Page 67 of Payne's Envy

A growl erupted from his chest. He ran straight toward me as the floor vibrated beneath my feet.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Payne

Joy stood beside one of her brothers when I turned the corner of the hall with her father. When Grim found me in the castle earlier, I didn’t know how to react. He kept me from Joy, likeeveryonedid. I didn’t know how to respond in a way that wouldn’t upset my mate. So, I said nothing to him even as he sighed and his shoulders crumpled. I wondered if it was because of my refusal to acknowledge him beside me.

Nothing mattered beyond being by Joy’s side again. It had been hours. I sensed her safe within the confines of the castle while I took care of the threats. As it should be. I was a mere vessel born to take care of my mate. Even as a child, it was all I’d wanted to do.

Seeing her long blonde hair swaying as her head turned toward her father’s voice, the raw need I had for her came barreling back. A part of me knew I’d always feel that yearning for her, even after hundreds of moments spent touching and loving her. I no longer had to love her in secret and could claim her freely and the memories of my past. I’d learn where we went wrong and make it right for us.

When Joy inhaled, her eyes locking with mine, I froze as several figures appeared all around her. They were all Joy. The past came and I let it consume me. All of those versions of Joy were ones I’d grown up with and seen before. A part of our past I wanted to embrace and remember.

Fear split down my chest, ripping my insides to shreds, and consumed me. It was like I drank lava. The memory would hurt. I should have known with all the past versions of Joy before me that wasn’t a single recollection, but several memories smashed together.

Each blurred remembrance was similar, though, because I was in danger in every single one. Joy was always running. Running toward me, like she constantly had.

In all those painful moments, I was furious and scared forher.I knew what she planned to do. The same thing she always did when my mortal ass got too close to danger in front of her. All the times shesavedme by taking the slash to her back on my behalf because I was fighting another demon when the other attacked. In another one, she lost a limb as she pushed me out of the way from an ogre. She lost her lifedozensof times right before my eyes. Not all of her deaths were necessary. Sometimes Joy jumped in when she didn’t need to, but a few times she had saved me from dying.

It fucking hurt,stillhurt. Seeing her lips trembling and the fear engulfing her blue eyes as she rushed ahead, without thinking, without blinking, to protect me. All those times,Ishould have been the one saving her. It was what mates did. If the memories told me anything, it was that Joy had known all that time, too. That I was hers.

I’d been so disgusted with myself after she saved me each time. Why couldn’t I save her? I hated being so weak. Why couldn’t I figure out what I was and become stronger, so I never had to see her die again for me?

My body was no longer fragile. I wasn’t sure why it took so long for me to become what I’d always been, but that didn’t matter. Never again would Joy have to rescue me. I was strong enough for both of us.

In the final flashback, I cradled Joy in my arms and brought her to my chest. She was limp in my arms…

She makes it so hard. I tried so hard to stay away, to figure out what I was, but I failed at that and her. “Joy.”

How could I touch her so easily without harming her? What differed from that night? Why didn’t I hurt her when I held her like this?

The air smelled of rotting flesh. I scrunched up my nose as the last memory faded. The hairs on my neck and arms rose. Joy stood before me, tilting her head slowly to one side. “Payne… What’s wrong?”

There was only one thing that smelled so foul. The dragons.

I heard the flapping of wings above the castle. Gazing up at the ceiling, I growled, then bolted for Joy as the floor wobbled beneath my feet. Debris fell on my shoulders as I lifted Joy into my arms and covered her. The ceiling cracked open. A massive, clawed hand burst through above us. I had just enough time to slam my fist into the creature’s palm. Its fingers closed around my hand and arm, squeezing. Even in that smaller form, my skin wouldn’t rip, and my bones didn’t break.

Loud footfalls thudded beside me. A blade appeared in the air with a yellow essence wrapped around it. Blood squirted into my face as August hacked into the dragon’s arm. Joy gagged and August covered his face as the stench grew worse. The creature howled as its arm toppled to the floor with a thunk.

The dragons smelled of decomposition. How could something be alive with rotting flesh?

“I know. You had it under control, but more are out there. A lot more,” said August.

I grunted, then glanced at my mate, who raised her head and met my eyes. Grabbing her shoulders, I crushed her to my chest. “Never again will you step in front of me. Never again will you take a blade or any other weapon for me. I amstrongnow. I’ll protect you forever.”

“We don’t have time for that,” August called out before fading.

The creatures flapped overhead. Some were on the castle. The steady thumping as they moved jarred the floor beneath my feet.

A soft touch gripped my shoulder. “Go.” Joy materialized a thin green sword as she pulled away from me. “And don’t you dare change me. I fight better—”

“You’re right,” I agreed, picking up a strand of her blonde hair. “This is you.”

I didn’t get to finish. Another beast scraped at the hole created in the roof. Claws swiped near me, near my mate, and anger radiated up my spine, and smoke blew out my nostrils.

How dare they interrupt me? How dare they try to harm her?

“Come.” I grabbed Joy’s hand and ran through the hall. “You will ride on my back. Together, we will kill anyone who dares to attack us.”

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