“You thought I was going to hurt you.” She looked away from me. “I couldn’t bear the look you gave me—like I was a monster.”
I’d had time to reflect on that night, and the only thing I could conclude was that I didn’t want her to leave again. She was not a monster. Della had saved me like she had promised, and I was indebted to her for it. Her power and bravery only made my connection to her grow more deeply.
“I wasn’t thinking you were a monster.”
Her eyes stayed on me, but she still looked worried. Something else seemed to be weighing down on her.
“I would never hurt you,” she said softly.
“I was in shock. I didn’t know what was happening.” I felt bad for my reaction. “Can I come closer to you, or are you going to leave again?”
Her gaze looked unsure as I took a few steps toward her. An overwhelming sense of need consumed me the closer I got.When I was near enough, I reached out timidly and brushed her dark hair behind her ear. My finger tilted her face toward me, and I leaned down, pressing my lips to hers gently. Della didn’t move. Her body had gone rigid, so I pulled away, worried I had just fucked up.
I said nothing because her eyes were shining brightly, and I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant.
When I opened my mouth to apologize, Della lunged at me. Her mouth crushed against mine as our arms wrapped around each other, and I lifted her off her feet in a passionate embrace. Della let out a soft moan, and it was my undoing. I headed inside with her wrapped around me. I carried her to my room and sat on the edge of the bed with her straddling me. Della’s hands ran through my hair as she kissed me like it was as natural as breathing.
Della pulled away, and I admired her beauty close-up. Her nose had faded freckles sprinkled across it, and her skin was soft and warm. My hands gripped her hips tightly and tugged her against my now-hard length. Her eyes fluttered shut as her mouth fell open. Her noises were driving me wild.
“You’re so pretty, Storm.”
“Haden,” she moaned as she broke my grip on her and stood back up. “We need to talk.” Della kept her face hidden from me, but I could practically feel the worry radiating from her.
“Alright,” I said, trying to sound like I wasn’t fucking terrified of whatever she was about to say. She began pacing around, an unsure look on her pretty face. ?
My eyes flickered over her tattoos, and I traced the glowing silver on her skin with my eyes. I had never seen anything like them. They were beautiful. One in particular caught my attention: snowflakes that swirled over her chest and down her left arm. She was truly breathtaking.
Her normally bright eyes were white, and full of worry. I could tell she was upset.
“Please, say something because I am terrified.” I looked up at her. “Fuck, if you are leaving me, please let me turn void so it doesn’t kill me.”
Her eyes stared at me.?
“Haden, please, I told you I will not leave you.”?
Della took a deep breath and slowly traced her gaze over my face, her hands fiddling with a part of her dress. Her eyes never met mine as she finally started talking.
“You asked me who I was,” she whispered. “I want to tell you, but I don’t want you to act differently. I like that you look at me like I’m normal.”
Finally, she glanced up at me, her tongue wetting her lips as she took another deep breath. My body and mind braced themselves like she was about to tell me something awful.
“My name is Ardella, and I am the Goddess of Life.”
I chuckled because I thought she was kidding. But her face looked confused, then hurt by my reaction.
“A goddess?” I questioned. “You’re telling me that a goddess is interested in me?”
“Why is that so hard to believe?” She glared.
“Look around, Della. I live in squalor. How am I supposed to believe that a goddess would show herself to me, let alone be falling in love with me?”
Her star-colored eyes glanced around the dingy room as if she was noticing it for the first time, then they found mine. A silvery haze appeared around her head for a moment, and when it cleared, there was a tall, magnificent tiara sitting on her dark hair. It was black with shimmering jewels that reminded me of the night sky.
“Your soul, it calls to me,” she said quietly. “I do not care about your shitty parents or your living arrangements. All I know isthat when you are around, all I can see is you, and you are enough for me.”
Her words shot through my heart. All of the incredible magical feats she had accomplished, they all made sense now. My mind reeled for a moment at the thought of somebody so… amazingly powerful choosing me as their companion. I thought of the life that I had lived and of the life that I was going to live and knew that she did not deserve suffering. Gods, I had just accepted the idea of her being possibly a noble woman that was interested in me, but not a goddess.
“Then you have low standards for yourself.” I stood and shook my head. “I am not even worthy of a woman from a noble bloodline, and you think I am worthy of you?” I scoffed.
