Page 54 of Payne's Envy

I didn’t understand what he grumbled about.

My lower half tightened, and I moaned as a wave of need gushed out of me. The scales near my slit were rippling as if they wanted to part.Oh, my Hades.There was no way I was going to let him take me in that form. What if it was painful?

I was thirsting forhimand relief. The anger festering wouldn’t rest until I gave into it. Getting pregnant was a terrible idea and Payne wasn’t himself. I didn’t know what he wanted, either.

That was the thing, wasn’t it?What if this was him forever?

I would learn to love him again, wouldn’t I?

That had been the answer I needed from the beginning. The one that hurt to consider. In order to accept who he was, I needed to say and think it, too.

“Take us into the woods. They’ll know not to follow,”I said.

“Are you sure about that? The female looks like she’s about to pry you away from me if she has to, and I hope she doesn’t try.”

“You won’t hurt her,” I warned.

“She’s your mother, isn’t she?”

“Yes, but she’s not only worried about me. She’s worried about you, too, Payne.”

His slitted amber eyes bore into me. “Don’t call me that.”

“Are we to call you Deathraka forever? You heard Melinda. That is what you are. A Deathraka.”

He huffed his annoyance.

I slid my claws down his arm.“Hurry, Payne. I need relief. I need you, and I will not have it here with my mom watching for another second!”

I should have started with that. Payne scooped me up and took flight.

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The further we got from prying eyes and the castle, the worse the heat became. I kept wrapping and unwrapping my body and tail around his much bigger one, because the pressure felt good as he flew with me. It wasn’t relieving, though. It seemed to make the ache intensify. His flames were an added caress to my scales, licking over my body as he flew. And I loved and hated the feeling at the same time. It wasn’t enough. I barely sensed the leaves grazing my scales as he dived lower.

I was confused when he dropped me on the ground. Payne flew overhead. His flames were at least two feet out around his body, distorting his shape. He was a magnificent creature. Truly terrifying to behold.

“What are you doing?”I scoffed. “Get down here and change me!”

“We must finish the claim. You must run, and I chase. I sense this in my very being. This is what we do.”

“No. No chasing. Get down here and change us.”

“You’re already at a disadvantage without wings—”

“I’m stronger in my true form.”

“That is your truest…”

“No, Payne. This is the form you’ve gifted me.”

He dropped to the ground with a loud thump. “Gift?”

“You didn’t know it, but you changed me so that we could be together.” Oh, Hades. I didn’t know if that was the truth. What if I told him a lie?

All I could make out was his eyes through the fire. “You’re not like me?”

I stiffened. “Excuse me? Are you disappointed?”

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