I gave her a pointed look.
“We both know that she just said that to make me feel better. If it wasn’t dangerous, she would have let me know about it.” I rubbed my chest. “I feel like I am dying.”
“It will get worse the longer she is away,” Cassius said from his own experience. Thea frowned at him before grabbing his hand tightly in hers.
“Shouldn’t I be able to find her with this damn bond?” I asked.
“Yes, but she must have made it impossible,” Thea sighed.
I started pacing back and forth, running my hands through my hair. Was there anywhere that she talked about that I could check? My mind raced, but all that I could focus on was her asking me if I would want to know if our time was limited. She would be fine, I tried to convince myself.
“What if she really is in danger? What if she didn’t write that fucking note?”
“It’s her writing.” Thea frowned at me as I fell apart.
“I swear if she completed the mating bond with me just to go and die, I will destroy this godsforsaken realm.”
No, I wouldn’t. She would not like that.
“I can see why you are the God of Wrath.” Cassius raised his brow at me. “Della will come back.”
I closed my eyes tightly and leaned my forehead against the wall. Then I prayed to the heavens to give her back to me. I would give up anything for her to just come home. Even if she yelled at me or refused to speak, as long as I could see her, I knew everything would be okay.
I was going mad.
“What can we do, Haden?” Thea whispered, but I could hear the emotions straining her voice.
“Nothing. I’m going to go to sleep so I can look for her in the morning.”
“We will come over when we wake up. Don’t go without us.” Cassius frowned when I looked at him. He hesitated before he stepped forward and pulled me into a tight hug. “Try to actually sleep. We will get her back.”
I nodded as he let go, and they disappeared.
I glanced around the living space, hoping to see any sign that Della had been here spying on me. Maybe she left something behind that would help me find her. I tore apart my belongings looking for any sign that she had been here checking on me.
When I walked into our bedroom, my eyes immediately landed on the note I left for her on the bed just in case she showed up when I was gone. I picked it up and scanned the words.
Storm,
If you’re reading this, I am out looking for you. Please, please, please stay here until I come back so I can help you. I love you, and I don’t want to be without you. I promise to not interfere, but I need to know you are alright.
Love, Haden
I set the letter on the side table and sat on the edge of the bed. I was exhausted, but I could not sleep without her. I lay back and stared at the ceiling, listening for any sign that Della was lurking out of sight.
?????????
I was startled awake. Fuck, I had fallen asleep. Sitting up, I listened closely for whatever noise had woken me up. At first I heard nothing, but then a soft creak from the floorboards in the kitchen had me jumping out of bed and running out of the room.
“Della?” I called out, but I was met with nothing.
I was convinced she was here watching me. So, I glanced around the room looking for where she might be hiding.
“Please, stop hiding from me,” I begged. “Please come home.”
I swallowed hard as I waited for her to appear, but after a minute I realized that she wasn’t here. I fell to my knees and cried out for her. But Della did not come when I called for her. So, I lay on the floor of my kitchen because my bed felt too cold and empty without her—I felt too empty without her.
“Come home.” I repeated it over and over again until my voice was raspy, and I could not speak.
