Page 70 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

I agreed with her. He would be pissed to know he was tied to the woman he hated and loved at the same time.

“So, if you don’t haveyour star...”

“I can’t solidify the mating bond with Haden. It’s a perfect punishment because Haden’s sister, Remiah, was Mikel’s soulmate.”

This bit of information made me understand Mikel’s asshole behavior toward me, but it still was unforgivable.

“Do you think he could ever forgive me? Maybe with time...”

Stars above, I wanted to lie to her to make her feel better, but I couldn’t.

“No.”

My one word made her stop talking and sob loudly into her hands.

“I used to pray for Haden’s forgiveness every morning I woke up, but now I pray that the stars will break our mating bond so that he can be happy. I just want him to be happy, and I know that I won’t ever be the one to do that for him. But it’s so hard to let go.”

Her shoulders shook with every shaky breath, and her body trembled in her grief. A noise coming down the hall had me panicking. Haden was walking toward us, but he wasn’t alone. Some woman with blonde hair and dark eyes was clinging to him. Fuck. He had never shown an interest in anyone. Now it made sense; he had a mate, so he wouldn’t want anyone besidesthem. Haden slowed down when he saw I was talking to Della. Then he frowned when he realized she was sobbing.

Della heard his heavy steps coming toward us and looked up. Gods, I felt like shit when her eyes drifted from Haden to the woman hanging off him. I thought I saw true devastation in her eyes earlier, but now I could feel her heartbreak surrounding us. I didn’t think she took a breath as her eyes took in the sight of Haden standing close by with the woman.

I knew what that felt like. When Thea kissed Jesper last time, I was fucked up for days over it.

Haden glanced at her but masked his concern with hatred. Della stared at the woman, but the woman hardly glanced at her. She was too focused on touching Haden’s arm and hugging him to her. Della just stared at the woman without saying anything. Sadness and jealousy were clear on her face.

“What’s going on?” Haden asked me, completely ignoring Della.

“Nothing.” I shook my head.

“Is Thea alright?” He frowned with genuine worry.

“Yes, she’s alright.”

Haden’s jaw clenched tightly as he turned his focus to Della.

“Why are you here? No one wants to see you; you’ve done enough damage to last four lifetimes,” he hissed. Shit, I don’t know if I had ever seen Haden so angry.

“Haden...” she whispered so softly. She took a step forward like she couldn’t help herself. Haden took a step away from her, and she flinched as if the movement burned her. Thea had done that to me before, and it broke me. “If you let me explain, then maybe—”

“Maybe what? I would forgive you?" This made him step toward her furious. “That will never happen. I can’t wait for Thea to break her curse so that you no longer have a reason to annoy us with your existence. I meant what I said that day; I never wanted to see you again.”

The woman that came with Haden glanced from him to her, then to me, like I knew what the fuck was going on. She took his anger, but fuck, I wanted to protect her. Della’s tears glowed like starlight down her cheeks as she watched Haden reach back and grab the woman’s hand while staring her in the eyes. Gods, he wanted to hurt her, and he was succeeding. Della was the one to look away from him. She turned her back to us as she tried to hold her sobs in.

“I’ll stay away,” she whispered as she turned once more, her eyes focusing on their hands clenched together. She didn’t look up at him.

“Thank you, Cassius.” She frowned at me. “I guess you were right.”

Then she was gone. I glanced at Haden, whose chest rose and fell in short breaths as he stared at where she was.

“Haden?” the woman spoke.

“Leave,” he demanded as he let go of her hand. She went to protest, but he turned to her. “Now, this was never going anywhere anyway.”

“Asshole,” she hissed but left.

Haden’s frosty eyes met mine, and I glared right back at him.

“What did she want?” His voice gave away the sadness he was hiding.

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