Page 8 of Payne's Envy

“You are.”

“I am not!”

I am.

But I wasn’t sure what to do or say. As he continued to stare at me, I envisioned tearing his head from his shoulders. It would be easy. All I had to do was use my teeth—teeth?Did I really think that? I backed away and my sword clattered to the floor. Opening my mouth, I touched my teeth. For a split second, in my thoughts, I had envisioned something far sharper and longer than my flat teeth.

“So glaring and yelling doesn’t mean what I think it means?”

I sucked in a deep breath. “Sorry… I don’t know. I’m just burning up and so uncomfortable. I’m normally…”

“I would say nothing, but since you did. You’re aroused. I sense it.” Derrick’s voice deepened as he stepped closer, letting his gaze linger on my chest. “I can help with that.”

I held up my hand. “No. I think we’re done for the day.”

Chapter Five

Payne

I couldn’t remember the last time I slept. Although my limbs were unbelievably sore, I couldn’t rest. The yearning wouldn’t stop, which made working with Prudence that day irritating. She couldn’t stand me hanging around, knowing I was babysitting her. I understood. As a Reaper myself, I wouldn’t have liked the idea of someone protecting me.

Grim’s daughters were powerful, but they were targeted. I loathed the idea of protecting the wrong sister while being so far away from the other. The one I hurt countless times was the very reason I chased after the impossible. If I never learned how to control myself, I’d never get to take the love Joy offered me.

Her resolve was admirable and terrifying. Knowing Joy loved me gave me hope. What would happen if she finally gave up on me and turned away? What would I do then? Thinking about that reminded me Joy hadn’t tried reaching out for me in several weeks. Whether it was asking me to join her for a meal or being flirty, Joy hadalwaysput herself out there for me, no matter how many times I turned away.

Not lately.

The hairs on my arm stood on end as I questioned why she hadn’t. Maybe she finally gave up. Maybe she found someone else. My mind drifted back, and I remembered the woodsy aroma of the demon she had slept with. I recalled the metallic taste filling my mouth, and the disappointment etched on Grim’s face when he discovered me.

Grim couldn’t understand. I lost everything. Everything that was Joy belonged to me. And I had to stand by while she misunderstood me again and again.

Shaking the harrowing thoughts away, I stood. As I did, a roar vibrated the castle. I recognized the dragon’s timber.River. He was by far the biggest dragon in Grim’s woods. What was he grumbling about? Tapping the chip in my pocket, I ported to one of the castle’s higher towers. The bulky dragon tucked his wings behind him as he slammed into the tower above me.

The dragon tipped his chin up to where a female hovered in the air above him. He roared at her, but the sound was more like a desperate whine. The female hissed and flew off.

River was ready to pursue her when I yelled, “River!”

The dragon turned his long neck to face me. As a child, dragons had always acknowledged me. They would bend their bodies forward like they were greeting me or rub themselves against me. They never did it to anyone else. So, it was odd that I stood so close to River and the male barely noticed me.

I once thought I was one of those beasts because of my strange connection to them. A dragon stuck like a man. As I aged, my parents brought me to countless witches and warlocks because of it. They saw my bond with dragons and wondered, but everyone told them the same thing. I had no similarity to those dragons. Nothing exists like me.

“What’s gotten into you?”

Over the years, I learned some things about the dragons. I didn’t think they understood our words as much as they sensed our emotions and read our body language. One thing was certain, though, I definitely heard them speak inside my head, which puzzled everyone.

“Mate. Offspring. Time.”River’s thoughts flowed through mine as he dove. He flew so close, almost touching the wall of the castle, until he reached the concrete and swooped forward. And like that, he disappeared into the woods, chasing after amate.

I frowned.

Mate.

That was a word I was tired of hearing. Ever since Sebastian’s witch ended up with his curse mark, more of the Reaper siblings were finding their other half. Fucking ridiculous if they asked me. Love didn’t work that way. It didn’t happen that easily. In fact, it hurt really damn badly. I didn’t get to be greedy and latch onto what I loved like my heart craves. I might destroy Joy if I did.

Andthey tried to tell me Joy had someone who carried her mark, shared her lifespan, and would receive all her love the moment she met him.

The muscles in my neck and shoulders were tense, making me stiff and uncomfortable. I needed to get back to work. The desire to tear into something and rip them apart with my bare hands intensified.

That’s what I’ll do to him.Joy’s mate. Like the time she gave herself to someone else.

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