Chapter Twenty-Nine

August

I dashed into the hall, completely naked, holding the sword and portal chip, moments before black flames engulfed the room. Despite the blisters and burns on my shoulders, arms, and legs, my weapon was the only thing I needed to finish Derrick. The closest room was the one Payne used to sleep in before he mated with Joy. I discovered his old clothes and put them on.

Hearing a roar, I immediately went downstairs. Derrick’s dark fire had spread, much to my disgust. Smoke billowed from the hallway leading to the kitchen. Joy, in her dragon form, had her lithe body wrapped around the cocoon, protecting her eggs. The babies were in flames, but it made sense Payne and Joy wanted to shield them from Derrick’s magic. Payne flew upwards, carrying Joy, who had her body wrapped around the eggs. My legs buckled as the entire castle shook beneath my feet. I used the portal chip right before the stone came down on top of me.

I hoped everyone else was okay. I would protect Nova the same way Payne and Joy saved their eggs.

Nova.

Derrick fucking had her!

When I ported in front of the burning castle, I saw everyone except for Joy and Payne. Sebastian and Isabella stood close together. Mom furrowed her brows, and Kitty held her hand over her chest as they watched Dad. He was so frail and haggard. Jackal had his arm draped over Maureen’s shoulder. Even Shepherd’s ugly gremlins were with him and Prudence, standing closer toward the woods.

Barron was reaching for Gwendolyn when he screamed, “Gwen!”

“Relax, son. She’s not a ghost.” When Dad swayed, reaching for Barron’s arm, Sebastian caught him.

“Yet! She’s not one yet,” Barron said. “If we’re without our powers too long…”

While I grieved for my brother, I had my mate to focus on.

I winced and said, “Derrick has Nova. ” My skin felt like it was on fire. The clothes rubbed against my body, making the sensation worse. “I’m going to Melinda. I need her to make me a potion—”

“No need to come to me,” Melinda said, porting beside me. “I’m here.”

“Do you have a spell for me to find Nova?” I asked quickly. “I was never supposed to allow anyone to take her again.”

“Derrick would have never attacked unless he was sure he could take Nova. Just like when he kidnapped Joy, he waited for the right second. None of us were together,” Prudence said, walking toward me with Shepherd following her. “It’s not your fault.”

“She’s right,” Melinda agreed. “I don’t have a spell to use while you’re mortal, but you have something else we can find Nova with.”

“What?” I asked.

She pointed at my chest. “Your connection with her. You guys get stuck in your mate’s head now and then, right?” Everyone nodded. “Then you need to get inside Nova’s head and see where she’s at. Once you have a clear picture—”

“I can port to her,” I finished with a grin. “Thanks to you, I might stop holding grudges against witches.”

Melinda snorted. “Instead of hating on us, realize that the one you believed you lost was never really gone.”

“You’re right, but you’ve helped the family a lot,” I admitted.

“We’re in your debt,” Mom added.

“We’d never have gotten this far without your help,” Maureen said reluctantly.

“It’s almost like you’re our guardian angel,” Kitty finished, slapping a Slim Jim in her mouth, then smacked her palm over her forehead. “Ugh! Stupid habits. I’m not even hungry, but it’s instinct at this point.”

Since none of us had our curses while mortal, it made sense that Kitty wasn’t hungry.

Melinda, blushing from the attention, suddenly cleared her throat. She pointed to the ground and said, “Let’s sit. I’m going to need to touch your temples and you’re going to need to think of Nova.”

Crossing my legs on the grass in front of Melinda, I said, “Let’s hurry, please.”

My stomach felt like I had swallowed acid. Every second I spent talking was a moment Nova had to endure Derrick.

“Has anyone seen Joy and Payne?” Mom asked as she glanced around frantically.

“I saw them take off with the eggs,” Maureen blurted out.

Mom’s shoulders sagged. “Good.”

Right before I dragged my gaze back to Melinda, I saw Mom studying Dad again. Dad leaned against Sebastian for support and her lips quivered.

My chest pinched tight. Dad was almost completely translucent.

Sorry, Dad. I had to focus on my mate. She mattered more than anyone else to me.

“I need you to focus on what you see,” Melinda said.

As soon as she touched my temples, my head tingled. “Even with the magic, it will be impossible for you to know the location. It’s important for you to remember exactly what you see, so you can use a portal chip to get there. If you get one thing wrong in the scenery, you could end up somewhere else.”

“I know how this works. I won’t get it wrong,” I said with certainty.

Melinda nodded. “Good. Nova’s been through enough.”

A sharp pang snapped my chest. Nova had been through too much. When Derrick was dead, the source of her pain would be half over. Harvest would be next.

“And you’re going to see what she’s seeing.” Melinda frowned. “We don’t know what’s happening, so I need you to keep it together if—”

“Hurry and do it,” I urged, feeling nauseous.

“The quicker I find her, the faster I put an end to the warlock’s life.”

With the spell Nova used to protect her from Derrick violating her, she would be safe. But not from his torture. How many minutes had gone by already? Too fucking many!

“Close your eyes,” Melinda instructed.

I did, and the tingling turned to burning on my scalp. The blackness I saw behind my closed lids became a raging Derrick looming over me. Veins protruded from his forehead as he shook Nova’s shoulders violently. “Tell me what spell you used!” he shouted in her face.

I squeezed my hands into fists as fury crashed into my chest, making it hard to breathe.

Nova said nothing as he put his hands around her neck.

“Focus, August,” Melinda said, reminding me I wasn’t really there with Nova. “Focus on the surroundings.”

So, I listened, but Derrick’s enormous head blocked my view. He was right in her face. Nova’s vision blurred with black spots.

My stomach sank. “Derrick’s choking her! She’s going to pass out before I can see behind him.”

“See if you can tell her to push him away or move her head at least,” Melinda rushed. “You’re mortal, but that doesn’t change your love for her. You can reach her, August.”

“Push him or move your head, little star,” I croaked. “I need to see where you are.”

I heard her inhale sharply. “ August?”

Tears ran down my cheeks as her thought reached my mind. “I can hear her!”

“Good,” Melinda said. “Focus.”

“Can you move?” I asked Nova. “I need to see where you’re at so I can port there.”

The black spots in her vision worsened. “Get… off… me.” She wheezed as she spoke to Derrick. “I’ll tell you what spell I used.”

The warlock grinned maniacally as he released her neck and stepped back. Nova sat up and quickly glanced around.

“Shipping containers?” I frowned. To the left of the bed, there was a desk made of wood. Large containers filled the giant oval room. Other than the bed and desk, everything I saw was metal. “Good girl. Wait for me.”

“Always.”

My chest swelled with pride at her resilience.

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.”