Page 128 of The Female

“Is there anything you’d like to say, Aziel?” Gray finally snaps.

I feel the weight of Aziel’s gaze leave as he turns toward Gray.

“Is there something Ishouldsay?” he asks.

“You touched my female.”

I sink into my seat. I wonder if they’d notice if I dropped to the ground and crawled away. My guilt grows as I think about how easily I gave in to the Wrath, and I feel shame over how good it felt when he touched me. I hope Silas told Gray I punched Aziel in the balls.

“I thought you wanted to share?” Aziel chuckles.

I sink further.

“Oh, so now you want to bond with Charlie?” Gray retorts, turning the question around on him. “That’s why you sent Shay away? Or did she leave when you refused to touch her? I get it, though. I’m sure it’s embarrassing being seen with the thousand-year-old virgin.”

Aziel stiffens. “I told you I’ll wait until Charlie expires, so there’s no reason to keep Shay around. Besides, we both know that’s not the real reason you’re upset. You’re scared she’ll leave you. Charlie said it herself. You’re a pathetic male, and history does have a way of repeating itself.”

“Aziel,” Silas warns.

“That’s not true,” I snap, twisting my sweaty palms in my lap.

I didn’t think anybody was listening to Gray’s and my argument. I didn’t mean what I said, and my heart aches as Aziel repeats my cruel words to hammer the point home. Gray doesn’t fight me as I grab his hand under the table, and I hope he understands my touch to be an apology.

I’m angry, so fucking angry, but I still care for him.

Aziel frowns, his gaze lowering to my arm.

I’ve seen them bicker several times, but they never cut this deep. Gray clenches and unclenches his fist, and I give his hand a tight squeeze.

“Tell me, was it hard watching Mommy laugh at your screams while Daddy beat you?” Gray snarls. “How old were you in that nightmare you always have? The one with the cables. Five? Six?”

The three men are out of their seats before I can register what’s happening. It’s impossible to keep up with their quick speeds, but from the glimpses I can capture, Gray and Aziel throw punches while Silas tries to pull them apart.

I stand in a panic, unsure of what to do but filled with fear. I’ve never seen them fight like this before, and I grab the rock between my collarbones before changing my mind and snatching up the knife on the table.

“Stop!” I shout, my voice cracking.

My words are ignored altogether, the three lost in their own world as they continue throwing their fists. Blood sprays out along the floor before a body’s dragged through it and thrown against the far wall. I don’t have time to make out who’s who before they’re back at it again.

Vomit rises in my throat as I step away from them. The last thing I need is to get in the middle of three frenzied demons and end up with my brain matter splattered along the table.

My shoes squeak as I spin in search of help, looking hopelessly at the shadows who sneak out of the room.

“Please!” I plead, gesturing to the fighting.

They ignore me and continue filtering out, clearly not wanting to get caught in the middle of this. I don’t blame them. My fingers curl around my knife, and I feel so fucking stupid as I bring it to my neck and press the blade against my skin.

“Stop, or I’ll hurt myself,” I choke out.

At a minimum, I think this will stop Gray and Silas. Hopefully, their stopping will be enough to settle Aziel. It’s a sad attempt, but I don’t know what else to do and I don’t want anybody to die because of my stupid actions.

The fighting continues, and I squeeze my eyes shut before pressing harder and letting the blade sink into my skin. If my words aren’t going to affect them, maybe smelling my blood will. Silence fills the room the moment the blade sinks into my neck. I smile, satisfied as all three of them still and turn toward me.

Aziel has Gray pinned against a wall, his knuckles covered in the blood that fills and pours out of Gray’s mouth. Silas is halfway between the two, the man shoving his body between them and attempting to force separation.

“Are you finished?” I start, gasping as the knife is ripped from my hand and I’m pushed against the wall by my neck.

I have just enough time to make out Aziel’s crazed expression before his admittedly soft grip on my throat is removed and Silas places himself between us. Gray and Aziel stare at him like they’re gearing up for a fight, their bodies low to the ground and eyes flickering between him and me.

---