when we actually met.” I frowned when recognition flickered in his eyes.

“Della…”

“You know what I am talking about. When we met 500 years ago in Akecia, that was not the first time I saw you. And it was not an accident that you saw me.” Haden stared at me confused.

“I committed treason against the heavens before we met that day. I was there the day you were forced to Hell. That was the first time I ever saw you. You couldn’t see me because I was wearing a cloak with my hood on.

I’ve known you for longer than you knew I existed. ”

“You knew I was in Hell then?” Haden looked betrayed, but this was not even the worst of it.

“Yes.”

Haden took a hesitant step toward me. There was confusion in his voice. “You came to Hell?”

“Yes.” I frowned.

“Fuck, Mateo wasn’t lying when he told me that I shouldn’t have magic—you gave it to me.”

I sighed heavily as he looked so confused. It was a lot to process.

“There is a reason why you suddenly started getting visions of me. I planted those images in your mind.”

His mouth fell open, but I kept going.

“One day, you woke up and decided to go see Avesh, the God of Knowledge—even though you didn’t know he existed.

” I pointed to my chest. “I made sure you knew where to look to break your curse. I led you there. I left you hints and clues in that godsforsaken castle. I was determined for you to break out. You deserved a life out of the depths of Hell, unlike your siblings.”

They all stared at me, their mouths falling open.

“I planted those images in your mind. I made sure you would go see Avesh. I made sure you would be the first and only one to get out of Hell. I made sure you ran into me in Akecia. Me. I manipulated you to do everything you’ve ever done.

You thought you were the one using me, but I was using you this whole time. ”

“You’re lying,” Haden said.

“Your room was on the third floor. It overlooked a pond and forest, and even though the pond had black water and the forest was dead, it was the prettiest view there.

You spent most of your time in your room, not engaging with your sibling because you knew you were not exactly like the rest of them.

“The moment I saw you on your way to Hell, I knew you were mine. Heavens be damned, I was going to free you even though it was not allowed. It was simple. I went to the castle at night while you slept, and I jumped into that perfect mind of yours and planted images of me in it.”

Haden stared at me, and I waited for him to say something, anything.

“Tell him the rest of it,” Malamay demanded.

I sighed heavily.

“Great, there is more.” Haden laughed humorlessly.