Page 43 of The Female

When he doesn’t, I flop onto my back and look around. I used to pride myself on being able to keep my emotions contained, but these past few days have broken that mental resolve.

I can’t believe Gray brought all my things here. Standing, I walk to my dresser and begin to sift through everything.

Each trinket sends me into a downward spiral of painful memories, but I enjoy it nonetheless. These are the last pieces of my family I have.

I wonder if Gray can find my mom. I know it would be too much to ask him to buy her, especially since she probably isn’t even eligible for sale, but I’d be content just knowing if she’s safe.

She’s the only family I have left.

My hands shake as I begin to move my things around the room. I feel like a fraud as I find homes for my items. It’s wrong for me to be getting so comfortable, especially when I know they’ll be sending me away soon.

Aziel is probably telling Gray right now that he must get rid of me. That either I feed him or am sent away. I doubt Gray will be able to change Aziel’s decision on the incubi den, and I hope he’ll let me feed him instead.

I’d much rather do that.

10

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SILAS

AZIEL STORMS INTOthe library with a loud groan, his posture stiff and his hands clenched into tight fists by his sides. He looks pissed, but that’s nothing new.

Thirty minutes. All I want is thirty minutes of uninterrupted silence.

“Can I help you?” I ask, mildly intrigued as he throws himself onto the couch.

What’s got him in such a mood? Aziel has never been much of a morning person, but this is extreme even for him.

He leans forward and rips my book out of my hand before throwing it against the wall on the opposite side of the room.What the fuck?The pages scatter and fall to the ground in a heap, and I clench my jaw to stop myself from throwinghimagainst the wall.

Given the overwhelming scent of arousal and Gray that pours off him, I’d guess the incubus snuck his way into his dreams last night. I lean back in my chair, not the least bit surprised. Gray picked a nervous, virginal human.

Charlie isn’t going to be offering herself for a long time, and Gray’s much too patient. It’s going to be a while before she lets him feed from her, and Gray still needs sustenance until then.

“Tell me what you know,” Aziel orders.

I shake my head, unwilling to share anything with him. I like Gray’s female. She’s tense and reeks of fear most of the time, but I can tell she’s going to make Gray happy. I haven’t seen him this excited in years, and I’ll be damned if I give Aziel the information he needs to justify ruining that.

Telling him I can’t see anything about Charlie’s fate will only worsen his anger. He probably assumes I was exaggerating when I said it at the auction house, and I have no intention of telling him just how serious I was. He’s going to be stuck with her for a while.

“You know I can’t tell you anything,” I say, standing and forcing my face into his neck.

He recoils, but not before I catch a whiff of Charlie’s fear. It’s embedded in his skin, and I feel my hands clench as a wave of anger erupts from me. I knew I should’ve escorted her back to her room.

“What did you do?”

The laugh that bubbles up out of Aziel’s chest is dark, and I struggle to hold back my snide remarks about its resemblance to the laugh his father used to have. As much as he claims to hate the man, he sure is turning more into him with each passing day.

The Aziel I met all those hundreds of years ago was determined to be different. He didn’t experience such enjoyment from hurting others. The man standing in front of me now is a replica of his father. He’s losing himself.

“Aziel,” I repeat when he doesn’t answer.

He shoves me away, and I take a step back but hold my ground. He’s in for a rude awakening if he thinks Gray and I are going to let him batter Charlie around without repercussions.

We are his only family, and as much as he pretends he doesn’t need us, I know he’d be devastated if we left. Hurting her will cause Gray to do precisely that, and, as much as I love Aziel, I’m uninterested in standing beside a man so easily overcome by his wrath.

“Oh, fuck off,” Aziel snaps. I watch through narrowed eyes as he runs a hand through his hair. A guilty action of a guilty man. “I didn’t hurt her.”

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