Page 64 of Villainous Greed

“Do you think it will take a while to meet them?” Joy whispered to Payne.

“I hope not,” he replied, kissing her temple.

“Me too.”

“So…” Gwendolyn cleared her throat. “Will they be babies or dragons when they hatch?”

“Babies,” Melinda responded. “Deathrakas are basically humans until they mature.”

“I can’t believe I’m going to be an auntie to dragon shifters.” Gwendolyn nudged Barron, who grinned at her.

“I can’t believe I’m a grandmother!” Mom exclaimed. Dad kissed her cheek relentlessly.

“How did you have three eggs when you literally just got together?” I asked.

“I’m sorry you don’t know how baby-making works, August, since you’re a virgin and all, but I’m a deathraka now. My pregnancy will differ from what we’re used to.”

The family laughed at my expense.

When I sighed and slanted my brows at Maureen, she shrugged. “Oh, relax. It’s actually sweet what you did.”

“That’s not why you told them,” I muttered.

Maureen’s eyes twinkled. “No, it’s not.”

“Congratulations,” I said to Payne and Joy.

Everyone hugged and chattered about the babies arrival. I spotted Dad walking up the stairs.

“Come with me,” I whispered to Nova as I led her up the stairs to follow Dad.

I found him in the library, tugging at the glove he wore, and my heart pinched tight, knowing he was hiding his problem from the family. Parts of Dad’s body were fading from view.

“Are you not happy to be a grandpa?” I asked.

He flinched and then gave a small smile.“I didn’t hear you come in.It’s nice to meet you, Nova. Thanks to your appearance, I might actually get to know my son.”

“Dad.” I rubbed my face, trying to hide the emotion that might be showing.

“I speak the truth. You had me believing you were out playing around with women and taking over the City of the Dead in the last century.”

“I took over the city,” I corrected.

Dad glanced at Nova. “I’m sure we’re both glad at least one of them was a lie.”

“He still has his harem,” Nova piped in, and my mouth parted.

Dad flashed me a grin, then arched a brow at Nova. “What are you going to do about it?”

“I told you to do what you wanted with the harem,” I whispered to Nova nervously.

Her dark gaze flickered over me slowly, and my skin heated.

“Don’t worry. I won’t kill them,” she told my father and squeezed my hand. “They can live as they always have. The place you laid your head down at night has never been your home, so let it be theirs.”

My heart swelled. I knew Nova was claiming me, even if she didn’t know it.

“No, it’s never been home to me.”You are home,was what I wanted to say.

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