Page 95 of Villainous Greed

We ported into the woods. All I saw were giant, looming trees full of vibrant colors. August head snapped frantically left and right, as if he was searching for someone. Everyone materialized beside us.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Where’s Kitty?” August questioned, then everyone else looked around, worry pinching their faces.

“She ran outside after Dad…” August couldn’t finish. He shook his head. “Fuck. We have to find her. We were supposed to put up some sort of shield.”

“What shield?” Prudence’s nose wrinkled.

“To keep the Devil from reaching her,” Sebastian finished.

Maureen’s eyes widened. “So, it’s true. Her mate is really theDevil?”

“I think we should worry about Harvest first,” said Jackal, Maureen’s mate, as he pointed ahead.

Just as I looked, a deafening boom hit my ears. The castle fell. Dust and debris blew up, flying out toward the trees. We were too far out for any of it to reach us.

Prudence covered her mouth, shaking. “Hades, Kitty better have been out of there.”

“We don’t have weapons, but Payne is going to need us,” August said after a long sigh.

“I can help him. You guys need to stay safe until your powers are back,” I told him.

His jaws flexed. “You’remortal, too, Nova. I won’t let you put yourself at risk without me by your side.”

“No, no, no,” Barron’s chanted words had everyone turning around. He was trying to grab a tearful Gwendolyn.

Oh, Hades. She was a ghost again. Her shoulders trembled. “It’s okay, Barron,” she whispered.

“No, no, no,” he said again as he fell to his knees in front of her.

“You’re going to come get me,” she whispered.

“You’re not going anywhere. Do you hear me?” Barron told her, still trying to touch his ghostly mate.

His head moved around until he found me and pleaded. “Nova, please. You’re the only one with the magic to touch her. Don’t let the portal take her.”

My heart crumbled. Could I touch her? I was still an otherworldly witch, ademon.Touching a ghost shouldn’t be too hard.

Pulling from August, I rushed toward Barron and his mate.

“Barron, please,” Gwendolyn begged. “Tell me goodbye while we have the chance!”

“No!” Barron yelled. “Heaven spat you out. They gave you me. They can’t just take you away now.”

Heaven’s gate opened behind Gwendolyn as she tensed. I grabbed her wrist, connecting with her skin fully, and yanked her in the opposite direction.

“The pull toward it is great,” Gwendolyn said, latching onto my arm in return. Her face brightened with hope when we made contact. “Maybe this can work.” The faith in her voice lit the fire in my resolve.

I blasted magic toward the gate. It didn’t budge. My magic didn’t reach it. Instead, it vanished beforeconnecting. Maybe noone could destroy gates to Heaven and Hell. The thought was unsettling.

I dragged Gwendolyn away. The gate, however, was even closer. “Isabella!” I yelled, and she was by our side in a blink. “Help me. Take off your glove and use your power, too.”

She threw her hands out, backing away slowly. “I can’t. I’ll—”

“You can’t hurt me, remember?” I smiled to assure her. “You don’t have to touch her, just me.”

With a nod, Isabella removed a glove and pressed her hand on my arm. Her power flew into me. Together, we pulled Gwendolyn. Only for the gate to be closer.

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