Page 27 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“Is that who you lost?Agirl who could talk to the stars?”
Thane looked over at her. “Yes.”
The world around them seemed to fall away when she was with him.Allthe worries and stress of life floated away like her wish.Thanehad no expectations of her.Heunderstood the pressure of being something you weren’t.
“Do you want to hear a story?”Thaneasked.
“Yes, but only if it’s a happy one.”
CHAPTER12
ELLA
Thane turned so his forehead almost touched hers. “Once,Darknesslay under a sky full of stars, wishing for things gods have no right to wish for.”
Ella snuggled closer to him, letting his voice wash over her.Itcaressed her, leaving a trail of sadness across her skin. “Whatwould a god wish for?”
“Love.”
“Love?Whywould a god need to wish for love?”Ellasmiled atThane. “Ithought all gods were so handsome no one could resist them.Noteven another god.”Sissyloved to tell stories about the gods.Shespoke of them as if they were family and gossiped about them as if they were relatives.DarknessandDawnwere among her favorites.Theyhad a love storySissycalled tragic.
“Darkness was plenty handsome.Somewould say the most handsome of all the gods,”Thaneteased. “Doyou not find the moments between day and night beautiful?”
“I do.”Ellasmiled back. “Thereis nothing more stunning than the sky bruised with night.”
Thane’s smile faded. “Thereis one thing more beautiful than that.Dawn.Sheis the most magnificent of all the gods.Herskin is brushed with stardust.Sheleaves a trail of it acrossDarkness.Andher eyes hold the secrets of theSea.Herbeauty outshines even that ofDarkness’s.”
“You sound as if you’ve seen her.Isshe the girl you’re looking for?”Ellataunted.
Thane’s eyes traveled down to her mouth. “IfIsaid yes, would you believe me?”
He was so close she could almost see the starlight in his eyes.Feelthe warmth of his breath on her lips.Shecould kiss him, and no one would know.Butwhen he left, she would have another hole she couldn’t fix. “DidDarknessloveDawn?”
“Yes.”Thaneran his thumb over her cheek. “Heloved her so much he would’ve given up the night sky for her.ButDarknessis a stupid, selfish god who thought he was above the laws of love.Heloved to play with the hearts of others.Hedidn’t understand how fragile a heart could be.Andso when he dropped one, it broke.ThisangeredFate, so he decided it was time to teachDarknessthat there are consequences for breaking a heart.AndsoFatecursedDarknessto forever breakDawn’sheart.”
“Cursed?”Ellawhispered. “Ididn’t think gods could be cursed.”
“Gods are the reason there are curses.Theycannot die.Theonly way to punish one is with a curse.”Thanetucked a piece of hair behindElla’sear.
“DidDarknessbreak the curse?”Forsome reason she desperately needed to understand.Maybebecause she wanted to know love was worth waiting for.Fightingfor.Thatin the end, there was a reason for everything.
“No, love, he didn’t.HelostDawnand is now alone.Whichis why he lies under a sky full of stars, wishing for her.”Thanerolled over and looked up at the sky. “Hegot what he deserved.Hedeserves to be alone for all these lifetimes and the ones he has yet to live.”
Ella watchedThane, wondering if he felt a kinship toDarkness. “Idon’t believe that.Evengods aren’t perfect.Ifshe really loved him, she would forgive him.”
“Would you?”
“WouldIforgive a handsome god?Hmm.”Shesmiled at the silliness of the question.ShepicturedDarknessto look and sound like his name.Hisvoice would sound like velvet felt.Hishair would be dark like the night sky, and his mouth would be made for tempting mortals into sin.Hewould look likeThane. “Yes.Iwould.”Sheturned back to the night sky. “ButI’dmake him prove his love to me every night.Clotheme in the finest of silks and satins.Showme all there is to see in the heavens and the underworld.Bringme bits of cloud to enjoy.”Shelaughed at how silly she sounded. “ButIam notDawn.Sohe is not mine to forgive.”
“But if he was.”Thaneturned again to face her. “Whatif he said how foolish he was?Howempty his life was without her.Howhe broke each day he woke without her by his side.Ifhe promised to never say those words again.”
Ella turned to face him.Shefelt the disappointment when she realized it was not some god he spoke of but his own broken heart. “Shewill forgive you,Thane.”
“I don’t know.Ithink it might be too late.”Thanetraced her brow.
A familiar ache filled her, the same one she often felt after she dreamt of the faceless man.Anache of never knowing who had loved her before.Ofnot knowing if he missed her as much as she missed him. “Iwould forgive you.Ifyou were mine to forgive.”
“I could be.Yours.Allyou have to do is ask.”
