Page 32 of Her Males

Aziel remains silent, and Silas wraps an arm around my waist to keep me still. I’ve seen Aziel and Gray fight before, and I will not sit here and watch them do it again.

I can tell Silas silently agrees with Aziel’s actions by the way he’s not trying to stop their impending fight, but I don’t agree. Aziel backs Gray up against the wall, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.

Gray tries to sidestep him, and in fear, I stomp Silas’s toe with my heel.

The momentary distraction is all I need, and I lunge forward the second I feel Silas’s hold loosen.

Gray’s eyes dart to me just seconds before my arms wrap around Aziel’s midsection. The Wrath doesn’t move an inch as I try to yank him back, his body as still as a statue as I plant my heels into the ground and try pulling him away from Gray.

“No!” I huff, linking my hands together to trap his arms by his sides.

Gray looks shocked as he glances between Aziel and me. His eyebrow quirks as Aziel’s taut muscles soften beneath my arms, and his lips curl into a full-blown smile as Aziel steps aside and makes room for Gray to slip away.

Aziel’s hands move to my wrists, but I continue to latch on. I bury my face into his back as he tries to pry me off.

“Release me, Charlotte.” He scoffs, his grip shifting rapidly between tight and loose as he tries to figure out how much pressure he can use without hurting me. I want to laugh, but I don’t want him to know I find his actions funny.

I’m starting to think he doesn’t hate me as much as he lets on.

Taking pity on him, I let him unwrap my arms from around his waist. He’s disappearing and materializing in the corner a second later, his arms crossed over his chest as he glares at me.

The slight flush of his cheeks tells me there’s another emotion he’s feeling beyond anger.

“Aziel felt Gray’s panic and brought us back,” Silas says.

He pulls me into his arms, and I rest my face against his bare chest. The shirt he forced me into is his, and I breathe in his scent before pulling away to look at him.

“Shay said Levia’s working with the ogres,” I rush to tell them.

Silas’s grip on me tightens, but it’s the only reaction he gives.

“Go on,” Aziel says from the corner.

I bury my fingers into the muscle of Silas’s back as I recall our conversation.

7

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AZIEL

I CAN’T GET the image of Charlie’s bruised ribs out of my head as she shares what Shay told her. I only half-listen, knowing Shay is lying, but I nod as if Charlie has my full attention. Shay is known for her intricate schemes, and I’ve watched my males fall prey to them one too many times to be fooled.

My attention slides to Gray.

He glances at Charlie’s side, his guilt as clear as day. It couldn’t have been more than ten seconds from when he heard her scream to when we showed up, and if her skin’s already red and swollen, I don’t even want to think about how bad it will be tomorrow.

He could have broken her ribs.

I clench my jaw shut, angry I didn’t show up earlier.

I could feel Gray’s stress through the bond, and I took an extra few seconds to grab Silas rather than immediately teleporting here. I should’ve come here the moment I felt it. Gray wouldn’t have panicked, and I could’ve prevented him from harming Charlie.

The shifters probably wonder what happened and why we left in the middle of the conversation, but I’ll send a message to them tomorrow explaining there was an emergency with our female. They’re obsessed with theirs, and I’m sure they won’t question it.

My eyes travel to Charlie’s covered ribcage.

She and Silas are the only ones unaffected by her bruising. Silas calmly rubs her shoulders and arms, comforting her in a way I find unusual. In all the time I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him so nurturing.

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