Page 23 of The Female

The room feels suffocating, both Aziel and Silas making no effort to hold back the power that pours from them. It has me feeling exhausted, my mind unable to focus on anything as I look between the two in panic.

Silas says nothing and takes a step back as Aziel moves farther into the room.

“Why is she wearing your shirt?” Aziel asks.

Gray shrugs. “Why does it matter?”

Unless Gray was already muting his power when I got in the car, he’s clearly the weakest of the three. I’m not too familiar with demon biology, but I know their age correlates with their strength, which determines their status.

They get stronger as they get older, and that strength earns them more respect.

“Have you fucked her yet?” Aziel asks, cutting to the chase. “She doesn’t smell like you.”

I gulp, refusing to let myself cry in front of these men.

I knew this was going to happen and acting all surprised isn’t going to help me. Dad said I need to appear strong, and that’s precisely what I’m going to do. I may be at a disadvantage here, but I won’t let them see me break.

“I’m only going to be feeding on her dreams for the time being,” Gray says.

Silas quirks a brow, amusement briefly flashing over his features before he hides it away. Aziel, on the other hand, seems to be seething, his face contorting into a scowl and his hands clenching.

“No, you’re going to fuck her now.”

I stare wide-eyed at the two arguing men, panic-stricken as Aziel insists Gray take me. I’m sure they can all hear my fluttering heart and choppy breathing from where I stand, but they ignore it.

They’re pretending I’m not even here, despite this entire conversation being about me.

Do I have no say in this? The thought fills me with horror, and I instinctively step back. Gray’s hand slides down my arm before dropping and hanging limply by his side. I take his easy release of me as a good sign and move back another step.

“I am not going to fuck her,” Gray says.

Aziel blinks, making no attempt to hide his frustration.

“What was the point of buying you a female if you have no intentions to use her?” he asks.

Silas steps forward and drops a hand on Aziel’s shoulder.

“Aziel, give her time to adjust,” he says.

My eyes widen. Silas gives off quiet and reserved vibes, and I anticipated his voice would reflect that. He’s not necessarily loud, but his words scream authority. It’s intense, and I wonder if he’s the one in charge. I assumed it would be Aziel, considering he’s the royal, but maybe I was wrong. I don’t know enough about fates, and I’m not sure where they stand in the social hierarchy.

“I won’t be one of those men who abuses their female just because I can.” Gray sounds more confident now that Silas has chosen his side in this argument.

I can’t hold back my sigh of relief. I’m grateful both are on my side. Gray is an incubus, and I doubt it’d take much to change his mind. Fates are known to be level-headed, and I have a feeling he will not so easily turn back on his decisions.

Aziel looks infuriated, his lips flattening into a straight line as he looks between Gray and me. My body tenses as I wait for his response, scared he’s going to continue pushing the issue.

I’d do well not to trust him.

“You made a promise. I don’t want you feeding from me,” he says.

Gray shrugs and looks back at me before leveling his stare with Aziel once more.

“She’s a virgin. I promised I wouldn’t use my lust.”

Aziel laughs.

“That’s never stopped you before,” he scoffs. “You love fucking virgins.”

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