Page 69 of The Female

A few nearby demons move out of the way, their expressions guarded as Aziel wraps his arm around my waist and brings his mouth to my neck.

I wince, trying to shove him away as he licks the hickies Gray put on me.

He huffs and tightens his grip, trapping me against him. His power pours out in waves, overwhelming my senses until I’m again sagging.

Tears fill my eyes as Aziel sucks my skin, the sensation making me shiver despite my hatred. Is this why Gray gave me the hickies? So people would think they were from Aziel and believe we’re closer than we truly are?

I shut my eyes as Aziel slides his mouth to the shell of my ear, his stubble rubbing against my cheek.

“Stop fucking staring and I won’t be forced to do this,” he whispers, his voice hoarse. “Every time you look at him, I’ll put my mouth on you. It’s one fucking hour. You can’t get your head out of your ass and behave for even one hour?”

I stumble back into another body when he releases me, and my heart plummets as another unfamiliar set of arms wraps around me.

“It’s just me,” Silas says, his even tone an immediate comfort.

He’s the only one I can trust. I spin and bury my face into his chest. I thought I’d be expected to sit silently at a table for an hour until I was taken home. Instead, I’ve been forced to watch Gray parade around with another woman while Aziel makes me constantly endure his touch. Silas is the only person who hasn’t lied to or tricked me. The only one who’s been genuine.

He tucks me under his arm and leads me away from the watchful crowd.

Laughs and sneers make their way to my ears as we return to our seats. I wonder if it’s embarrassing for them to have me as their female. It doesn’t seem like demons have the same limited number as the other realms.

These men could have had their picks of the demon litter.

Why did they choose to purchase a female, then? Why me? There must be something I’m not understanding.

I hold back my burning desire to ask these questions as Silas pulls out my chair. I refuse to look in Gray’s direction as I take a sip of my drink. Despite my sheltered upbringing, I’m not going to get drunk from one drink. Two’s a different story, but I won’t let myself get anything remotely close to tipsy here. I won’t let my guard down around these demons.

Especially while in Lust.

“He may not have a good way of showing it, but Aziel is trying to keep you safe,” Silas says after a few minutes of silence.

I scoff and shake my head.

“Aziel is a dick,” I snap, not caring if my rude remark makes its way to the Wrath’s ears.

Silas’s laugh startles me, the abrupt noise unlike him. His words and reactions always seem so calculated and thought out.

I’m sure I look shocked as I watch him laughing, his head thrown back and eyes squeezed shut.

Wanting to know where Aziel is and if he heard, I scan the room until I spot him standing along the wall only a few feet away. He quirks a brow as we lock gazes, a lazy grin spreading across his lips as he tilts his drink in my direction and takes a sip.

I relax as I take in his reaction. I was worried he’d be angry and try to punish me, but it looks like he finds my insult amusing more than anything else.

“Azielisa bit of a dick, isn’t he?” Silas snorts, his laughter continuing.

I don’t think what I said was that funny. I’m sure people don’t insult the Wrath often, and I make a mental reminder to hold my tongue next time.

Aziel’s threat to send me to the incubi den still lingers in my mind. I bet it wouldn’t be hard for him to sneak into my room while I’m sleeping and pull me away before Gray or Silas even notice.

Gulping, I look at the hundreds of demons standing around. I’m surprised Aziel isn’t making any effort to converse with them. He probably plans to do so after Silas takes me home.

There are a few non-demons here, but all the other breeds are also from powerful lines.

What looks to be a group of elves are near the bar, their dark, spiraled hair and deep-purple markings a clear indicator of who they are. I even see what looks like a vampire or two meandering about, their dark-red eyes standing out against their pale, nearly translucent skin.

I don’t belong amongst the elite.

Their prejudices against humans are the reason we were one of the last to join their worlds. If we hadn’t accidentally stumbled upon a portal, we wouldn’t have even known they existed.

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