“Then you will have to pry her out of my grip,” he snapped. “Give us a few minutes. My gods, I haven’t seen my wife in a month, and it is your fault!”
Malamay considered for a moment, then finally moved to the side. “A very short time, Haden. I mean it.”
Haden didn’t acknowledge him as he walked into the house and kicked the door shut behind us. I glanced around, noticing it was exactly the same as it had been the last time I was here. Haden went up the stairs and set me gently on the bed, then reached forward and slipped the cloak off of my shoulders.
“Much better.”
He leaned forward and kissed me softly. His hands gripped my face as he sat back and traced over me with his eyes. I reached for his cheek, tracing his smooth skin with my thumbs as I stared into his eyes.
“I have missed you so fucking much, Haden.” I swallowed hard. “I do not want to be a star, and I do not want to leave you.” I began crying uncontrollably.
“Tell me how I can save you, Storm. I will do anything.”
I swallowed hard and pulled him to me so I could whisper in his ear. Fear that Haden would be harmed if Malamay was lurking raced through me.
“You need to go see Avesh,” I whispered. “You should have gone by now, but you didn’t get my clues. My magic did not work.”
“Why? Can’t you tell me?” he asked.
“No.” I paused. “The stars are acting stranger than normal. They are planning something, Haden. They act like nothing happened, like I did not betray them by killing the souls of your siblings. At some point they will no longer need me and will try to kill me.”
Haden pulled back and stared at me. “What the fuck, Della. How am I supposed to let you go with my father after saying that?” he asked.
“Because you must.” I frowned. “Do you trust me? If I told you I will be alright, would you believe me?”
“Yes, I trust you.”
“I still have secrets that you have not uncovered,” I confessed.
“Storm…” His eyes filled with worry.
“This plan has been in place since I saw you being exiled to Hell, Haden. I have been patient. I have made sure all outcomes were thought of. I had to die.” I paused. “I had to be in the stars because I need to keep an eye on them. It is my duty. I should never have allowed your father to be a star, but I showed him mercy because he was your father. I must set things right again. My fate has always been to destroy the stars—to correct all of my mistakes.”
Haden stared at me for a moment as he processed my words. “Youmademy father a star?”
“Yes, me and a few other gods. You’ll find out soon, after you visit Avesh. You need to go tomorrow.”
“I promise I will find a way for you to come back to me. There is no way in the heavens I am letting you stay up there. You should be here with me.”
“We're running out of time. Kiss me.”
He leaned forward and kissed me again. This time I pulled him to me and let him consume me. Haden hummed against me and gripped the back of my neck so I couldn’t move from him.
There was a knock on the door outside. “You have one minute!”
Haden sighed as he pulled back.
“He snuck me out so I could see you.” I watched Haden. “Truthfully though, he needed me gone so the others could leave and try to find the old gods. That is the only reason he allowed this. They shouldn’t be able to leave the stars, but somehow, they figured out a way.”
“Gods, I hate my fucking parents.” Haden kissed me.
“I will find anything I can to free you. I’ll pray to you, so you know I am thinking of you always.”
“Honestly, your constant praying is grating on everyone’s nerves. When you pray to us, your voice projects all over the home, and we all hear it, no matter what.”
Haden’s eyes gleamed.
“Good to know.” He pushed my hair off my forehead. “I am all in.”
