Page 111 of The Female

I’ll tell her about the females tomorrow.

I wait until she’s asleep before closing my eyes and letting my mind wander. I intend to infiltrate one very specific body tonight, and I find it rather quickly.

Aziel’s mind is warm, and I’m happy to note there’s not another one in his room. He went to bed alone tonight. Good. He’s already asleep too, which is perfect.

Being a greedy bastard must be exhausting.

This is probably a bad idea, but I don’t care as I rush to Charlie and pull her soul from her body. It’s dangerous and hard to do, but I’ll return her before anything bad happens. We won’t be gone for long.

I can feel her confusion as I lead her to Aziel’s room, her soul unfamiliar with being removed from her body. My chest warms at the trust she has in me. A soul can’t be removed without permission, and she so quickly gave it to me.

I materialize her into a body as we enter Aziel’s room. She looks shocked as she glances at herself and then at Aziel’s sleeping form.

“Gray? What’s happening?” she asks.

I grab her hand and pull her into my chest. Our forms are not real, but I make it so she can feel me as if I’m a solid object.

“You’re sleeping,” I inform her. “I’m going to take you into Aziel’s mind.”

She frowns before shaking her head and trying to pull away. I tighten my grip, preventing her escape. I know she’s scared, but this will benefit her in the long run. I need her to see there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Despite her objections, she lets me wrap my arms around her waist and sneak her into Aziel’s head. It’s a bit harder than usual, his body unfamiliar with Charlie and putting up some resistance, but I stroke our bond until he settles and lets us in.

The poor Wrath never stood a chance at keeping me away.

Charlie squeezes my arms as I navigate us to Aziel’s dream. I’m willing to bet none of what she’s experiencing makes sense. It probably feels like nothing more than loud sounds and bright blobs of color to her. Someday, I’ll show her how to navigate and read a mind when we have more time. Hers is so beautiful.

Finding and latching on to Aziel, I pull all three of us into a new dream. Charlie and I hide in the corner, watching as Aziel sits at the dining table across from a furious Shay. Charlie opens her mouth and begins to speak, but I clamp a hand over it before she can give away our presence.

Aziel’s too intelligent not to notice the hushed whispers of another in his mind.

“It’s frustrating. Valentine won’t stop talking about him,” Shay complains, launching into a tirade about the Lust drama. She’s always loved my kind. “Honestly, I think Romeo should fuck her and get it over with. It’s so embarrassing for her, and I can’t believe Asmod tried to pawn her off on you,” she continues, scoffing at the mere thought of Aziel choosing Valentine over her.

Aziel hums, looking terribly bored as he stabs at the food on his plate. Shay doesn’t seem to get the hint as she continues complaining, and I have her use her extra-high squeal to annoy him even more. His frustration grows as she talks non-stop for ten minutes, and I bite back a smile.

I tighten my hold on Charlie and ensure her mouth’s covered as I have a dream version of her barrel into the room. Dream Charlie looks annoyed as she stomps toward them and sits at the head of the table. I give her the same attitude she had when I made the real one join us for breakfast this morning, knowing Aziel found it endearing.

Dream Charlie says nothing as she fills her plate and starts to eat. Shay scoffs, eyeing her with contempt. Aziel sits up straighter. The Dream Charlie takes a few bites before giving Aziel her attention. Her lips purse as she looks him up and down, appearing entirely unimpressed.

“How was your day?” she mumbles, sounding annoyed.

Aziel blinks, taken aback as Dream Charlie takes the initiative to speak to him. Shay glares at them both, her irritation visibly growing. She hates my female, and she’s not very good at hiding it.

“It was fine,” Aziel eventually responds. “How was yours?”

Fuck.He’s stuffy even in his dreams. I really should teach him how to better talk to women. He needs help.

Shay slams her fork down. “Oh, fuck off, Charlie,” she snaps.

Aziel stiffens, his pupils dilating as he turns and glares at Shay. My pulse races as I wait to see his response. I don’t know how he’s going to react, but I hope he doesn’t disappoint.

Despite the indifference he tries to portray, I know he’d never let my female be harmed.

“This is her home more so than yours.” His fists clench under the table as he defends Dream Charlie. “She has every right to sit here and eat.”

Aziel jumps out of his seat as Shay turns and lunges for Dream Charlie. Dream Charlie screams and falls out of her chair, her knife and plate clattering to the floor alongside her. The entire thing is dramatic, just how I like it, and relief floods my system as Aziel places himself between the two women.

Shay realizes a moment too late, and her nails sink into his chest just as he grabs her throat. Her nails do little to him, but they would’ve killed Charlie.

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