Page 76 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“Things have changed,Aurora.Thanehas said he will take care of the last two.”Pain’svoice was uncharacteristically soft.Betweenthe words she said were all the things she wasn’t saying.
“Why would he do that?Thenthe curse wouldn’t be broken.AndDeathwill…”
“Death got what he wanted.Thanehates you.”Painturned her back toAurora.
Aurora pressed her fingers to her temple. “Idon’t understand.Thanehates me?Why?”
“Death showedThaneyou kissing the king.HefilledThane’sempty head with lies.”Painturned. “Itried.IremindedThanethat this was what his father did.Thatyou loved him, and this was part of the curse.Buthe’sThane.He’sstubborn and pigheaded.”
Aurora slid to the edge of the bed, trying to understand whatPainwas saying.Herthoughts were still covered in the white haze of what had happened.
“I called your mother.Shewill be here to take you back to your father’s realm, where you will stay for the rest of your lifetimes.Youare to never return toManereor the underworld.”Paindidn’t look atAurorawhen she spoke.
“No, there must be some mistake.”Aurorafelt forThane.Hishatred and anger burned hotter than fire.Shehad never felt this much hatred.
“Yes, the mistake is you’re in love with a god that is fickle and loves only himself.”Painbit her bottom lip. “Hethinks you loved the king.”
Aurora shook her head. “No.Thatwas the curse.Theking needed to love me, notIhim.Ididn’t love him.Itwas all part of the fairy tale.Whydidn’t you tell him?”Aurorafelt the tears fall at the realization of what had happened.
“I did.Butthere is still my father’s curse.Itried,Aurora.Itwas either fight withThaneor come and get you.”Painsat down on the bed. “Icame and got you.”
“I don’t understand,”Auroracried.
“What’s not to understand?Yougave your love to another.”Thaneappeared in the doorway. “Pain, leave us.”
Pain stood. “Myfather should have cursed you with a brain.”Painstopped in front ofThane. “Don’tdo something you’ll regret because the consequences are far steeper than you know.”
“Are you speaking from experience?”
Pain lookedThaneup and down. “Yes.Youwill regret this,Thane.Ipromise you that.”ThosewerePain’slast words as she disappeared into smoke.
“Thane.”Auroratried to swallow down the nausea his hatred was causing.
“Why did you do it?”Thaneasked.
“I did nothing.”Shestood.
“Yes, you did.Isaw it.Youwere in love with him.Isaw you two in bed.Isaw you crying over his death.”
“You saw nothing.Itwas a fairy tale.Asilly story made up of mortals’ hopes and dreams.Itwas nothing but smoke and wishes,”Aurorareminded him.
“Liar.Youare just like your mother.Yougive your love freely to anyone who will pay you a compliment,”Thanesaid, pushing off from the door and walking into the room.Helooked more likeDeaththanDarkness.Alltraces of stardust had been wiped away.Hissilver eyes burned cold, and the mouth she once thought was made for her to kiss now carried a sharp smile made to cut her.
Aurora laughed. “Andyou are your father’s son.Thane, please.Whyafter all this time wouldIlove another?DidPainnot tell you it was a?—”
“Pain!” he yelled. “Sheis a manipulative god, and you fell right into her trap.Ihave loved only you.Butyou, you are fickle.Somedays you are warm and inviting, and others you are cold and calloused.”Thanepoured himself a glass of whiskey. “Ifelt it.Ifelt when you broke my heart.Whenyou gave away your love so carelessly.”
The first wave of his anger hit her.Thenloneliness.Shebreathed it in, happy to feel something other than hatred. “Idid no such thing.Istill love you, which is more than you can say.Ihave reaped four souls for you.Whathave you done for me?”
“Everything!” he shouted. “Iwould give you anything.Mylife.Mylast breath.Iwould have laid my kingdom at your feet.Andyou repay me by loving another man.Aking of nothing.”
“You speak of your last breath, and yet here you stand, breathing, while another man gave his last breath to save me.Youlaid not a kingdom at my feet, but your ego.Youhave done nothing but hurt me.”Auroralet a bitter laugh slip from her lips. “Youare just like your father: selfish, heartless, and a coward.Youare incapable of loving anyone but yourself.Iwas a fool for believing you were anything else.”
Thane clapped, shaking his head. “Suchpretty words from a poisonous mouth.Isthat whatPaintold you?Youwere stupid to trust her.AndIwas stupid to think you loved me.Myfather was right.Lovehas made me blind and reckless.AmistakeIwill not make again.”
He tore her into little pieces that scattered on the ground at his feet.Theyfluttered up in hope every time he paced the floor.Auroraturned from him.Itwas too hard to look into his eyes.Allthe love she had once seen for her in their silver glow was gone.Ithad died in the snow withNieve. “Whyare you doing this?”
“Me?Whydid you?”Thanestepped closer, tiltingAurora’schin towards him, running his thumb over her bottom lip. “I’msorryIever laid eyes on you.IwishInever met you.”Thaneturned on his heels and walked out of the room, slamming the door.
