Page 143 of Her Males

We move significantly slower than we did on our trial run, and the guide provides much more detail and color to his explanations. There’s a bounce to my step by the time we finish and head home for dinner, and the shifters are much less whiny about their transportation after Aziel’s subtle dig.

Aziel pulls me onto his lap when we sit at the dining table, his body warm as he feeds me Ucka and vegetables off his plate. Silas and Gray take a seat on either side of Aziel and me, and Kato’s smart enough to find a spot as far away from the two men as he can get.

Silas won’t stop glaring, and I can tell it’s making the shifter nervous.

“Well?” Aziel asks, shoving a large piece of Ucka between my teeth. “What do you think?”

“We’ll discuss privately and come to you once we’ve settled on a decision,” Chev says, speaking for the group.

I press my hands to my cheeks and smile, happy it’s not an immediate no. That’s got to be a good sign. Aziel continues to be a perfect host, supplying everybody with alcohol and Ucka until some more daring men lean back and loosen the ties on their leathers.

I drink water to keep a clear mind, refusing to let myself think too hard about why Aziel’s so aggressively keeping the alcohol from me. I want him to tell me himself.

When only Kato and Chev remain, I purse my lips and debate asking about Asmod’s body, but a quick glance at Silas tells me I better wait. He’s weird about Asmod’s death, and I’d rather ask when he’s not here.

I trust they’re not doing anything bad with Asmod. They probably just stuck him somewhere and forgot about him.

“We’ve made a decision on the portal,” Chev says as Kato stands and gestures for three Wrath guards to take him home.

Gray and Silas lean forward, both anxious to hear the response. I know they don’t love the idea of me going back and forth without one of them present, but I trust the shifters. Aziel does, too, and that says a lot.

“You can build one in your cabin as long as it’s not connected to the entire system and only travels here and back. If anybody comes through that’s not you, we’ll kill them and ask questions later.” Chev shoots Gray a warning look.

Gray sinks into his seat with a frown. He was probably excited to use it and terrorize all the females. He knows they have crushes on him.

Kato and Chev leave shortly after, and I spin in Aziel’s lap the moment we’re alone.

“That was good?” I ask.

He nods and gently pushes me off his lap so he can rush to the bathroom and pee. I watch him leave, loving the way he practically sprints. He must have been holding it for a while.

“I’m hungry.” Gray grunts.

He finishes his drink and turns to Silas, his eyes wide and pleading.

“Silas,” he whines.

Silas waves him away with a frown, too busy reading something on his phone to entertain the idea.

“I’m busy.”

Gray gasps. “Too busy for me?”

“Yes.”

I watch the interaction with a soft smile, enjoying the normalcy between all of us at this moment. I missed this.

32

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GRAY

CHARLIE’S CLEARLY PISSED as she storms out of Aziel’s office. I turn to watch her short legs carry her down the hallway, the limbs pumping. It’s nice to know shecanmove faster than a snail’s pace.

“Why’s Charlie mad at you?” I ask, stepping into Aziel’s office.

Aziel frowns and runs a hand through his hair, clearly stressed about whatever Charlie’s found herself so pissed about.

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