“You are just bitter because as soon as Haden sees me, he’s going to leave you. He was destined to be mine.”
I gave her a look to let her know she was an idiot.
“I’m his wife.” I smiled. I slipped off my cloak and showed her my bonds. He had now given me two. “He loves me so much he marked me more than once.”
“Well, you’ll look pretty fucking dumb when he leaves you.”
I laughed loudly. “Abarra, you are funny.” I grinned when her lips pressed into a thin line. “Let’s make a deal. Whenever Haden is found, we will see who he chooses, and whoever he doesn’t choose will be killed for good.”
“Gods, you’re fucking psychotic.” She rolled her eyes. “But you have yourself a deal.” Diath had really convinced her that she and Haden were meant to be. I almost felt sorry for her, but then I remembered how much fun I had punching her in the face.
She was going to die regardless, but Haden would not even blink in her direction, and I couldn’t wait for her to be put in her place. She would have been a good match for Mateo.
I stood there in silence and let them all stare at me without saying another damn word. I crossed my arms and lifted my chin in defiance. Then I waited as they talked amongst themselves. They hadn’t even blinked when I took off my cloak; they didn’t notice that I hadn’t put it back on.
Without being too obvious, I pulled my cloak tighter about me. Any second, I would use its power to disappear, and they wouldn’t realize until it was too late. But they would find me because I wanted them to; it was all part of the plan. They would follow me, and then the real fun would begin.
I looked into the sky, waiting for the sign from Abram that he was ready for me.
“You found him; that is how all of this happened.” Malamay glared at me, betrayal in his stormy eyes. “You’ve been in contact with Abram this whole time.”
“Yes.” An evil grin took over.
Then I saw the sign I had been looking for. A beam of light so bright that I knew he told Haden everything.
Chapter 26
Haden
“What the fuck do you mean she's about to destroy the stars?” I asked Brim as he began running around his home, digging through things like a madman.
Brim held up his finger, telling us to give him a minute. Then he tore everything out of the cupboard to the left of the fireplace. Brim could almost fit completely inside the damn thing as he pulled an endless amount of shit from it.
“For fuck’s sake, Brim, how much shit can fit in one cupboard?” Cassius asked, amused.
“I wanted this to be hidden away, and what better way than in a pile of random shit?” Brim turned and smiled at us as he held a small black velvet box. It looked identical to the one Della used to give me her star.
“You all might want to sit down for what I’m about to tell you. Because once I do, your world will tilt on its axis, and you will realize nothing has ever been what it seems.”
“Well, that sounds like a fucking nightmare of a story,” Ezra scoffed as he sat down. Thea and Cassius sat next, but I remained standing, staring at Brim, noting the color of his eyes was not normal. He smiled at me when he realized I noticed.
“It’s alright, Haden. Sit your ass down. I have a story to tell you.”
I only sat down because Della vouched for him, and I trusted her with my whole soul.
“You’re going to tell us a story?” I asked. “Shouldn’t we be saving Della?”
Brim started laughing loudly.
“Oh, Haden, Della does not need to be saved. You have no idea who you are mated to. The stars started a war they were never going to win. She can’t lose. It is important that you understand Della and what she had to do—who we really are.”
Fear gripped my lungs as I stared at Brim. What was he about to tell me? He gave me a soft smile.
“I've waited a long time to tell you this story.”
Brim looked over his shoulder as if he'd heard something, then gasped at his reflection in the small window. He clutched his chest as if his own reflection startled him. “Gods-fucking-damn it, Della! You made me an old fucking man?” He looked down at his body and groaned, running a hand over his face. “I’m short as fuck too.”
I looked at Ezra, and he looked at me with some odd expression. Brim lifted his hand, pinching the wrinkled skin, his lips curling with disgust.
