Page 66 of Payne's Envy

I nodded.

“Barron’s not handling it well,” he said.

“How did you know?” I asked. August’s shoulders slumped forward. “Didn’t you say that Nova died?”

August never answered. He took another swig of liquor and stared up at the ceiling. “I guess… If we were around our mates as kids, they’d still get the marks. It would take a few days, but they’d receive them, right?”

“I’m not sure. Payne didn’t get my mark until after he became a dragon for the first time.”

“Yes, but that probably had something to do with the fact that bonded mates are a thing for his kind. He marked you differently long ago, which wouldn’t reveal until you were ready.”

“I guess that could be why… So, you were a kid when you met Nova?” I guessed.

“Fifteen.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “If this other Nova you guys saw truly has my essence woven around her, then maybe it is her. If Gwendolyn survived death, then Nova would have, too. I buried her, Joy, Iburied her.”His voice cracked, and he stood abruptly.

“Gwendolyn took hours to wake, so—”

“Then I buried her alive.” He turned away from me, running his fingers through his hair.

“August, what happened?”

“Was she there?” he asked. “When they kidnapped you?”

I tensed as I recalled all the different ways I had died at Nova’s hands. I sighed. “Yes.”

“She hurt you, didn’t you?” When I said nothing, he swore. “You don’t have to hide it. I came face-to-face with her when she destroyed New York City, but she was cloaked head to toe. I couldn’t sense or see her, but I should have known. Fuckingboom.”

Boom?

He was confusing me and as he paced back and forth; I didn’t know if I should ask. I wasn’t used to seeing my brothers so upset.

“Remember Isabella’s situation. Nova is probably being controlled by Harvest.” She seemed very pissed at my brother, though, and I wasn’t sure I should bring that up.

“You’ve always been the good sibling,” August said.

I crossed my arms. “So, you plan to let her stay on the bad side?”

August stared at me like I asked the dumbest question in the world. “I’m greed. I thought I lost something I’d never get again, and you ask if I’m going to let someone else keep it?”

“She’s not an object, August.”

“No, but she’smine.” His eyes brightened.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway.

“How is Gwendolyn?” August whipped around as our dad spoke.

My skin prickled, like the sun had reached through realms and pierced me within Grim’s woods, when I locked eyes with Payne walking a step behind him. My father was no small man, but Payne stood taller. He’d always been, but with the new glowing veins along his body, he seemed even larger. The concrete halls were too small for the menacing quality he possessed. My stomach warmed, and I inhaled, hoping for the scent of my mate.

My mate.

I didn’t think I’d ever get so lucky to call Payne that. We were a little broken, and Payne might not remember our pasts or how often he pushed me away. I might never know the reason, either. It hurt, but I wasn’t afraid of loving him as he was. Giving him up was something I’d never be able to do.

“She’s good,” I replied. “Barron, on the other hand…”

Payne stopped, his odd eyes widening as his arms dropped. He was looking at me, jaws going slack as his lips parted.

“Payne?” I questioned. “What’s wrong?”

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