Page 114 of The Female

I try to move, but I quickly realize my muscles aren’t cooperating. Aziel’s refusing to let me leave, the man overpowering me. Controlling dreams is supposed to be my specialty, and I fight back my shame at the knowledge that even in this form, he’s still stronger.

Aziel’s lip curves down as he watches the devastation cross my face, but I hide it quickly.

He releases his hold on me, and I clear my throat before straightening my spine and pretending everything is okay. I’m good at that.

Charlie seems none the wiser to what just happened between Aziel and me as I take her back to our room. My chest tightens as I return her soul to her body and slide back into my own. Charlie is asleep, and I take a moment to ensure she remains that way before rolling onto my back and staring at the ceiling.

28

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CHARLOTTE

IPUSH AIRinto my cheeks until they’re so puffed, I can feel the skin stretching. I’ve already finished all the work Rock laid out for me this morning, and boredom is quickly settling in.

“Do you know when Gray’s going to be done with his meeting?” I ask Rock for what feels like the hundredth time.

Rock flips the page in his book and shrugs. His lips purse as I stare, and I see what I assume to be his fingers twitching underneath his shadowy figure.

He’s annoyed by me.

“Stop staring at me, Charlotte,” he mumbles when I don’t let up. “I’m not Gray’s keeper. If you want to know his schedule, you should ask him for it in advance.”

He makes a good point, but I still don’t like it. I narrow my eyes, glaring even harder in his direction, before giving in and returning my attention to my desk. The plate of food Gray brought me before rushing off sits untouched, and I use my fork to move the contents around aimlessly. I appreciate his constant need to feed me, but I can’t eat nearly as much as he seems to think I should be able to.

Besides, I prefer to eat the snacks hidden in the bottom drawer of my desk.

Gray’s good about keeping it stocked, and he knows what I like.

I resist the urge to sigh as I glance at the clock. I’ve never thought or cared much about Gray’s schedule before, but now that he’s insisting I hang around Rock whenever he has to step away, I’m more interested than ever.

He only had time to hastily explain that he doesn’t trust Shay and is trying to keep me safe when he woke me up and dragged me out of bed this morning. I didn’t even get a warning that I would have a babysitter, and I don’t understand why I couldn’t stay in our room.

My eyes are still puffy with sleep, and I want to remain as hidden as possible. Last night was a moment of weakness, and I don’t want to see Aziel.

I don’t care about him, and I hope he knows that.

I’ve already decided I’m going to live in intentional blissful ignorance and pretend last night never happened. I didn’t watch Aziel fuck a carbon copy of me, and I sure as hell didn’t let Gray touch me while it happened.

“I’m going to wait in Gray’s office,” I decide.

Rock nods and follows me without a word, and I can’t help but glance at Aziel’s door as I leave my office. Gray didn’t tell me what his urgent meeting was about, but I’m willing to bet all three are in there right now.

I hope they’re not discussing me.

With a shake of my head, I push Gray’s office door open and welcome myself inside.

Rock continues reading his book as he finds his way to the couch in the corner of the room and plops down on it. I’m sure it’s not fun being woken up at the crack of dawn to babysit me, and Rock’s making his displeasure of it quite known.

I wander around Gray’s room and look at all his knickknacks before sitting in the chair behind his desk. I don’t usually come in here without him, but his meeting is now in its third hour and I’m bored.

I fish my translator out of my pocket before getting to work snooping through the papers on his desk. He always leaves it so messy, and I’ve been dying to organize it. How he gets anything done is beyond me.

Rock snorts, prompting me to turn to him with a playful glare.

“Something I can help you with?” I ask.

He makes a show of closing his book and setting it on his lap.

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