Page 8 of Villainous Greed

“What’s your name?” Odin asked between bites.

“August.”

Au-gust.I let the word float through my head. August with thecold, black stare—almost a man, or maybe he already was. Given his imposing height, it was hard to tell. His face was youthful, but it lacked innocence. Like so many other men, there was something missing in his smile. The shape of his mouth appeared somewhat corrupted and wicked. I doubted those jet-black orbs ever softened, though my mind kept picturing it.

“Let’s hear your names,” August said. “I think I know some, but just to be sure.”

“Why?” I questioned.

He exhaled, dismissing me with a wave. “I’m asking the minions. Eat.”

“I’m Sofia,” she answered with a vibrant beam. “That’s Odin—he’s loud. Finn is the redhead and Cloud is over there.” She cupped her mouth, whispering, “Cloud is the gloomy one. We love him, though.”

Cloud, rolling his eyes, continued eating.

“Did you poison us?” Sofia blinked innocently at August, prompting me to avert my gaze.

“No.” August squatted beside her, plucking meat from her chicken to eat while focusing on me. “Imagine what might happen if you pass out from starvation because you’re too stubborn to eat, Boom?”

I opened my mouth to yell, but he stuck food in it, his finger grazing my lips. I jerked away.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I covered my mouth, not daring to spit it out, barely chewing before swallowing. “And did you just call me…” The word was so easy to say, one of my favorites, but I mouthed it. “Boom.”

Smack! My head swiveled as Derrick’s palm struck my cheek, the metallic taste filling my mouth. I jerked forward, nose-to-nose with him. “How many times must I tell you to stop it? Stop saying boom! You don’t alert the enemy! You’re nothing, Nova. Nothing. So be silent and do as you’re told.”

I fisted my hands, rage bubbling up at the memory of Derrick silencing me. Why did I have to be silenced? I wanted my presence sensed, heard, felt, touched.Free.

Yet, beaten to silence.

August tilted his head to speak when Sofia smacked her palm over his lips. “Don’t make Nova say it. He hates when she does.”

“He?” August’s eyes rimmed with blackness before furrowing his brows at me. “What are you doing out here?”

Sofia sucked her cheeks in, ready to tell our secrets, so I spoke first. “None of your business.”

“Are there homes in these dead woods?” August quirked a brow, pupils returning to normal as he glanced around.

“If Nova says none of your business, it’s not your concern,” Odin stated, eating August’s food.

August’s lips curled. “Peculiar gratitude.”

“We didn’t ask you to feed us,” Odin said truthfully.

“While true, doesn’t mean I won’t ask for payment.” August’s stare swept over me and stopped at my dress.

I stiffened. “We have nothing.”

He waggled his brows weirdly. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

Twice he had said that while staring at me. Straightening my shoulders, I held his steely gaze determinedly. New heat spread over my cheeks and chest. I didn’t glance away—I faced evil daily.

He cocked his head suddenly, lips curling upward to reveal white teeth, brightening his face. But the cruelty within his slanted brows kept me from believing it was genuine. “You didn’t avert your gaze.”

“What?” My nose scrunched.

“Want to leave here, Nova?” Still squatted, August reached his long fingers toward me. I flinched away before he could touch my face.

“You’re mine. I won’t let anyone have you. Not even Harvest.”

---