Page 97 of The Female

“Don’t cry,” I whisper, wiping her cheeks. “You only feel this way because you have no other options.”

Her chin wobbles as she tries to hold back her tears, the sight only deepening the painful guilt I feel. I shouldn’t have let her climb on my lap in the first place. I knew what would happen the moment she launched herself at me with that wide grin.

Charlie continues to tear up despite my assurances, and unsure what else to do, I grab the back of her head and press her face into my chest. A loud sob bursts from her throat the moment her skin meets the fabric of my shirt, the sound startling.

Where the fuck is Gray?

I know he can hear what’s happening, and I wait anxiously for him to come and console Charlie. He’s probably purposefully staying back and forcing me to be the one to comfort her.

I’m sure he also heard me telling her about the females, but I will leave that particular heartbreak of truth to him. He’s the one who insisted we keep our knowledge a secret, convincing Aziel and me it would be best for Wrath to give them a decades-long advantage before sharing our findings.

Is it cruel? Yes. Does it give us an edge over everybody else? Also yes.

I try to console her. “Don’t cry. I’m not sayingnobecause I’m not attracted to you, Charlie. I’m very, very old,and you have so much growing left to do.”

This doesn’t seem to help as she lets out another wet sniffle. I know these tears aren’t just for me and are a cumulation of weeks of stress bubbling over at once, but I can’t help feeling entirely responsible.

My rejection is acting as the catalyst.

“I’m not a child,” she argues.

I hum and scratch the back of her head.

“No, but you are much, much younger than me. Don’t let us take advantage of you. Even Gray,” I respond, shouting the last part to catch his attention.

It seems to do the trick as, seconds later, I hear his approaching footfalls. Nothing gets the bastard moving quicker than a perceived slight. Gray looks pissed as he barrels into the library, his cold gaze landing on me before softening and sliding to the crying human in my lap.

I’m sure I’ll get an earful from him later, and I take solace in the fact that he won’t say or do anything in front of Charlie. He’ll take her upstairs and settle her like a good little male before lecturing me on the importance of building relationships.

My thoughts race as Gray scoops Charlie into his arms and pulls her off my lap. I can’t bring myself to meet her eye, and I turn my head away while he carries her out of the room.

I could have handled this situation better.

Her shaky breaths continue to make their way to my ears as he takes her upstairs, and I force myself to listen to them in punishment. I don’t like being the reason she’s upset, even if it was the right thing to do.

Sinking in the chair, my eyes flutter shut as I venture into the fated world for answers. It would be nearly impossible for anybody else to navigate, but I easily slip my consciousness into it.

I can feel my soul brushing against the spirits as I try to hunt down Charlie’s fate, and my annoyance grows as they tug at and steer me away. It’s risky to try to force them to give me information they aren’t looking to give, but I’ve been a good fate and I’ve earned some answers.

They won’t punish me for one slipup. Others of my kind have done much worse before facing repercussions.

The tugging on my mind and soul grows the harder I search for her, their tight grip making my head ache as I force my way forward.

I want to know what Charlie’s fate holds. I want to see if she’s to be our female.

I’m already aware our lives are intertwined and she’ll be with us until she dies, but I don’t know if that death will be of old age or if it’ll be with us in the future too far to see.

Groaning, I can vaguely feel the wooden armrests beneath my hands cracking as I fight through the pain betraying the fates brings about.

I need to know.

The fates have hidden her well, and I’m willing to bet they’re actively moving her around to keep her out of my reach. Fucking assholes.

“Silas.”

I ignore the voice as my soul fights against my own kind.Let me see her. They ignore my demands and yank me back with more vigor. She’s close. I can feel it.

“Silas!”

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