Page 2 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

“I would expect nothing less from you,” I snapped.

“I will make a star bargain with you.” He stepped forward. Star bonds couldn’t be broken, which meant he could not back out and hurt them. “You must give me your star.”

Pia gasped behind me.

“My star,” I whispered.

“As the god of judgment, it is the only way that I will consider Cassius pardoned for his betrayal,” he smiled. “You are the one I want to punish. I agree that I took my anger out on Cassius because of resentment and jealousy, but you are the one I want to suffer. You are the one who should pay for this.”

He was right. It was my mistakes that should be punished because Cassius had done nothing wrong. He loved Thea so much that their bond refused to let go even when she died. If my brother had bonded to Remiah, then her soul would have done the same. My eyes glanced overMikel’s tanned skin which was pale from lack of sleep and eating. His eyes, which once shined brightly, were dull and lifeless. I had practically killed him too.

“I’ll be back.” I nodded and headed toward my room. Pia was hot on my heels. I could smell her soft lilac scent as she raced in front of me.

“You cannot give him your star. That is meant for Haden.” She was more frantic than I was. Her blonde hair swayed as she shook her head. “If you give it to Mikel, you can never solidify a bond with Haden.”

I grabbed the star from where I put it eight years ago. The night I killed Remiah was the last time I opened this black velvet box. It sat in my hands for hours that night, and I stared at the beautiful orange and silver glow it emulated. I knew that night that Haden would never accept it from me.

“Haden does not love me. He would never accept being my mate. This stupid rock is useless to me. If it can save Thea and Cassius, then that will be the best use for it.”

I tried to convince her and myself that Haden would never love me back. There had always been a shimmer of hope he would, but every time he looked at me, I could see the hurt and devastation I caused him. He didn’t love me like I loved him. Pia grabbed my arm as I turned to go back out to meet Mikel.

“Are you sure about this? Maybe Haden will forgive you when he understands you had no choice. Maybe if Mikel knew that Haden is your mate, it would make him understand too.”

I loved Pia, but she was naive. I frowned at her.

“If Mikel knew that Haden was my mate, he would use him against me. Haden doesn’t need to be pulled into my brother’s antics. Haden will never forgive me; he already made that clear.”

“You’re punishing yourself becauseyoucan’t forgive yourself,” Pia snapped at me.

“His judgment against me is valid because I do not regret killing Remiah,” I whispered, a thought that had never escaped me. “I would do it all over again, but that does not mean I am in the right just because I love Haden. Mikel loved Remiah too. If I were him, I would have lost any kindness if Haden died. IamMikel’s and Haden’s villain.”

When I glanced at her, I could still see the doubt in her eyes. She needed to understand the depth of Haden’s hatred for me.

“Do you know what I wake up to every morning?” I asked. “I hear Haden praying to the stars that he hopes I am unhappy, that I am miserable. He prays that I am unable to find peace. He has not missed one day since Remiah died.”

Tears streamed down Pia’s face as the reality of Haden hating me settled into her.

“I have prayed to the stars every morning that Haden will find it in his heart to forgive me, but they do not listen to me. The stars have granted Haden his prayer. I am unhappy and miserable. I have not known peace since the last day Haden and I were together. I am unworthy of him. So, I don’t think that Haden will forgive me, and I’ve come to terms with the fact that I deserve it.” I let the tears stream down my face as I looked at Pia.

She was sobbing when I turned and left my bedroom.

My star was heavy in my hand as I walked into the room where Mikel was still standing. Surprise took over his face. He didn’t think I would do this. Without hesitation, I walked to him and held it out. Mikel was the one to hesitate as he took it from me and opened the box. My star, the one we are given when we come into existence, glowed brightly in his face. So many memories of Haden plagued me at that moment.

We didn’t have long enough together before I ruined it. My heart ached as I watched Mikel shut the box. I had dreamt of giving Haden that star since I first saw him and realized he could see me back. He had smiled at me, and I think I fell in love at that very moment, but it was now all tainted by what I did.

“I swear to the stars; you have my word that I will not cause Thea and Cassius any more trouble,” he spoke as he held out his hand. I grabbed it, and a small bargain mark burned into our wrists. Its orange glow was in the shape of four stars in a straight line.

“How’d you know I was intervening with them?” he asked.

“Kace told me when I collected his soul. He told me how you threatened his family and gave Cerithia something to use against him.”

I still had to tell Cassius that Kace was not a traitor by choice. Kace had waited to leave after he died so that he could warn me, and I was thankful for it. My brother made sure he didn’t have a choice because Kace wanted to protect his own family.

Mikel looked at me oddly as I yanked my hand away and glared at him.

“You never being able to form a mating bond will give me great satisfaction. I can’t wait to see you suffer alone and watch your mate live a life without you. That is the best torture I can imagine for you.”

“Stay the fuck away from Thea and Cassius, or I might find a way to kill a god.”

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