Page 74 of Payne's Envy

“Yes. You have a lot of both…” Hey eyes softened. “You never went without them.”

“Can you call them to me? I know you and your family can do that.”

“You have my abilities now. Focus on what you want and materialize it.” When I grunted, she rubbed my arms up and down. “You can do it.”

“Of course I can.” I huffed and closed my eyes.

I focused on the gun first. The one in the vision was a hunting rifle. Dozens of shotguns, pistols and rifles blurred in my head, fuzzy at first, like I was waking up and trying to recall what I dreamed. I remembered having a lot of weapons.

I wanted the rifle from the memory, though. Someone well maintained the wood despite showing wear and tear. Palms out, I called it forth from the recollection. I felt its weight in my hands, but I kept my eyes closed and focused on the swords next. I pictured katanas, daggers, longswords, and many more mounted on the wall. In the recollection, I recalled cleaning and sharpening each after every use.

Placing my rifle in my right hand, I called forth the black Katana and soon sensed it materializing in my left grip. When I opened my eyes, my mate’s gaze was watery as she beamed at me.

“We should get dressed.”

Joy blushed. “So, now you worry about clothes? We’ve been naked since we shifted back.”

“I don’t like the possibility of someone seeing you.”

Earlier, she wore dark pants and a white t-shirt with her cloak. I materialized the clothing on her, then did the same to myself. Like her, I chose dark clothes, but I didn’t grab my cloak. Why not? Joy sucked in a breath as I put my weapons in the holster on my back.

“Did I always wear a cloak, too?” I asked.

She wiped her eyes and shook her head. “Not always. I’m guessing you didn’t enjoy wearing your weapon holster over your cloak, but you did sometimes.”

“No, I believe you’re right.” I nodded. “I’ve been hurt several times because…”

“You didn’t have the cloak on. It can protect us against some things, but not everything.” She placed her hand on my shoulder. “Payne…”

I placed mine over hers. “Yes, I’m coming back to you.”

“No, Payne, you’ve always been here. I just don’t think you’ve let me see you in a long time.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Joy

The dragons came that day.

And again.

My bones ached like a toothache. The heat, along with my time spent as Harvest’s captive, exhausted me.Although I was so freaking happy, I didn’t think I should be. The human world was in chaos. We couldn’t keep track of ascending and descending people. It was hard enough managing the disasters striking the human world each day, and we had the dragons to deal with too.

I might die soon. My entire family could fade away, and yet I had that moment with Payne. Icky black blood clung to his bare chest, but I still laid my head there as he carried me up the castle stairs. He lost his clothes when more dragons came, but he quickly shifted back into human form and materialized a pair of pants.

“Before you take her to rest, meet with the family!” My father’s voice boomed through the ballroom.

Turning on the stairs, Payne looked down at my father. Mom put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed before joining my sisters in the family room.

Without checking to see if we’d follow, Dad trailed after Mom a few seconds later.

“It doesn’t look like we’re napping,” I mumbled as my insides twisted. “Let me walk.”

Every time we met in the family room, it was always more bad news.

Payne grumbled as he placed me on my feet, but when I grabbed his hand and walked with him, he stopped huffing. A T-shirt materialized on Payne, along with his weapons strapped against his back. He used my power with ease despite never having used it before.

He will remember what he forgot. His memories still existed inside him.

---