and drooling, crouched low briefly and then circled the firepit. When I saw Payne on the other side of the flickering flames, I gritted my teeth. That Reaper ran off with my mate. The werewolf growled and pounced over the fire. Jumping away from the wolf’s claws, Payne reached behind him and unsheathed a sword. He swung and blood painted the floor. Seconds later, the creature’s head tumbled away. His eyes stared into the abyss.
Payne wiped his blade on his cloak before sheathing it. A deep scowl settled on his face as he looked down his nose at the smattering of bodies on the ground. Glancing behind him, he muttered, “When will these fools realize they’re being used?”
Following his gaze, I saw Prudence sitting on a boulder, one leg crossed over the other.
My throat burned with fury as I clenched my fists. Why was my woman with him again?
“How does that surprise you?”
My entire body prickled with desire at her soft voice. I needed to get rid of the other Reaper. I didn’t like how he was always around her.
“Thanks for the help,” he said in a clipped voice.
“Happy to oblige,” she responded.
Before I could make my presence known, a loud fart reverberated in the cave. Wallis turned blue and gasped. The pungent aroma overpowered the werewolf’s funk. I looked left and then right before discovering the culprit. Marty stared at the floor with his hands behind his back. Disgusting little troll. I put out my cigarette against the cave wall.
“Oh, my Hades!” Prudence pinched her nose. Payne fanned his face and groaned. The two Reapers looked in our direction.
When Payne’s hand went to his sword, I stepped out of the darkness. Slowly, he tilted his head and regarded me with the same stony expression I gave him. “It’s you again. What the fuck did you bring with you?”
In a blink, Prudence materialized beside me. My breath got caught in my lungs at her nearness. Instead of looking at me, she glared at Wallis.
I touched my mate’s shoulder. She jolted like the contact surprised her. As our eyes met her pupils dilated. That potent aroma of hers spread like wildfire. Prudence gasped. I inhaled. My hand tightened, and I pulled her to me.
“Not again,” Dirk croaked.
Prudence breasts pressed against me, and I grinned. Just as quickly, she shoved me away and her scent began to fade. “Shepherd…” she drifted off. “How did you find me?”
Swallowing heavily, I watched as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and narrowed her eyes. It didn’t matter that her scent was fading. The feel of her body against mine lingered. Touching her, being with her, felt right. She feels like home. I didn’t want to upset her, but I couldn’t wait another second longer to be near her.
“Why the fuck are your gremlins humping the walls?” Payne asked.
How did he not know the reason for their actions? I thought Prudence affected everyone when she became horny. How many fell to her magic before me? Clenching my jaw, I looked at Payne.
“Your gremlins?” Prudence gawked at me.
Ignoring her, I asked Payne, “Why are you always with Prudence?” Her arousal had dissipated completely, but mine transformed into anger. “She was with me the other day, and you took her away.”
“I’m her babysitter, so lose that expression.” Payne’s jaw ticked.
“Babysitter?” That again? Why the hell did she need one?
“It’s a long story,” Prudence interrupted. “Did you come to glare at Payne or talk to me?”
“It’s been a day,” I said.
“Longer for me.” Tilting her head, one brow slowly raised. “How did you find me?”
“That’s not important.” I wasn’t ready to tell her I bonded to her soul and was already obsessed with her. “Why do you have a babysitter?”
“That’s none of your business.” Prudence stiffened slightly as I stared.
None of my business?
I supposed her answer made sense on some level. After all, we’d just met. But something troubled me. I feared her rejection, which kept me from telling her about the bond. But what were her reasons for keeping secrets? It didn’t matter. I was determined to tear down walls to learn everything about her.
“Are you in danger?” I asked.
“It’s possible,” Payne interjected. “Harvest targeted one of Grim’s daughters.”
The words made my heart jump.
I frowned. “Who’s Harvest?”
Prudence sighed. “Why are you asking so many questions? You haven’t answered mine yet.” Then she looked to Payne. “And why are you answering for me?”
“There’s nowhere you can go in either world that I can’t find you,” I