Page 66 of Virgin Lust

When he started toward me, Wallis jumped in front of me. “Don’t you touch my lady.”

“Don’t,” I warned Payne. “I can get to the castle on my own.”

“Well, fucking go.” He actually scowled and shooed me away.

I hesitated as my stomach knotted with worry.Should he really be left alone?I needed to tell someone Payne had become a loose cannon. I probably should tell someone about what happened to me too. The idea terrified me since admitting weakness wasn’t easy.

“What do you plan on doing?” I asked Payne.

“Work. Something you could do if you’d stop trying to analyze me.”

A death date invaded my mind. It was so abrupt it pulled me away from Payne’s troubles. My heart raced and that upset stomach just got worse. The date belonged to Shepherd’s sister.I had to find him. Rubbing my chest, I glanced down to find Dirk staring at me.

“You paled,” he stated. “What is it?”

“Where’s Shepherd?”

“Relax. He’s likely sensed your distress already.”

Dirk wasn’t wrong.

A second later, Shepherd appeared and shoved Payne backward. “What did you do?”

My mate made the mistake of grabbing Payne’s shoulder. Shepherd winced and yanked his hand away. “What the fuck? Why are you so hot? Why aren’t your clothes on fire?”

“Your soul reaper’s here. I’m leaving,” Payne muttered and ported away.

When I saw Shepherd’s blistered hand, I gasped and held his wrist to inspect it. “Oh, my God! Payne’s skin did that?”

My brows raised.

Joy.

Of course. Her skin did the same thing.

But why?

“Did you see his reaction? He wasn’t surprised by it either,” Shepherd said. Ignoring his injuries, he clasped my hand in his tightly. “What did Payne do? Say the word, and I’ll kill him.”

A slight smile reached my lips before it waned. The death date, Payne and Joy, and my wonky powers loomed over me like a thundercloud. Suddenly, my body felt numb. “It’s not like that. Payne’s dealing with something we know nothing about.”

“I don’t like him near you,” Shepherd muttered.

“Then you should have been here with me instead,” I complained.

“Believe me, it physically pains me to be away from you, Princess. I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t important.”

I watched him closely as he rubbed his fingers gently over my hand. “You’re not telling me something.”

He smirked, then tried to hide it. “I’m a Reaper. That’s what I’ve been doing. Figuring out my powers.”

“You’re awhat?” I froze.

“Now, I can help you. I’ll never sleep, never rest, never stop if that means keeping you safe.”

I stared at him for a moment. “You’ve figured out your powers?”

The smirk he tried to keep hidden was on full display. Lifting his hand, a massive scythe appeared in his grip. Around his weapon, my unmistakable pink essence was swirling with his like my siblings and their soulmates. When our eyes met, it almost felt like Shepherd was waiting for me to say something.