Page 69 of Payne's Envy

I didn’t understand, but her panic crawled through me like bugs.

Expanding my chest once more, I felt the fury at my throat and roared as the creature rushed forth. The flames licked against the beast’s face, but he still raced into them to reach me. His hands pressed against my chest, claws trying to pierce my flesh. The weight of his attack sent Joy tumbling down my side.

“Joy.” I roared and looked away from the dragon to see over my shoulder. She dangled at my back leg.

“Make me shift,” she hollered as her blonde strands whipped around her face.

The beast clawed and snapped at my neck, but I held him off. “But the pain is too much in this situation.”

Fuck.

Even the vibrant green essence around her was gone. Something was wrong. I could smell the vulnerability in Joy. Her scent was no less lovely, but I smelledweakness.Rage built inside me.

“It’s the only way I can hold on to you in this situation.” Determination shined within her blue eyes as she tilted her chin up. “I won’t let go, no matter how painful. I promise you.”

I nodded and called forth her shift and she screamed instantly. Her pain clawed at my insides. I whipped my head back to the creature’s futile attacks and bit off his head. There was no way for me to ease her discomfort, but I could destroy all those that sought to harm her. I spat the putrid thing out as Joy’s green body wrapped all around mine. She was careful to avoid trapping my wing’s movement as she did so. She moved her head near mine.

“I’m still mortal, so everyone else is, too. We have to protect my family.” Her distraught voice rang loudly in my thoughts.

The only thing I wanted to do was obey and soothe. My vision zoomed in on everything as I roamed over the trees. I picked up on the last of the fight. I slowed and let the relief settle through my wings.“There is no more. Your brothers just killed the last one.You can relax, mate.”

The top of her head bumped beneath my chin. “Still no power, though.”Her voice was a mere whisper.

“Tell me about this. What’s happened to you all?”

“We’re losing our powers as the end nears. Reapers are only here to slow the conflict of evil within the human world by keeping a balance. We descend the wicked ones and ascend the good souls. If we don’t stop the end before it happens, we’ll fade away and there will be no balance.”

My mate was in far more danger than I realized. How could I protect her from a fate that meant she’d fade away? To see my soulmate slip away right in front of me… I would destroy everything before letting that happen.

“I’m sorry for forgetting something so important, but you must tell me how we stop it. Your fight has always been my fight, right?”

“We’ve always been on the same side, but for years, it felt like we were miles apart.”

The painful truth of her words made my chest burn. I must remember all of my mistakes and do better.

“When I remember, I’ll tell you why I kept you at a distance. I’ll get on my hands and knees and beg for your forgiveness. Never doubt for a second that I didn’t loathe myself for that gap I placed between us. Even as the male I am, the ache of who I was lives inside me. I will make myself whole for you.”

“Does this mean you want to remember who you are?”

“Yes. If you yearn for me like you do, I must be someone worth remembering.”

I was Payne. I didn’t want pieces of my memories. I wanted them all.

Joy’s body tightened around mine, and a purr erupted from my chest. My cock pressed against its protective layer of scales again. The heat was always constant between us. In those moments, with her content and aroused, they proved the most challenging.

“I know now the reason they didn’t give you wings.”

“Why?”

“Your long body wraps around mine so perfectly. It makes sense you should cover me with it as we roam the skies.”

“Feel that?”Joy chuckled in my thoughts.“My powers have returned.”

Joy’s desire filled my senses as she coiled against me. Her warmth was all I could feel.

“I sense my family is safe.”She nuzzled my neck. “Take me away, Payne. I think we should take this chance and get relief before more return, don’t you?”

Was she suggesting mating? I panted as desire pooled in my stomach.

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