Chapter Twenty-Eight

Nova

When I woke, I was naked on a bed. Derrick didn’t need restraints on me because he had something more powerful—the band on my wrist. I couldn’t hurt him, but I found it easy to resist his commands.

As I sat up, I kept my expression neutral. Derrick shuffled through papers on a nearby desk, accidentally knocking over potions and such. Derrick and his trickery would always be a problem. His arrival couldn’t make me regret that moment with August. I had to remain calm.

When August arrived, he’d free me, and we could finally rid ourselves of Derrick. I just had to persevere. I was learning more about hope in my older years. Sofia would be proud of me. I would have to tell her how unbothered I was by Derrick. How strong I felt, even shackled to him again. Derrick delivered himself to us. I only had to wait, and I could. I’d waited so long for that moment. Nothing could disturb the serene within me.

August would come. He knew I was alive.

When Derrick roared and pushed more things aside, I saw his missing hand and frowned. Had August attacked him?

“Where is it?” Derrick muttered, then turned when he saw me awake. “You’re going to tell me what spell you have on your body. Is it the one from the past?”

My body? Then I realized he meant the protection spell. Fury rippled through me, causing my head to pound. I glared. “You tried to touch me while I was asleep?”

Waving his arm around, he showcased his missing hand. “How do you think I lost this? I was curious about how innocent you were, but as soon as I tried, it felt like dipping my hand in acid. I’m having trouble healing myself.”

Oh, really?

Delight coursed through my veins at his misery. When I placed that spell so long ago, I hadn’t realized it would be so powerful. The spell hadn’t been that ugly when Derrick tried a century ago. Maybe it strengthened as my power did.

“Don’t look so smug.” Derrick scowled. “Once I figure out what you used, I can undo any spell.”

Despite my certainty of Derrick’s demise, his proclamation made me uneasy. How long would it take him to figure out a way to reverse the spell I shared with August? It didn’t matter . I would go to any lengths to be with him again and experience another perfect moment together. So, I waited for my marked mate as Derrick drank a dozen potions, until he found one strong enough to reverse the damage done from the spell. His hand grew back.