“Joy, this is Derrick.” Maureen gestured toward the handsome male roving his gaze over me. Using my Reaper senses, I discovered he was a warlock. She swept her arm in my direction. “Derrick, this is my sister, Joy.”
“Hi,” I murmured, trying not to rub my temples for the hundredth time.
My head throbbed. I barely slept, and when I did, I dreamed of the mystery man. The need burning through me was worse at night, but its presence never completely went away during the day. The sensation might be duller, but hot enough to make my pussy throb. I materialized a new pair of panties every so often, but I still felt uncomfortable. The Underworld was a filthy place overrun with a demon who had heightened senses.
“Lovely,” Derrick said. “If I had known Grim’s daughters were such beauties, I would have joined the cause a long time ago.”
Ew.
I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes, but Maureen didn’t. She scoffed and curled her lips in disgust. He wasn’t looking at her, though, because he was too busy letting that lecherous gaze roam over me again. I let my Reaper senses slide over him again, searching for his past, and stumbled on something I missed the first time. My eyes widened.The warlock’s a proxy.Warlock and witches with incredible strength, more so than a normal one, were called proxies. I’d never met one before crossing paths with Nova at the human festival. She worked alongside Harvest and might be August’s marked mate. The two proxy encounters were so close together. I wasn’t sure what to think.
But more than that, I sensednothingof Derrick’s history. I frowned. It was very rare to come across someone with the ability to block a Reaper’s power. We could look at someone and see bits and pieces of their past. It was how we knew where to send someone. I peeked into Derrick’s past because he gave me a bad feeling, but…Proxy.
“Who’s our new friend?” I asked my sister.
“Your watchdog.”
“Mine?” I swallowed my disappointment. I was in the room when Payne volunteered to stay at the castle. Who did he ask to safeguard? Kitty? Prudence? When I sensed my curse crawling up my left arm like a bug, I glanced at it quickly. The green of envy snaked up my skin like a vine. I grimaced and shut my cloak.
Derrick smirked and then winked. “Don’t worry. I’m not immortal like you, but I can keep you safe.”
“Can you give me a moment with my sister?” I asked Derrick.
As soon as the warlock stepped out into the hall, Maureen said, “I know what you’re thinking, but Dad really sent him.”
“He’s not a Reaper.”
“As much as it pains me to admit, we can’t be choosy. We all have work to do. Dad’s a lot more lenient with his daughters, but our brothers are working nonstop. We need to do more.”
Youneed to do more was what she meant.
Unlike my siblings, I hated fighting and killing. But what I hated more was evil. So, a woman had to adapt. It didn’t mean I enjoyed taking a life, but I would kill to protect innocence. But Harvest crossed too many lines. I’d gladly destroy him and all of his followers.
“I’m aware of my duties.”
“Then let’s get to work and be safe.” Maureen sashayed away.
_____
Hours later, my body was exhausted, and I breathed irregularly. But it wasn’t because I was taxed. The throbbing ache at my clit worsened. I sweated so badly that I constantly materialized new clothes beneath my cloak. I used my power to clean the blood off my blade, too.
Derrick and I intercepted a group of vampires, a few werewolves, and some banshees. It was bizarre to see bloodsuckers and wolves work together to kidnap human children, but it was proof of Harvest’s influence. Harvest had used children before to get our attention. I had to wonder if he was trying to lure us again. The entity was hellbent on capturing one of us. Butwhichof us?
Derrick snorted.
I faced him and asked, “Is something wrong?”
He glimpsed at my hand. “You’ve cleaned your sword so many times.”
“And? A clean blade cuts better.”
“What about your clothes? Don’t think I haven’t noticed just because your cloak covers you.”
I gripped my weapon tighter and glared at the proxy. His mischievous smirk filled me with tension.“Why does it matter to you?”
Derrick’s head tilted to the side. “I’ve made you upset.”
“I’m a little warm, is all. I’m not upset,” I gritted out.