Chapter Twenty

Nova

“Where are we going?” I asked as the door creaked open.

Rather than answer, August led me inside the dark space and flipped a switch on the wall.

When the lights came on, I saw the toilet and an enormous tub to the right. It was a washroom. I always cleaned myself in the creeks instead of using Derrick’s bath. And with Harvest, I never had been near water until he pulled me out of the cell. Sometimes, I was lucky to find a stream to rinse off, but nothing more.

“You’re not going anywhere,” said August, pulling me from my thoughts. “I’m going to hunt down Derrick, and you’re going to wait here until I return.”

“Wait here and do what? I can’t stay here, not after everything that’s happened.”

“You had no grudge against my family, and your hatred for me was misguided. My family realizes something has changed, but they won’t hold your past against you. You saved them when you didn’t have to. You’ve earned some points.” August pulled me into the bathroom with him. “Besides, to go against you, they’d have to go against me.”

“When have I said that I don’t hate you?”

“I’m pretty sure you said ‘I forgot what not hating you felt like’.” August grinned as he loomed over me. “Do you still hate me?”

“I—I don’t think I ever hated you,” I admitted as my stomach fluttered. “If I truly despised you like I tried to, then there was no way I could have believed you.”

August reached out and tucked some hair behind my ear. I jerked away, placing my palm over my hammering heart.

In a firm voice, I said, “But you lived all these years, and I remained the same.”

Don’t bring up the harem again , I thought. But the women of his past held me like quicksand. I felt trapped and consumed. Every time I thought of him with them, I wanted to destroy everything, especially Harvest. Because of Harvest, I was upset about something that I couldn’t change.

“Look at me,” August said as he turned me around. He materialized a key in his hand and held it up. “This is the key to the place I called home. You’ll find the harem there. They’re not what they seem, but you can do whatever you want to them. Just know I’ve not lain with any of them, or anyone else, for that matter.”

I froze as his words sank in. “What are you saying?”

“I’m a fake. I’ve spent a lifetime collecting people and things, trying to replace the girl I couldn’t forget. But it was pointless. I simply couldn’t replace you. Yet, the curse of greed forced me to fill the void you left behind. But the emptiness only grew bigger and bigger.”

I stumbled back as if he’d struck me. He’s not… lain with anyone because of me? Impossible!

“I saw you with them! You always had your arm draped over a different woman’s shoulders, leaning close to her face. Harvest showed me the scene repeatedly as punishment.”

August flinched. “Yeah, I did those things. My family believes the lie, too.”

The floor shook again.

August pierced me straight through my heart with his sorrowful gaze. “You don’t believe me.” He bent his head and lowered himself to one knee . “Forgive me for thinking a harem could replace you. Forgive me for trying to erase you. And forgive me for being happy, because your anger means you care about me.”

When he lifted his head, a smile spread across his face.

“The women have nothing to do with my anger,” I lied.

“Really? I think it does. Like I said, your anger implies you care.”

My face heated. Did it? All those emotions were new to me. I didn’t enjoy being so unsure. I also hated the fluttering in my stomach and the lightness in my chest.

“You must have cursed me because I have no desire for anyone but you. My entire life, I’ve wanted no one except you. I might not have known you were alive, but my soul knew. No matter how I tried, I never could get hard for another woman. I’m a virgin, Nova.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I narrowed my eyes. “I didn’t curse you.”

“Remember that protection spell you had me do years ago? Clearly, it stole my lust.”

My jaw dropped as I glared at the big jerk. “ All I wanted was protection. I stole nothing!”

“Yes, you did.” He tapped his chest. “You took my heart all those years ago.”

My stomach felt like a wild current of magic, and I had the oddest sensation of wanting to smile, and yet, I didn’t. “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.” August stood. “But we’ll move at your snail’s pace.”

I scrunched up my nose as I asked, “What’s a snail?”

“A really slow moving, spineless animal in the human world.”

“So, you’re implying we’ll go slow with what?”

“Us.” August turned on the faucet at the tub. “Come over here and undress.”

I stiffened as August reached for the bottom of his shirt. “What are you doing?”

“I want to clean us up and get some of those knots out of your hair.”

I reached for my hair. Over the years, I tried my best to finger comb my curls to keep knots out, but I supposed I must look bad.

“Leave your hair alone,” August said, beckoning me with his hand. “You’re beautiful, and I want to show you how much. I don’t care that the dragons might attack at any moment, or the world we know might end. What I want to do right now is adore you in all the ways I’ve always wanted to.”

I blushed. “I’m not getting undressed with you.”

He waggled his brows. “I promise to behave. We’ll go at your pace, remember?”

“This doesn’t feel slow.”

“You’re right, but I’m greedy. Shall I put a blindfold on?”

