“You need to keep in mind that once Ardella breaks this law, then it will give us permission to come back to the realm for good. These heavenly gods will not be able to keep us out again. You cannotinterfere in her fate.”
“Trust me, I have not forgotten,” I snapped. “Are we done with this conversation?”?
“No, we have found out from another source that this issue with Della comes after Thea Alzara breaks her curse.”?
I nodded.?
“She isn’t even cursed yet, is she?” I asked. I didn’t understand what was so important about this Thea in all of this.?
“No, but it is coming very soon,” she confessed. “This could take years for her to break the curse, and we do not need you getting caught up in your life with Ardella. You will not come back to the surface until after Thea breaks her curse. Nice Hadenneeds to be in control. And you must not influence him like last time.”?
“He is going to get attached to her.” There was no way any side of me could resist her.?
“No, she is about to destroy his heart, remember?” I didn’t need to see Elra to know she was smiling. “Do we need to bind you inside?”?
“Good fucking luck,” I hissed.?
“We can kill you again. Would you like to watch her go through her grief for you once more?”?
Fuck no. I never wanted her to go through that again.?
“Fine. I will go away until Thea breaks her curse.”?
They disappeared without another word, and I felt so fucking angry that I could kill the entire realm.?They were pretty fucking stupid if they thought that keeping me hidden away was going to help anything. No matter what side of me is present in the moment, it will always be attached to her. But they didn’t know she was my mate, and that was one secret I would not tell them. The real question was, will Della forgive me when she knows that she broke divine laws for me, and I used it against her?
No, she wouldn’t, and I hated myself for it.
Chapter 30
Haden
My bedroom felt empty as I sat here thinking of how my time with Della was running out. I was a desperate man. I grabbed the mating bond that floated in front of me and yanked on it incessantly. She would think the bond was calling her and never suspect that I knew what she was—my mate. In a sick twist of fate, the heavens decided that we should be bound. Maybe it was an attempt to protect her from me. Or me from her?
I tugged and tugged on my mating bond. My time was running out with Storm, and she was ignoring me still. It had been two days since I snuck into her home. I refused to let the void disappear for possibly years until I saw her again. My mating bond would never forgive me if I left her so sad. Not that she would know I was gone. At least she’d have me in a sense.?
It didn’t take long for her to come. As soon as her star mist disappeared, I jumped up and hugged her tightly. Della’s arms wrapped around me and squeezed hard.?
“I’m sorry.”?
Della pulled back and stared at me. Her pretty eyes glancing over my face with confusion.?
“What is wrong?”?
I should have known that she would pick up on my emotions. I smiled at her and brushed her hair from her face.?
“I missed you.”?
“Did you?” she asked, making me pause. “Or is this some sort of manipulation?”?
I froze. How much did she already know?
“I’m not manipulating you.” I frowned.?
“That means nothing. You could be, and I would not be any wiser, right?”?
“Right,” I confessed, which caught her off guard.?
“You are keeping things from me.” Her voice was so hurt.
