Page 20 of Payne's Envy

“He left because Joy won’t leave him alone.”

“He refuses to tell anyone where he lives because of Joy.”

Joy, Joy, Joy.

Me, me, me.

I always dismissed it, but I couldn’t anymore. I got the truth straight from the source. Payne would never see me as anything more than annoying. Even my scent frustrated him so much he forced himself to touch me.

I slammed my hand over my lips and fell to my knees. Shame crawled over me like insects as I hiccupped. Oh, Hades. I had to stop. My siblings tried to tell me, but I didn’t listen.

Chapter Eleven

Payne

I expected pain as my fist broke through the ogre’s chest. My bones should have at least cracked because their skin and bones were tougher than mine—used to be.Instead, the beast’s ribcage caved in, and bones splintered. Blood spewed across my cloak. Gushing and crunching sounds filled my ears. I spread my fingers and wiggled them, only to realize I pierced through the creature’s body completely.

Yanking my fist out, I peered through the gaping hole a second before the ogre smacked the ground with a thud. I stared at my hand and the reality hit. A mixture of green blood, bones, and chunks of a heart caked between my fingers. I shouldn’t have been able to do that. Sowhydid I? Like I knew I’d be able to withstand the impact on my hand?

And yet…

It wasn’t enough. I needed more. To hurt, wreck, and destroy all those fucking demons who forced me to prevent the end when I needed answers to my own problems. I felt like I stood on a balancing scale, hopping from side to side. On the one hand, I tried my hardest to stop the end, so I didn’t lose the one I loved. Then jumping to the other, trying so fucking long to find answers about myself, so I couldhold,touch, and love her like she fucking deserved.

Not that cruel agony of me porting out of her room after dry-humping her. Nothing was enough. I needed more blood because I couldn’t have more of her.

The heat clung to my body. Joy’s scent filled every inhale. Not giving into that instinct only heightened a different lust. One bathed in blood.

At my darkening thoughts, my throat dried, and I frantically wiped my hands across my cloak. Focus.Don’t lose your fucking head now!There was too much to do.

“How did you do that?”

I barely registered the voice, just kept wiping,wipingaway the blood as if it could erase the change within me.

“Payne?” I recognized Prudence’s voice that time.

Oh, right. Her and the soul reaper’s fucking disgusting gremlins were with me.

I briefly glanced her way. “It was nothing.”

“Nothing? I can’t punch my hand through someone’s chest without hurting myself.”

I sighed. “You’re overreacting.”

“What are you hiding?”

Question after question. Each one made me grit my teeth. “Nothing.”

“You don’t look well. You’re sweating like a swamp beast. And you’re tense.”

“Because it’s fucking hot.” Parting my cloak, I pulled up my shirt and wiped my face with the edge. Nothing helped the blistering need inside me.

“What is he?” one gremlin asked Prudence.

The million-dollar question!

“We don’t know,” she whispered.

“But you’re a Reaper. You should know,” said another gremlin.

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