Page 78 of Virgin Lust

Soot covered me from head to toe. My lungs hurt with the amount of smoke I inhaled. If I hadn’t materialized a mask, I would have died while tending those souls. I provided masks for the gremlins too. They shouldn’t have come. Their devotion to Shepherd was admirable, but I felt like they went too far to prove themselves. They were loyal to the soul reaper without being with him .

“My lady.” The urgency in Dirk’s tone caught my attention.

Derrick stood next to Joy as she ascended souls. Since he wasn’t a Reaper, he couldn’t help no matter what August said. The only thing Derrick could do was help if danger came our way again.

“How well do you know him?” Dirk whispered, like he wanted to prevent Derrick from hearing our conversation.

“Not much,” I admitted. “Why?”

“Don’t be obvious, but pay attention. Every few minutes, he looks at you, and then at your sister.”

I frowned. Dirk was overreacting. Dad would never hire someone we couldn’t trust, but the uncertainty formed a lump in my throat. I felt the same way. Joy was toounusualas of late to pick up on anything odd about Derrick, too.

“It’s like he’s waiting for something.”

“I don’t like Derrick either,” I said. “But my dad trusts him.” I had to believe in my father. He’d went out of his way to make sure we were protected.

“My lady,” he started again.

I sighed. “All right, I’ll watch him.”

Twenty-Five

Shepherd

“What are you? A fucking volcano or something?” August yelled when I caught up to them. Then I saw his burnt hand and understood why.

“You grabbed me,” Payne said, striding away and heading for a second blazing monster.

“Is that Payne?” Grim asked as he dropped beside us.

“Just wait. There’s more,” August said.

We watched Payne disappear into the flames of the horned creature. Just like he did with the first.

____

Two dead monsters later, I was more than ready to go to Prudence. Her calm, sad aura penetrated through the bond. I lived and breathed her. Petals fell everywhere I walked, and her brothers took notice.

“So that’s a soul reaper thing?” Sebastian asked as he picked up a petal and inspected it. “You’re a dying flower?”

“Lift his shirt,” Barron barked, stalking toward me.

I glared. “Come again?”

“Hold still Soul Reaper, there’s something we need to check,” Sebastian said, coming closer.

“There’s nothing to check. Prudence’s essence is embedded throughout his form,” August muttered.

My forehead wrinkled. What were they going on about?

“Such a cutepinkSoul Reaper.” Sebastian laughed.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I asked.

“You haven’t noticed the pink lines appearing in your reaping form?” August quirked his brow.

“Pink?” I shifted forms. Just like August said, stripes of pink rippled through the black. Instead of being offended by the pink, my heart soared.Could I really be…No, I wouldn’t get my hopes up. I’d let Prudence tell me. The possibility made my shadowy mass quiver.

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