Page 81 of Villainous Greed

Melinda released my temples, and Grim’s woods flooded my vision again.

I stood, turning toward my family. “Before I leave, Sebastian, do you still have that shield from when we raided that ogre city years ago?”

Sebastian cocked his head to the side. “Yeah, but you won’t lift that thing alone.”

I shrugged. “I guess you’re going to have to come with me then.”

“I’ll go, too. No buts, Sebastian. This is not the time,” Isabella said.

Sebastian hugged her. “I just want you safe, but you’re right. We need you, too.”

Chapter Thirty

Nova

Watching Derrick, I fought the urge to rub my neck.The pain coursing through my throat made it feel as if his bruising grip was still there.As I caught my breath, the coughs burst forth. Derrick was too obsessed to kill me, but he never shied away from inflicting harm. I endured so much, and I’d survive a little longer to end things once and for all. He wouldn’t escape that time. August would be there soon. I had to pacify Derrick until then.

“I used blood magic with August to protect my body,” I announced as I straightened my spine.

The large room became eerily quiet as Derrick stiffened, then scowled. “Youwhat?”

Maybe I should have lied.

Derrick walked toward me and gripped my neck again. His nose touched mine as he said, “It’s bad enough you were about to give yourself to the Reaper, but you did something as foul as sharing blood? Do you know how sacred that it is for our kind?”

No, I didn’t know. Derrick never taught me anything about witches or warlocks beyond how to destroy. How was I supposedto know? Not that it mattered. If possible, I would have shared my soul with August, like he shared his soul and powers with me. I loved August.

I knew that wasn’t something I should tell Derrick, but the words were on the tip of my tongue.Wait.I calmed myself. I could hurt him as much as I wanted when August arrived.

But August was still mortal. I felt no traces of his powers returning yet, which made everything dangerous for my mate.

“I can forgive you for this,” Derrick blurted as he released my neck and rubbed his nose along my cheek. “I should have talked with you more about things, but I always assumed you knew.”

I shuddered, bile rising in my throat from his touch. “Knew what?”

“That you’re mine.”

My skin and tips of my fingers tingled from my magic. I wanted so badly to unleash my wrath on Derrick, but I couldn’t. While I could refuse his orders, hurting him was impossible with the band on my wrist. Still, my power vibrated inside me. I wanted the warlock dead. For every proxy’s life he stole and my ruined childhood, I wanted to tear him apart.

“We can fix the blood magic. I just have to make a new one with mine.”

The idea nauseated me.

Derrick pulled a knife from his pocket and grabbed my hand. “I cast dark magic before I left August. The flames won’t die until everything it touches perishes. Everything in those woods will die. If your lover boy leaves the woods and survives, I’ll kill him the next time he’s mortal. He can’t get close to me without power.”

“He’s not the only Reaper.” I couldn’t resist taunting Derrick. “Do you really think they’re going to let you attack August?”

Derrick laughed. “They couldn’t stop me from taking you. They can’t do anything without power, Nova. Just like you can’t do anything to me with yours stripped away.”

My skin prickled as anger flowed through me like a wild energy, wanting to attack. “Only a coward would hide in shadows like you’ve done. Were you always there?”

“Yes, even when you were in the shower. When you fell apart crying in the tub that day and also when you fell apart for August in a different way.” Derrick’s eyes narrowed as he cut my palm. “And see? Where is August? He can’t save you when he’s mortal.”

That knowledge disgusted me, but I couldn’t be surprised. The warlock was a sick man. Of course, Derrick would think August wasn’t trying to find me. Derrick would never risk his life. August would risk everything for me.

“August isn’t a coward like you!” I spat out the words.

“Soon, you’ll give me the same expression you gave August in the shower.” Derrick pushed my hand away in order to cut his own palm.

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