Page 75 of Payne's Envy

Payne stopped and sighed. “Of course, I’ll remember. I told you I would. Why do you speak as if I’m not here?”

Did he hear my thoughts? I knew that would happen from my other siblings and their mates. I smiled and focused on listening to his thoughts. When I heard nothing but my own, I frowned. Why couldn’t I hear his thoughts yet?

He squeezed my hand. “You’re talking in my head while you’re in this form.”

“I’m not talking. I’m thinking, and you can hear my thoughts.”

Payne arched a brow. “How?”

“Because we’re mates. I’ll be embarrassed if you keep listening, so stop.”

“Thank you for accepting me, Joy, but I will remember everything. Not just pieces.”

I was afraid to think or even look at my mate. All my thoughts were of Payne, his body, his eyes roving over me, and when he would touch me again.

Payne’s mouth stretched from ear to ear.

“Stop,” I croaked. “Oh, my Hades. I’m going to have to count toads in my head to keep from thinking.”

He guffawed and pulled me closer. “Don’t deny me this. I don’t understand or even care why I can, but I’m happy to receive your thoughts.”

“We’re listening in just so you know!” Maureen yelled. “Even humans could overhear you two, and we hear better than mortals.”

I laughed and entered the room with my mate. We were the last to arrive. Ryan and Molly were there, too, and their eyes stopped on Payne. Molly began to tear up while Ryan smiled.

“They see the weapons on your back. They’re happy,”I thought to Payne.

Payne’s lips upturned before he caught me staring and grunted.

“You’re glad that they’re pleased,”I added.

As I grinned at Payne, I caught my father’s stare and averted my eyes quickly. I loved my father fiercely, but I didn’t understand why he forced Payne away from me. Maybe I would when I knew about the incident I’d forgotten.

I didn’t want to be upset. Time was precious. I leaned into Payne and looked around. August stood by the window near Gwendolyn and Barron. Shephard, sitting opposite of them, had his arm draped over Prudence’s shoulder. Maureen and Jackal sat on one of the love seats while Kitty sat with Sebastian and Isabella on the other couch. Molly and Ryan stood beside my parents.

Dad cleared his throat. “While we’re all together like this, I want to fill you in on some things.” No one said anything, so he continued, “I let the last of my Reapers go.”

“What?” Maureen asked.

“Some were abandoning their duties out of fear. Even more were losing their lives every day while we’re keeping ours. I sent them to be with their families.”

The tension was palpable in the room. His words were like barbed thorns rubbing against our egos. Our own people were running.They believed we were going to fail.

Barron’s glare cut into Dad. “By doing this, you’ll convince the demons we’ve given up.”

“What about keeping up with the souls?” asked Sebastian. “We’re already behind on ascending—”

“Exactly!” said Dad. “We’re behind on our duties. We can no longer keep up with the dead. People are dying when they’re not supposed to. Everyone’s death dates are changing. No matter how many times Jackal saves humans from diseases, other sicknesses appear in a hundred more places. He’s just one man. He can’t be at all those places at once. Unnatural weather patterns are wreaking havoc on earth. The humans are dying, and we can’t prevent it. We can’t be everywhere at once. We’ve lost people. Good people, too…”

My heart thudded against my ribs. Each beat was more painful than the last.

“You made the right call,” August said as he finally looked away from the window. “Save those we can. Even so, each time we travel to the human realm, we risk Harvest sending the dragons.”

“He won’t stop sending them, especially now that he knows our powers are fading.” As Barron spoke, his red essence flared around him. Gwendolyn grasped his hand.

Sebastian spoke next. “You’re right, but we still have to save as many as we can.”

“Of course. We’re Reapers. It’s what we do,” agreed August.

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