Page 80 of Payne's Envy

Joy

Payne was quiet; his touchtender as he hugged me. My family repaired the castle within minutes. Something we’d done many times before. Our power was a wondrous thing. We had so much—too much, maybe—and we didn’t appreciate it. Not until we were losing it.

What a lovely, tremendous sensation to feel human. To value the brief time of life instead of thinking I’d live forever. That moment with Payne rubbing his fingers up and down my arm was beautiful to me. Howmany more hugs and kisses would I get?Should I count them? Or would that make it sadder in the end?

That was the problem, wasn’t it? My father didn’t know what would happen to us. Even if we stopped Harvest, the changes in the human world were permanent. Their life was changing far worse than ours. In the end, we had to save the humans as best as we could. The balance between their life and death was what we existed for.

As I ran my hand up Payne's jawline, I became convinced that I was in that world for him.And him for me.

“Your family won’t disappear. I refuse to let you go. Once our fight is over, we will raise our young.”

I tilted my head at Payne. “I’ve loved you so much longer. How is it fair you got my thoughts first?”

Payne simply stared at me. “Do you truly believe that?”

I felt my skin heat. “I…”

“We were made for each other. Your fate isn’t to fade away. I have loved you my entire life and will always.”

“You said young. As in children,” I blurted as my heart skipped a beat.

He grinned. “I will remember today. Tomorrow, we shall complete our heat and be as we were always meant to be.”

“Finally!”

He laughed and carried me away. Not to my old room, but out the door and into the woods.

_____

Payne took us to the hot springs. He set me on my feet before plopping down on a large boulder to the left of the watering hole.

“I don’t know how long this will take. If it takes a while, and the dragons come before I wake—”

“Wake?”

“Yes, I’m going to try to reach my memories.”

“Then you’ll be aware.”

“Not exactly. I have things to confront, Joy. Things toaccept,and I’m ready.”

“You’re worrying me.”

He smiled. “Leave me, fade away from the dragons—do whatever is necessary if I don’t wake in time. They’ve come here to kill, but with you, it’s different. They’re caught by your scent.”

“I can handle myself and I won’t leave you.”

“They can’t hurt me. Even in this form, they can’t compete.”

“They’re stronger each time—”

“And I will always be the strongest.”

The gleam in his eyes, the truth in them, made my knees tremble.

“Please hurry.”

He inhaled. “I know, my mate. I’m trying so hard for you.”

---