Chapter Twenty-Four

August

There was a fire beneath my skin. I burned from my stomach to my cock, which was painfully engorged. I wasn’t used to being so out of sync with my body that it hurt. A hand was up my shirt, and I knew who it belonged to. Only one woman could rouse such torment from me. My libido was nonexistent in those years without her.

Nova’s fingers moved through the hair on my chest, making circles on my flesh while her fucking breath fanned my neck. By my damp flesh and heavy pants, she had me a wreck long before I woke. My little star probably didn’t know what she was doing to me, either.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, not wanting her to stop touching me. If it meant getting her attention, I would pretend to be asleep for a century. The lower her hand went, the more agonizing my arousal became. Because of the jeans I had on, I felt trapped and on the verge of climax as my mate explored me.

Suddenly, her hand stopped, then moved upward. Nova caught me by surprise when she slipped her two fingers over my nipple, rubbed, and then pinched. I snatched her hand, holding it in place. “Nova,” I pleaded.

My little mate climbed out of bed and stood, watching me. “I visited Isabella’s coven.”

That was it? No explanation or sign she saw the monster of an erection I had? I wouldn’t push. She had all the control. I wanted her to feel safe and comfortable touching me. Because I desperately wanted to touch and explore her, too.

“Those creepy old women?” I asked, sitting up. With Nova watching me like a hawk, I pulled the blanket over me instead of adjusting myself. Despite my obvious arousal, she strangely avoided looking in that direction. She wasn’t willing to welcome that part of me.

Her jaw hardened as she met my gaze. “Never threaten to show yourself to women or anyone ever again.”

I was confused. “What?”

“You said you’d show yourself,” she gestured to my cock without a single glimpse in that direction, “if they didn’t stop staring at you.”

“Did I?” I scratched my head, then nodded. “It sounds like something I’d say. They were probably lurking in the shadows. That creepy shit makes my skin crawl.”

“Yes, they stared at me too,” Nova said.

Oh, fuck. With everything Nova’s witnessed from Derrick’s camp, she might assume the worst.

“Nova.” I jumped off the bed and towered over her. Fuck. My significant height might have intimidated her, but that’s because she was visibly shorter than me. I sat down on the bed and reached for her hand. “I would force no one to do anything, including seeing my cock. Are you angry with me because of what I said to provoke some witches?”

“I know,” she murmured. “But you shouldn’t offer to show it to anyone when you have a mate.”

I froze and blinked. It took a few seconds to process what was happening. My heart felt like it could explode from bliss. “Right.” Smiling, I said. “I’m sorry about everything, including the harem. I can’t take back what I said, but I only belong to you.”

Did she not realize her actions and words didn’t match with someone who never wanted to have sex? She might have gone her entire life without intimacy if I hadn’t existed. But we were in a world where we were together again. My desire bled out of me with her nearby. Maybe one day, she wouldn’t fear the spark inside her when it came to me.

“The witches also told me you kidnapped Isabella once,” she muttered.

Jesus. “How long have I been asleep?” I asked.

“About a day and a half.”

“Look at you, Boom.” I gripped her hips and squeezed gently. “My little terror is making friends instead of killing things.”

One of her hands dropped over mine. “Little terror? How many names shall I have around you?”

“However many I want.”

Nova’s wandering fingers traced circle patterns on top of my hands. The actions shouldn’t have made my dick hard again, but I was like a steel pipe in my jeans. I enjoyed her touching me and I hated we couldn’t stay in the room. There were just so many things we needed to do . We couldn’t rest until Derrick was gone and Harvest stopped permanently. Nova deserved that, and so much more. If we didn’t stop the end, well, how could I ogle her forever? I’d only just gotten her back. It didn’t seem fair that it was under those circumstances.

I flinched when her soft touch grazed my cheek.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Suddenly, the end terrifies me. I’d only just gotten you back. Do I need to fight Heaven next to keep you? Or will stopping Harvest be enough?”

“Harvest will come, but it will probably be when the conditions are in his favor.”

“Meaning, when we are mortal.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

“I won’t let anyone shackle your power. You’ll never be controlled again,” I swore, rubbing her hips.

Her fingers stilled on mine as her breath hitched. Then Nova’s citrus aroma thickened with a hint of arousal, and a rush of desire flowed through me. My cock twitched as an ever-growing yearning danced across my skin. Those bursts of pleasure were why I could never have lain with anyone else. My soul knew it could only be her I’d lose myself in.

I laid my head on her stomach and breathed her in. Nova might not realize it, but she desired me. We couldn’t change the past, but we could have a future. I just had to take things slowly. I desperately wanted access to my mate and never wanted to hide what I felt. She called the shots, but I was greed. I’d always try to get what I yearned for.

Nova’s arousal faded, and I wanted to see if I could bring it out again.

Pressing a kiss to her shirt, I studied her expression. “What are you feeling right now?”

Slowly, she placed her hand on top of my head. “Hungry.”

I smirked. “Same. I’m ravenous, and you smell so good.”

Her scent thickened. Fucking Hades. That mouthwatering arousal of hers made me want to throw her on the bed and lick the source. One of the greatest perks of being a Reaper was the ability to sense so much more than a human could. If Nova tried, she could smell my desire. I wished she’d try using some of my abilities, especially for sensing emotions.

“I want chicken,” she announced.

“You know how good it feels to touch you?” I asked, slyly running my hands over her ass.

She stepped backward. “I didn’t say you could touch me there.”