“Or you can leave me to wash alone.”

He rubbed his jaw and sighed. “I’ll stay by the door then, so we can talk?” August waited patiently as his gaze drifted over my body. Something about his dark, enchanting orbs seemed hopeful.

Did August really want to talk so badly? Perhaps he simply wanted to be near me. The thought made my skin prickle.

“Okay .”

August said, “Relax and enjoy the water. After we chat, I’ll go search for our enemy.”

“There’s no point in hunting for Derrick.”

August scowled.

I quickly added, “Derrick is obsessed with me. He’ll try to come for me again.”

“Derrick’s more foolish than I thought if he tries getting close to you. You’d tear him from the inside out before he could do so. Then I wouldn’t get to break his bones.”

I smirked. “He wouldn’t show himself recklessly. Derrick is a coward. He’ll likely wait for an opportunity when I’m distracted.”

August’s eyes flickered over me lazily. “Delivering the proxy to you sounds better. I might get some sort of reward.”

I inhaled sharply.

Satisfied with himself, August materialized two bottles that I guessed were soap and placed them beside the tub. “Condition your hair and I’ll help you with the knots when you’re finished bathing.”

I glanced at the steaming water, then back to August.

“It’s okay to breathe, Nova. Get in the water and rinse your frustrations away. You’re not alone. You’re free, and I’m going to hunt those who wronged you.”

“It’s weird.” I shook my head. “Hours ago, I imagined your death and every way I could make you feel pain. Now we’re talking as if…”

“We’re lovers? Mates?”

“We’re friends,” I corrected.

August’s grin was lopsided. “That, too.” Snapping his fingers, a plate of chicken legs appeared on a wooden board above the tub. “Eat up. This is only the beginning of your princess treatment.”

Princess treatment?

I locked the door after August stepped out of the bathroom. The lock was useless against a man who could port anywhere without a portal chip. I didn’t feel comfortable letting August see my body, though. I’d been starving for a lifetime. My bones protruded from my hips and ribs. Before Harvest locked me in that cell, I had full, round breasts, and a slight curve to my thighs.

As I undressed and stared down, I realized I was as malnourished as I felt. Did I look anything like the girl he remembered? Why did I care if I wouldn’t reveal myself to him? I wouldn’t stop being me just because August wasn’t the bad guy I thought he was. So, why was my body behaving strangely?

He’s a virgin.

Why did that knowledge make me tingle and burn?

Shaking the weird sensation away, I snatched a leg of chicken from the plate, took a bite, and got into the tub. My eyes nearly rolled back in my head as the hot water eased a hundred years of aches. My vision blurred as I swallowed the meat, and my nose tingled.

Sofia is alive. August is good. August is my mate.

I covered my mouth to stifle my cry.

Oh, Hades. I didn’t trust those feel-good sensations crashing over me. I faced the door as my heart raced. What if Harvest’s trick lasted for days or years? No, no.

This is real.

Why did I send August away? I needed to see him, breathe him in. Then I’d understand my reality.

I plucked another chicken leg off the plate and ate it. My heart rate kept increasing, and it was getting harder to breathe. I raised my knees and the wooden board holding the food clattered to the floor.

That uneasiness would never go away until I rid myself of my enemies. I’d never know peace until Harvest and Derrick were gone. When I made them pay, maybe then…

Right as I tried to cradle my legs to my chest, an arm prevented me from doing so. August’s firm palm slid over my chest, and he eased me backward. “Breathe,” he whispered near my ear.

I inhaled, and his scent flooded my senses as he leaned over the tub behind me. My heart slowed as his breath fanned my ear. I clung to his arm as he cradled it to my chest.

“I shouldn’t have walked out of the room,” he whispered.

No, he shouldn’t have, but instead of admitting that, I said, “You’re not supposed to be in here.”

“Rip me apart from the inside if you must.” He kissed the top of my dirty head. “I’m not leaving you again, and if you try to leave me, I’ll follow. I’ll always follow you.”

I shut my eyes and squeezed his arm. “I don’t think I can give you the things you want.”

“ You are all that I want.”

That’s not what I meant, and he knew it. He must see all of me, the haggard witch, beneath the water . I couldn’t stand the sight of my scrawniness. My skin didn’t know affection. I didn’t know what it was I was feeling when he touched or looked at me.

But…

I clung to his arm tighter.

Nothing made sense or felt better than him. So, even scrawny and weak, I didn’t care what part of me he saw. The toad image on my butt said he was mine. Every time I should have died and didn’t, it was because he was mine. When my reality was in disarray, his scent said he was mine.

Harvest couldn’t take him away from me anymore. And Harvest would pay for taking my family away from me.

My enemies would pay for everything .