Page 65 of Virgin Lust

Payne sighed. “You’re overreacting.”

“What are you hiding?”

His shoulders stiffened. “Nothing.”

“You don’t look well. You’re sweating like a swamp beast. And you’re tense.”

“Because it’s fucking hot.” He wiped his face with his shirt.

I was wearing a long-sleeved fitted shirt. The air was cool and damp in that part of the Underworld.

“What is he?” Dirk asked.

“We don’t know,” I whispered.

“But you’re a Reaper. You should know.” Marty blinked up at me.

The gremlins were in for a rude awakening. Reapers didn’t know everything.

“I can hear you,” Payne muttered.

“He’s entering something,” Dirk stated.

“I’m what?” Payne’s forehead wrinkled.

“You’re experiencing some sort of change.” Dirk pointed at Payne before looking at me. “You shouldn’t be around him. Creatures evolving…changinginto the next stage of their life are seldom nice to be around.”

“It really pisses me off that you’re a know-it-all,” I grumbled.

I wasn’t even going to argue about it. Something was happening to Payne. I looked at my hands.Something’s happening to all of us.I just didn’t think Payne’s change had anything to do with the approaching end.

“Since you know everything, what kind of demon am I?” Payne and Dirk were locked in a staring contest.

“You’re not a demon, but I don’t know what you are. I’ve never encountered such a scent as yours.”

“Fucking thought so.” Payne tossed his hands up.

“You should probably descend those souls so we can move on,” I said. “It’s going to be a long day.”

_____

Itwasa long day. Payne was getting worse. His most beloved gun and sword were ignored in favor of killing with his bare hands. There was a triumphant gleam on his face I’d never seen on him. It was primal.Payne was the reliable good guy. He had always been patient, but now I didn’t recognize him.

“Why do you keep staring at me?” Payne snarled as he tossed a corpse to the ground. The loud thump and his eerie, darkened eyes disturbed me.

“We need to figure out what’s wrong. You can’t lose your fucking mind right now,” I said. Not when I lost my powers for a moment the day before. More than anything, we needed the Payne we could rely on.

“No need. I know what’s wrong. I just got to stay away long enough. It’ll pass. It always does.”

Why were men always so damn cryptic?

“So you know what’s happening?” When he nodded, I pressed for more. “I thought you weren’t hiding anything?”

“I don’t know exactly,” he said coolly. “Just a feeling. Drop it.”

“I think—”

Payne tossed his hands up for the billionth time today. “I’m taking you to the castle. Someone else can babysit.”