Page 36

Tears formed in my eyes as I stared at him, and I could see the moment he wondered if I should even be his mate.

I felt it through the bond. The feeling was cold and empty, just like his eyes.

We were always going to be together. That was destiny; that was not me changing anything.

Yes, I manipulated him, but we fell in love because that was always the way it should be.

But it would not be in this life. Now, I wasn’t even sure that he would pick me again. Maybe he would understand after I finished what I started all those years ago, but by then I will be stuck in the stars finishing my plan. I could not see him or I in the future anymore.

“Haden—” I started to speak, but he ripped off the star ring on his finger and threw it at my feet. The pain in my chest was beyond anything I could have ever felt. The mating bond tugged and frayed as if it would snap this second.

“Son, what are you doing?” Malamay’s voice trembled, but I saw the truth—he didn’t care about me, only about dragging Haden down my path.

“This bond was made of lies. Which seems like it isn’t a real connection. My wife is the Goddess of Deceit, and that is how we got here—her lies and manipulation. Gods, do I even love you, or was that part of what you did to me?”

“You love me,” I answered, but Haden didn’t believe it.

His eyes were so full of hate and devastation.

Thea and Cassius looked at me, and maybe I was imagining it, but I swore I saw disappointment on their faces too.

Even Ezra was watching me with confusion.

Maybe Haden did deserve someone better than me. I was still lying to him.

“How can I love someone I don’t know? Everything has been a lie.”

"No, not everything," I said softly.

I leaned down and picked up the ring off the ground. My tears fell, black and inky, as I held it in my hands. When I lifted my gaze to his, he looked over me in a way that I hated.

“Are you rejecting me?” I asked.

Haden hesitated as he stared at me. I could see him waging a war within himself.

Time stood still as I waited for what I knew was coming.

I had seen it a million times before. I thought I would be able to stop it, but it was my penance to pay.

But I saw it in his eyes; he wasn’t going to reject me.

Please, reject me, Haden. At the last moment, I used my magic and jumped into his mind and forced him to reject me.

I could see everything: how much he loved me and how betrayed he felt, but he loved me enough that he wasn’t going to reject me.

Haden loved me enough to forgive me, and that wouldn’t do.

So, I twisted his thoughts and made his wrath come out of him.

Tears fell down my face when I left his mind and stared at him.

“Yes,” he sneered.

Tears fell from my eyes as a searing pain coursed through me, making me fall to my hands and knees.

A scream so violent tore from my throat as our mating bond burst into a million pieces.

Haden rubbed his chest, not feeling what I did because I was the one who betrayed him.

He stared at me stoically as sobs fell from me.

“Della,” Malamay said softly as he fell to his knees and tried to help me up.

But I wanted to curl up on the ground and die at this moment.

I felt hollow. I felt empty. I felt worthless.

My mind was numb as I stood up. Thea was crying silently as Cassius held her.

Haden was staring at me, no emotions on his face.

The storm rolled in quickly, to my devastation.

Lightning and thunder filled the space, then the rain fell, trying to wash away my heartbreak.

Haden looked away from me, and it felt so final.

I looked at Malamay. This had to happen in front of him.

It was the only way to save him. I had seen Haden's death play out in my visions, but now I did not see that fate for him. Haden’s siblings or parents would kill him if I were mated to him.

Malamay hugged me only so he could whisper his threat.

“I will see you soon,” he whispered. Then he turned to Haden. “You should reconsider what side you are on. We will not lose. Free my children from Hell, and we will rule together.”

Then he left. I turned from Haden and took a step away before stopping. Mating bond or not, I wanted to be close to him. I did not want to leave. He was everything. I am all in. I love you more. His eyes were on me. I could feel them searing into me, but I could not turn around now.

“Wait…” Haden said softly. “I didn’t mean that. Storm…"

I used my magic and disappeared before he could come to his senses completely.

I landed in the woods somewhere—I didn’t care to even know where.

I screamed to the heavens and Hell to try and soothe this dead, dark feeling consuming me.

How long would it take for him to realize I jumped into his mind and forced him to reject me?

I fell to the forest floor and curled into a ball as I cried for a mate that did not think what we had was real. His rejection made numbness swarm through me. Even though I knew it was coming, I still was not prepared for this feeling, like my heart had been cut out of me.

Rain soaked me, and I did not move. I cried for the loss of the life I just had ripped from me. I put my star on my finger with Haden’s ring and stared at how pretty they looked together.

These did not belong to me. Using my magic, I went to our home, making sure he was not there before I walked in. I went to our bedroom and looked around the space, wondering how long it would take him to try and fix what I had forced him to do.

I slid the two rings off of my finger and placed them on his drawing desk before picking up a sheet of paper.

Haden,

Even though my words hold no merit to you any longer.

I just want you to know that I always loved you.

I was always all in on you, and I would have done anything to free you.

I would not change anything, even though you will enjoy your freedom without me.

My biggest prayer has always been for you to live a good, full life.

I hope if you ever find yourself thinking about me, you will remember good times and realize they were never lies. What we felt was real and true.

This was better for you. This decision will make your life easier.

I am sorry.

I love you.

Always your Storm

– Ardella

Then I folded the paper and set the rings on top of it.

I would never need my star again. He could do with it whatever he pleased.

I turned around and walked to the bed, sitting on the edge of it.

My gaze traveled over everything before I lifted his pillow and hugged it to me, breathing in the scent of a frosty winter morning.

My tears fell on the pillow before I set it back down and walked down the stairs, wanting to walk through the house one last time.

Memories flooded my mind, and I felt like I was being suffocated. I could not be here without losing control of myself. So, I left and went to say goodbye to Mikel and Remiah at our home. When my magic disappeared, Mikel stood up and frowned at me.

“Thank the heavens, Della,” I was so worried. He grabbed me and hugged me tightly. “What you did was so stupid,” he scolded me.

“I wanted you to be happy.” I pulled back, and he stared at me oddly. I’m sure I was a mess. “Where is Remiah?”

“She is sleeping; she has been exhausted.” Mikel’s eyes traveled over me. “What is wrong with you? Something is different, but I can’t quite place it.”

“I’m just exhausted after everything,” I lied.

“Have you talked to Haden? He has been worried sick.”

The name instantly shot grief through me.

“Yes, I did. I was about to go home with him but wanted to check on you.” I hesitated. “You’re happy now, right?”

“Yes.” Mikel smiled, his eyes shining brightly. “You and Abram have been doing shit without me.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “You will be such a good husband and father, Mikel. I always knew that about you. I knew that you would love your mate with your whole heart. I am sorry for what happened, and I hope you forgive me. You know I have always loved and looked up to you. I never meant to hurt you, and if I could have brought her back sooner, I would have.”

Mikel stared at me, and I saw the concern in his eyes.

“I love you too. Why does this feel like you are saying goodbye?”

I hugged him to me tightly so I could hide my face.

“I’m just emotional after everything that happened and wanted to make sure you didn’t hate me anymore.”

“I don’t hate you.” He rubbed my back. “If you are in some sort of trouble, I will do anything to help you.”

I pulled back and smiled before pinching his cheek like I used to.

“I’m fine, just tired, so I should get back to Haden.” I looked at my brother once more. In so many ways he was better than I ever had been. “Make sure you mark Remiah.”

“Already done. She became my wife the day you brought her back; I wasn’t going to risk that ever again.”

“Good. Well, I’ll come over in a few days and say hi to her. I love you.”

“I love you too.” Mikel gripped my arm tightly, questions swirling in his eyes, but he didn’t ask them. He let me go, and I left our home for the last time.