Page 25 of Payne's Envy

“What the fuck, Payne!” August roared, snagging my attention.

Payne stomped toward the flaming beast. The same monster all of us were hesitant to get close to because our powers might glitch again. What was he doing? No, what was he thinking?

“Payne!” My heartbeat roared in my ears as I ran after him. “Payne!” I was good at chasing him. Always. But I wished I wasn’t that time. Payne was mortal.

I never expected him to look back. August yelled my name, and I ignored him.I won’t get to Payne in time.Payne’s movement was incredibly fast. I faded intending to reach him and re-fade himawayfrom the monster. But all I saw was Payne slipping into the roaring flames surrounding the abomination instead.

I stood there gawking. Tears dripped down my cheeks as I tried to process what I had witnessed. He walked to his death…

The fire covering the creature shifted and swirled. No! The flames funneled like a mini tornado and kept shrinking, shrinking like it was being absorbed.

But what could suck in the flames?

My jaw dropped as Payne appeared at the bottom of the funnel. I was close enough to see his mouth open as heinhaledit all. The beast’s flames were gone, and Payne shone like a glow stick. His veins were bright orange.

The rest of the Payne’s fight blurred. Was I hallucinating? That couldn’t be Payne. My legs were immobile, and I could do nothing but stare.Then Payne popped out of the creature’s fists, gory chunks splattering everywhere. I couldn’t recall how he got there. Wasn’t he on the ground?

A tug sensation at my chest had me rubbing the spot as I watched him. The pull grew worse. I had the oddest instinct to go to him—which shouldn’t be strange since I always wanted to be near him, but the feeling was new. Like the Payne I saw before me.

More chunks and body parts flew around me. I shielded my face as lumps smacked the ground with splattering sounds. Ugh. Did my family kill the monster already? How badly did I zone out?

“Hey,” Derrick said. “Are you going to stand there all night?”

I shook my head and faced him. “No, I…”

Derrick’s brows furrowed as he glanced at something in the distance. “I’m curious about Payne. That deadly gaze on his face as he heads this way frightens me.”

“What?” I tried to turn around,butDerrick grabbed my elbow.

“I think we shouldn’t get close to Payne, don’t you?” Derrick pulled me in, far too close for my liking.

I yanked away and looked over my shoulder to see August standing in front of Payne.

“Oh, no you don’t,” said August. “You’re going to do whatever you just didtwomore times. Grim is with Barron and Sebastian now, dealing with the same kind of monster.”

“Move,”Payne said.

“Soul Reaper, you’re coming too, in case Payne can’t do his little trick again,” August ordered. “Prudence—”

“Don’t order me around,” Prudence shouted. “I’ll stay here and tend to the humans and souls that need guiding. All of you stay safe.”

August stared at our sister. “Is Prude showing she has a heart bigger than most of us?Fuck.The world really is ending.”

Shepherd was hugging Prudence when he said, “Ask me to stay and I will. Your brother will manage.”

“Go. There’s no danger here anymore.” She patted his back. “Besides, you sense my emotions. You’ll come to me when something’s wrong.”

“Always,”he said

“Get Joy’s bodyguard to help you guys.” August waved his hand toward me.

Derrick’s grip on me tightened, and I almost winced.

“He’s done nothing but watch. Make him work,” added August.

I side-glanced at Derrick and stiffened. Why was Derrick glaring at August? The proxy’s hold on my arm was so strong it hurt. I pulled my limb out of his grip and Derrick shook his head quickly, turning away from my brother as he faded with Payne.

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