Page 90 of Virgin Lust

“He’s still Payne,” I began. “The one who always walks the straight and narrow. He’s the one that never bends or breaks. The one that stands between my brothers even though he’s mortal.”

Shepherd caressed my shoulder. “Why are you telling me that, Princess?” My eyes filled with tears.He knew.As did I. I was trying to reassure myself that Payne was still Payne.

But those flames licking around his body were doing something. Somehow, his scent and spirit were transforming.

“Seems like my son will finally get his answer.” I turned at the sound of Molly’s voice. She got as close as she could to Payne before sweat coated her forehead. Her voice was ragged as she spoke. “I don’t sense him beneath that.” Clasping her shaking hands together, Payne’s mother’s eyes rimmed with tears as she looked at me. “Is it really him?” Molly was a ghost given Reaper powers. She was retired and had none of the abilities we possessed, so she couldn’t sense how rapidly her son's scent and essence changed.

“It’s him.”

Molly straightened her shoulders. “I don’t care what’s beneath there. He can be a monster for all I care. That’s my son and I’m going to wait right here for him to…”

“Evolve,” Shepherd finished for her. “It’s safe to assume he’s entering a new cycle in his life. If you look close enough through the flames, his body is in a cocoon.”

I squinted as I searched through the flames, then my jaw dropped. Shepherd was right. Something brown wrapped around Payne. It was why no one could see him. Then it dawned on me.

“Could the flames be protecting him? Maybe he’s vulnerable right now, and it keeps anything from hurting him? Question, what will he be when he comes to?”

“No matter,” Molly said. “I will wait righthere,” she pointed to the chair, “so I can smack him for not coming to visit me. And for scaring the shit out of me like this. He’s going to be so heartbroken when he wakes…” Molly drifted off, and our eyes met. Did she know about Payne’s feelings toward Joy? All that time I thought I was the only one. “We have to find Joy,” Molly said solemnly.

Suddenly the castle shook, and we heard piercing squawks. My knees wobbled, and Shepherd pulled me to his chest. We all looked toward the ceiling.

“What was that?” Shepherd asked.

“I’m guessing the dragons,” I said as a wing came through the infirmary window. Glass shattered, and the roars intensified. The female bent her head and roared at the male who shoved her against the castle. The male whined when she bit his neck. As he retreated, the female broke free. Her wings smacked him in the face. He squawked and bolted after her. I ran to the window and looked up, then sighed. All the dragons appeared to be fighting. On a closer look, however, I realized what was happening. “It’s mating season. It comes once every century for them.”

“They kill each other?” Shepherd asked.

“No, they fight the one they wish to conquer. And when they do, they claim them.”

_______

Shepherd and I stayed with Molly the entire day before Fear came. Shepherd and I gave them privacy. We didn’t have the luxury of waiting around, anyway. Joy had yet to be found, and we had to continue our Reaper work, or we’d be encouraging the end to arrive sooner.

It was unsettling. We had no idea who or what Payne was. With his essence vanishing, would he still be the friend we knew and loved? Joy would have been right there beside him, but she dealing with the unknown too.

Derrick. Harvest.I didn’t know who I should hate more.

In the human world, I held my scythe tightly, ignoring the anger pulsing in my veins, and opened the passage. The elderly ghost watched me warily and hobbled into the tunnel as if her life depended on it.

“You’re unsettling the ghosts with your glower,” Shepherd said from behind me. He had become like a shadow, always close by. His reaping form rippled as he stepped out of the darkened corner and approached me. His violet eyes were bright in contrast to his black form.

“Are you sure she wasn’t running because she saw you in the corner?” I asked.

“Let’s go chase after some bad demons. I’m hungry, princess.Unless.” He moved closer. “You want to let me play with you in my reaping form?”

My pussy throbbed. His words reminded me we hadn’t gotten to explore that yet. But with Joy gone, Payne changing, and the world ending, how could I indulge in all the things I wished to? It felt wrong to enjoy my soulmate. Shame seeped into my bones, sagging my shoulders.

“Hey! None of that now.” Shepherd rippled closer.

Averting my eyes from his purple gaze, I said, “Nothing makes sense anymore, and I feel like I know nothing. We can’t reach Joy. She’sgone.”Rubbing my chest, my head lowered. “I can’t sense her at all.”

Shifting into his human shape, Shepherd hugged me. “You might not be able to reach her, but that doesn’t mean she’s gone forever. Your family is strong. All of you will get through this.”

“She’s so sweet. She won’t be able to endure whatever they—”

“Stop,” Shepherd commanded.

My phone chimed in my pocket, and I pulled it out. I looked to Shepherd next. “It’s Dad. He’s calling us all to the castle.”

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