Page 48 of Her Males

I open my mouth to apologize, but I fall silent as he turns and storms out of the room. Gray’s gone a second later, his comforting touch leaving as he begins to pick up the mess that’s become his office.

Fuck.

They want to keep me safe, and this is the second time I’ve ignored their wishes.

Silas even went as far as to have his power put into a necklace so I could protect myself. I didn’t think much of it at first, but Gray let it slip afterward that making the necklace, even with the help of a mage, depleted Silas to the point that he was bedridden for almost two entire days.

I know they’re worried about Shay.

Silas is almost always listening, and Gray checks in what feels like every ten minutes. Even Aziel frequently strolls past my office door, his nonchalance easy to see through, considering my office is the last one in the hallway and he has to spin around and walk back only a few seconds later.

“I’m sorry, Gray,” I say, fiddling with the hem of my shirt. “I just wanted to know what she had to say. I want to make sure we’re doing right by the females.”

“I don’t give a shit,” Gray snaps, spinning to face me. “I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you, and I can’t do that when you’re dead. You insist on holding on to this childish ignorance of yours, and it’s fucking infuriating.”

I recoil. That was harsh. Gray sits on the couch and drops his head between his knees.

“Will you go to Aziel’s office?” he asks.

I sniffle. “Why?”

“Because I’m so fucking angry right now, and anything I say will hurt your feelings. Silas left to fuck-knows-where, probably burning off some steam in Wrath, and Aziel’s the only other person here I trust you being around without me.”

My bottom lip wobbles, and I shift my weight from foot to foot before leaving. Who knew rejection could sting so much? I don’t allow myself to think about the fact that Silas got so angry, he left. He’s usually the voice of reason amongst the three males.

Aziel glares at me as I enter his office, and he wordlessly points to the couch.

I can’t think of a time, except when I was first purchased, when Aziel was so angry with me. My skin burns where he stares at it, and I clear my throat before awkwardly lowering myself onto the couch.

“Are you—” I start.

“I don’t care to hear anything you have to say right now.”

My jaw snaps shut with an audible click, and I nod before turning away. I don’t want him to see me cry.

I do my best to keep my breaths even, and I stare at the wall with my back turned to the angry Wrath. I’m sure he’s still looking at me, probably enjoying the sight and smell of my tears.

The silence in the room is deafening, and after a few minutes, I feel something soft smack against the back of my head. My fingers curl into the couch’s cushion as I spin around to glare at Aziel.

I understand he’s mad, but throwing things at me is petty.

He’s not looking in my direction, feigning ignorance, and I purse my lips before glancing at the floor to see what he threw. A package of chocolate donuts is lying on the ground, and I wipe my cheeks before picking them up.

I don’t hesitate to rip open the package and shove one in my mouth.

I shouldn’t overthink this. He’s probably tired of listening to me cry and hopes to shut me up with the snacks he stole from me earlier.

Aziel clears his throat, and I turn to look at him out of the corner of my eye. He raises a brow and glances between me and the chocolate donuts. My face warms as I struggle to swallow what’s in my mouth.

“Thank you,” I whisper, knowing he’ll be able to hear it easily.

“I don’t like when you cry,” he admits.

I blink, unsure how to respond to that.

Aziel turns back to his computer. I open my mouth a few times to say something, but I end up just shrugging off his comment and returning to my donut.

He’s confusing.

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