Page 33 of Payne's Envy

To my left, another version of myself spoke. He was a familiar, younger me.

“Why does Grim deny me Joy? I never meant to hurt her. Why can’t he see how hard I’m trying?”

I flinched as another me appeared.

“He deserves to die. He touched what was mine.”

I backed away as the one covered in blood spoke.

“Joy, please. Stop. If you keep chasing me, I have to walk away…”

So many renditions of myself appeared. I didn’t have a clue what was happening. But my heart threatened to burst if that kept up…

“Why can she touch me so freely and I, her, sometimes? But when I kissed her, she…”

“What am I? What am I? Why doesn’t anyone know?”

I gripped my hair and pulled until my scalp burned.

“You left her wanting. Her scent, her need clung to your nostrils and turned your stomach to fire, and yet, you disappointed her.”

“I didn’t want to hurt her.”

“Hurt her? She wants to breed with you.”

I remembered the uncontrollable heat inside me. What he said made sense. It was like I was in some sort of rut. Like an animal. But why was Joy responding to me? She wasn’t like me.

“You’re unworthy.”Another me appeared.

“No,” I blurted. “I just need a little more time. To find a way for her to be safe from—”

“Time’s up,” a different me said.

One by one, all around me, the other Payne’s vanished.

Then I did too, but not before a single word hit me. I said it aloud,“Deathraka.”

Chapter Seventeen

Deathraka

The insistent tugging was so strong it hurt. It plucked and grabbed hold of my heart. Within those painful throbs, I felt more. Its plea. My eyes snapped open. My surroundings were dark.

“The flames are dimming around the cocoon,” a feminine voice said in the distance. “Ryan! What if something is wrong?”

“Calm down, Molly,” said a male. “This is likely a good sign. Our son is about to awaken. Wait and see.”

Son?

I couldn’t see who spoke. I felt no animosity from the voices, but neither stirred the organ inside my chest. No. The twisting within my chest grew more urgent. The pain was like someone clawed at my insides repeatedly.Something’s wrong.The pull grew weak suddenly… and my instincts sensed that was bad. The fire inside me burned for my mate. Why did I not feel my mate suddenly? Like she was…Gone.Raw energy pressed against my limbs. I’d kill whoever caused her flames to dim. I’d. Kill. Them. All.

The tug returned, guiding me to her. Urging me forward. But the anger didn’t diminish. Something weakened my mate. The tether begged me to stop it. As if I needed its guidance. Anything that hurtminewould die.

Acid bubbled inside my throat. The more I thought, the worse the fury festered.

With a roar, I shoved my claws through the blackness. Light filtered through the hole I created.

“Payne!” a female screamed.

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