Page 14 of Payne's Envy

“You need more than that,” she countered.

“This isn’t what you think,” I began. “It’shim.”

The nonhuman man who suddenly became Payne halfway through my dream. I freaking came all over Payne’s face in the fantasy. It had been glorious until I realized it wasn’t real. Somehow, I had taken off my panties while I slept, though. I had my heart hurt enough. I couldn’t handle the torment of Payne in my dreams, too.

That’s it!

I needed to find the demon who did that to me. Maybe Melinda could help me.

I moved away from my sister, which caused her to worry her bottom lip.

“Joy—”

“I’m sorry. Let Derrick stay with you today. I need to rest,” I lied.

“Go to Mom.”

I shrugged and was all too happy to leave Prudence with the warlock.

___

“Aren’t you supposed to have someone with you when you’re not at the castle?” Isabella asked as I entered her coven.

“Technically, I have someone with me. You. Your coven leader, Melinda, and all the other witches.”

Isabella laughed as we entered an enormous room with a circular stairway on each side of us. I didn’t want to be cliché and say it was dark and spooky, but it was dark and spooky. Candles floated against the walls in a straight line, casting enough light to see. “Okay. What gives? What are you here for?”

“Me.” I looked toward the top of the stairs and saw Melinda. “Come on, Joy. I’ve been waiting for you.”

I suppressed a shudder as I glimpsed at Isabella. Isabella shrugged and pushed me forward.

Melinda was gone by the time I reached the top step. A single room stood before me with a small light illuminating the entrance. With a sigh, I stepped inside.

Melinda stood behind a desk with her back turned. Every wall in the room was shelves of books, piled and lined up untidily. “How’s the heat?” she asked.

I froze at the doorway. “You know what I’m experiencing?”

“Hmm.” Her floor-length dress swooshed as she faced me.

“You do.” I stepped closer. “What’s happening to me? The man in my dream— Am I hexed?”

Melinda chuckled. The sound was so soft, sounlikeher usual mannerism, that I gawked when she said, “No, child. You’re not hexed. Don’t ask me to explain. I intervene as much as I can with you and your siblings, but too much can be dangerous. Why do you believe it’s an outside source causing this? Have you ever considered that it might come from you?”

I’m to blame? How?

“What do you mean? What’s dangerous? And what have you intervened with?”

“Enough. Calm yourself. You’re not able to control yourself if you get upset, right?”

I gulped, but said nothing. I believed the witch knew exactly what was happening to me.

“Let it happen, Joy. Go for it. When have you ever stopped seeking what you want?”

Her words threw me for a loop. Were we still talking about the heat and the dream man?

“Can you at least tell me about the man?” I whispered, feeling uncomfortable about the conversation. “Why am I—”

“Aroused?” Melinda finished, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “Ah, does it matter who the man is?Whoyou want it to be should matter more.”

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