Page 28 of Her Males

“We’ll be back soon,” Silas promises, pulling away.

Aziel makes a noise in the back of his throat, and I crane my neck to see him. He’s lingering by the door, his face still upturned in an annoyed scowl. I have half a mind to say something snarky, but he’s only meeting with the shifters to humor me and I don’t want to piss him off and make him change his mind.

He’s still annoying, but I admit that much of my fear of him has lessened.

It’s comforting knowing both Gray and Silas have my back, and Aziel, despite his sour attitude, hasn’t done or said anything threatening to me since my first days here. A small part of me also feels better after Gray snuck me into Aziel’s dreams and I got to see firsthand Aziel protecting me against Shay, but I don’t let my mind linger on that particular event.

What happened afterward still haunts me.

“Be safe,” I say, turning back to Silas.

His smile grows. “I like that you’re concerned for me.”

That’s good because being concerned is my specialty. I pull Silas into another tight hug before stepping back so he and Aziel can teleport to the shifter lands. They were given specific coordinates to go to and were threatened with harm if they don’t go to the precise location, but Silas says that’s normal behavior for the shifters.

They’re peculiar with whom they let on their land and where exactly they let them.

Silas disappears, leaving Aziel and me alone. I shift my weight from foot to foot, waiting for Aziel to go. He continues to linger, and I clear my throat before gesturing to the door he’s standing in front of.

“Excuse me,” I mutter, making it more than clear I intend to leave.

“Do you feel safe in this house?”

His words are rushed as they tumble from his mouth, like he’s forcing himself to ask them.

I hesitate before answering, unsure why he’s asking. “Yes?”

Aziel clenches his jaw. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

I scratch the back of my neck. Aziel and I are rarely alone together, and when we are, it’s usually by accident and only for a brief moment. He’ll step into a room, realize I’m already in it, and leave.

I do the same.

It’s awkward, but it works for us.

“I know you’re not going to hurt me,” I admit.

I didn’t believe that for a long time, but I figured if he had plans to harm me, he would’ve done it by now. Seeing him interact with Silas and Gray only confirms my suspicions. Aziel pretends like he doesn’t care about anybody or anything, but I see the way he watches over Silas and Gray.

He knows where they are every minute of every day, and he’s almost always looking over Gray for signs of hunger. Aziel cares for my males, and I doubt he’d be willing to hurt me and risk ruining their friendship. I’ve gathered they’re the only people he has in his life.

“Are you scared of me?” Aziel continues, his eyes darting to the clock above my head.

I’m sure Silas is wondering what’s taking him so long, and it’s only a matter of time before Gray realizes Aziel is alone with me and comes storming into the room to shoo the Wrath away.

“I’m uncomfortable around you,” I say. “But I’m not scared of you.”

It’s true.

Aziel nods, seemingly pleased with my answer, before he vanishes.

I stare at where he just stood as I struggle to wrap my mind around his odd questions. I assumed he didn’t care about my perception of him, and I hate how I feel strangely complimented that he does.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he wants me to like him.

My lips curl into a slight smile as I step out of Silas’s office and make my way to my own. I peek into Gray’s office on the way, but he’s busy on the phone, so I don’t linger. I still can’t believe he works for the forest service.

I never would’ve guessed.

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