Page 9 of Payne's Envy

I blinked, shook my head vehemently as the anger seeped out.

“Stop!” I roared, punching the side of the castle. The brick buckled under my fist, but I felt nothing. Just more rage and a deep hurt that dropped me to my knees.

I had to uncover what happened between Joy and me that day. To do that, I needed to know what I was. But it seemed impossible. I didn’t believe the answer existed.

And I had no time!

Joy’s mate could appear at any time. If I didn’t claim her before then...

I released a war cry.

Chapter Six

Joy

Derrick found me in the kitchen. After another restless night, I shuddered at the idea of dealing with him again. Something about the way he leered at me was disturbing. But if Dad thought I was safe with the proxy, I had to trust his judgment. That didn’t mean I had to like the man, though.

“I’m curious. Do you guys ever look bad?”

Derrick’s question made me raise a brow.

“It’s a compliment, Joy. I’m saying you’re beautiful.”

“I don’t need to be told what I already know.” I sipped my coffee.

He chuckled. “Your sister, Maureen, keeps saying you’re the sweet one. I wonder if she confused you with another of her siblings.”

“What does beauty have to do with kindness?”

I wasn’t vain, but when you lived as long as I had, it was easy to see how others saw me. By human and most demon standards, I was a stunning person. When Mom let us attend a human high school, males and females alike confessed their love for my beauty. They idolized me, but didn’t truly know me.

He rubbed his chin. “I’m sorry I said anything. Are you ready to go?”

I gulped down my coffee and stood. Payne entered the dining room. I froze. Growing up with Payne, I watched him mature from a lanky teenager into a towering man. I loved every version I encountered of him. I loved his dark hair and soulful eyes, especially when he looked at me in that captivating way.

His stare bore into mine. My breath caught when the tingle returned between my legs. But wait… Something changed about Payne. Normally, he couldn’t look away fast enough. Not that time. His nostrils flared, and his chest heaved. He seemed rooted in place, just like me. The building heat only worsened.

Payne had been stealing pieces of my heart since we were kids. There was nothing left for him to take from me. Even my attention belonged to him the second he stepped into a room.

Then Derrick spoke and ruined the moment. “You must be another Reaper.”

Payne’s head snapped in his direction. “Who are you?” There was a pause while Payne’s scowl flickered over Derrick. “Why is a proxy here?”

Payne must have used his Reaper powers on Derrick to see what he was.

“I’m working alongside Joy,” Derrick said.

My eyes widened when wisps of smoke, like steam, blew out of Payne’s nose.

What was that about?

He took a step toward Derrick. “You’re not a Reaper.”

“That’s interesting…” Derrick eyed Payne. “But you’re correct. I’m actually her watchdog, keeping her safe from Harvest.”

The bloodlust wafting off Payne amplified his musk, filling the kitchen with his scent. My nipples pressed against my bra as I inhaled brimstone and burning firewood. Something about Payne’s smell was different. It was stronger. My head spun, and the floor looked like a vortex opening up beneath me because of it. I exhaled softly as the wooziness faded.

I touched my forehead with the back of my hand.Hot.So hot all the time. I assumed the mysterious man of my dreams kept my body in a lustful state. But it overwhelmed me with how much I responded to Payne. My dream man seemed possessive, watching and waiting for me in the darkness. I’d always been in love with Payne, but I knew how to control my desire. Before a few days ago, I never got aroused in front of people like I’d been doing. I wasn’t so weak or broken from Payne’s endless rejections that I’d become thatneedy.

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