“Just checking to see if I’d lose a limb.” I waggled my brows. “And I didn’t. I call that progress.”

I wouldn’t dare bring up the fact that she was rubbing my body when I woke. If I wanted her to do it again, I best not speak of it.

I materialized her chicken when a deafening sound jarred the castle. Nova’s brows pinched together as I stood. “Is Harvest’s dragons attacking?” she asked.

“Let’s go check.” I smoothed my hand over her cheek, meeting her gorgeous gaze. “I know you’re strong, but we stay together, okay? We don’t know when Derrick will try kidnapping you.”

She pulled my hand from her cheek and intertwined her fingers with mine. “If it makes you feel better, you can hold my hand while I destroy the dragons.”

I pulled her closer. “You realize you only turn me on when you get all badass?”

“That sounds like your problem. Not mine,” Nova responded, but her scent said otherwise. Even with the threat outside, her arousal spiked.

“I don’t want you to lose that fire inside you.” I brought our hands up and kissed the top of hers. “That fire has kept you going when I didn’t know you were still in this world with me. I wouldn’t dream of smothering it.”

The corner of her mouth twitched. “You say a lot of nice things to me for someone who dislikes witches.”

“You’re never going to forget what those old hags said, are you?”

“Don’t call them that.”

“I lived a lifetime believing you turned down my help and got yourself killed. So, I might have held some hatred toward other witches because of that, but only because you’re all so creepy.”

When Nova’s eye narrowed, I chuckled. “I’ll just shut the fuck up now.” For good measure, I added, “You’re my mate, and I love everything that you are.”

“Probably for the best. Isabella said I’m a part of their coven now, too.”

Oh, fuck.

_____

There was no fight waiting for us in the woods. Joy was the source of the wailing. She gave birth to not one, but three eggs. Not babies. Fucking eggs. Everyone was confused, but Mom and Dad were happy as Payne and Joy carried them inside. I’d been so focused on finding Nova that I never got the chance to congratulate them. But it’s not my fault she made me an uncle to eggs a couple weeks after getting pregnant.

Melinda arrived later, explaining that Joy’s pregnancy must be like a deathraka’s. No one had any clue what to expect, but we were nosey as fuck and worried as Payne placed them on the ground and spat fire at them. The family shrieked. Nova clutched my hand tightly.

“What are you doing to my nieces or nephews?” Maureen shouted.

“What he’s supposed to,” Joy said, eyes glistening as the flames covered the eggs.

Payne hugged Joy from behind. “I don’t know how long it’ll take, but the flames will keep them safe until they hatch.”

“Wait,” Sebastian murmured. “Whatever Payne did to them appears similar to the cocoon-like structure that protected him during his change.”

“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. I t’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.

“August…” Dad’s voice sharpened, as if whatever he was about to say was important. He flexed his gloved hand. “I need you to bring your brothers here. We need to talk about your sister. This conversation can no longer wait.”

Alarm trickled through me. “Which sister is in trouble?”

“Kitty did nothing wrong, but she is in danger.” Dad took a deep breath. “Go get your brothers.”

“Stay. I think I know what this is about,” Nova said. “I’ll go get them.”

I frowned as Nova retreated toward the door. Only she stopped at the entrance when the emptiness smacked me in the chest. My mechanical arm fell against my side. With my powers gone, it was fucking useless.

“Fuck,” I muttered, knowing my weapon was in my old room. We were supposed to be carrying weapons and portal chips around, but it was hard to get used to. Our entire lives, we’d been able to conjure anything we needed at will.

“Get ready.” Dad said, standing, but he swayed.

“Easy,” I said, grabbing him with my only hand available.

Dad’s arm disappeared, though. I slipped right through him as he fell into his seat. My stomach felt like I swallowed acid as Dad leaned back, closing his eyes, panting. He was getting worse. He was translucent, like a ghost. When Harvest first activated the vortex that started that whole mess, Dad had looked sickly and transparent. We had stopped the vortex when Sebastian saved Isabella, but the end was there. We were losing Grim. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat.

“Don’t stand there and gawk son.” Dad raised his voice. “Get ready because Harvest will be here the second he senses we’re mortal.”

I scoffed, turned, and fisted my hands at my side as fury for Dad guided me. Nova pressed her palm against my chest, stopping me. I hadn’t heard her move closer, but I certainly felt her heat digging into my skin and centering me. “Are you okay?”

My jaw tightened. “No, my little star, I’m fucking pissed.” I softened my expression. “But not at you. I want to end this once and for all.”

“We can.” Nova’s brow slanted determinedly. “If Harvest comes, I’ll trap him. When he was here, I almost had him—”

“I’m mortal, and so are you,” I interrupted. “I want to destroy him as much as you, but I’m not risking you. Protecting ourselves from his attacks is our primary concern right now.”

“I thought you understood.” Nova’s arms swung loosely at her sides. “Harvest will only attack when you’re mortal, which means we’ll likely only encounter him whenever you all lose your powers.”

“I know that, but I’m not taking any chances with you. We can put a tracker on Harvest if he comes.”

“My son is right,” Dad piped in, wheezing slightly. “We’re not risking anyone. I saw the damage you took trying to trap Harvest the first time. You won’t survive without our immortality. We wait until our powers return and throw a tracker on him before he disappears again.”

“ Then I take you to go fuck him up,” I finished for Dad with vigor.

“Fine, but I’m still hungry,” Nova grumbled, which made Dad chuckle despite his condition.