Page 54 of Her Males

Aziel blinks.

Nobody speaks for a long moment, and I cross my arms over my chest as I wait. It’s a good idea, and we all know it.

“I don’t want her, Charlie,” Aziel finally says. He pushes the hair out of his face and glances at Gray and Silas. “It’s come to my attention that you two aren’t changing your minds about Charlie, and I, well, I don’t want to split up. I’ve decided—”

I interrupt. “I’m not just some baggage you have to put up with so you can have Gray and Silas.”

Aziel’s eyes narrow, and Silas flicks Aziel’s hand off my knee.

“Don’t speak about her like that,” Gray snaps.

My heart soars at how quickly my males jump to my defense.

“Well, you didn’t let me fucking finish!” Aziel says, returning his hand to my knee. He clears his throat and levels his gaze with mine, the look serious despite the flush that spreads across his cheeks and down his neck.

I hold his stare, eager to get this over with so we can return to the topic of the females.

“I have come to care for you during your time here,” he says, “and Gray’s made good points in that both he and Silas are strong, fulfilling that need for my people. I’ve thought a lot about this, and while there may be complications from us having weaker, half-breed children, it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

I cock my head to the side. Is he trying to be romantic?

He’s still calling me baggage, just in a slightly nicer way. An ‘oh, you’re not ideal, but I don’t hate you and as long as I have Gray and Silas, I think it’ll be fine.’

No, thank you.

I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t acknowledge that I have feelings for Aziel, but I want more than a man who provides only the bare minimum. Gray and Silas go out of their way to love me, but Aziel doesn’t do much of that. I can’t tell whether or not he actually cares about me or is just horny.

“Thank you for your….” I start, clearing my throat as I search for the right words. “Your honesty, but I’m not ready for that.”

Silas rubs his thumb across my thigh, but he’s not my concern as I turn to the incubus, whom I know wants this more than anything. Gray gulps and offers me a smile, but I see right through it. He can pretend all he wants, but I know it breaks his heart to see me reject Aziel.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper.

Gray plasters a wobbly smile on his face.

“Don’t ever apologize for the way you feel.” He leans in and bonks his forehead against mine.

Aziel pushes off my knee and stands. No noise escapes him as he grabs the chair he pulled up earlier and returns it to its usual spot in front of his desk. His movements are eerily calm, and I hold my breath and watch him circle his desk and sit behind it.

He clears his throat and grabs the paperwork Silas set down earlier, his face devoid of emotion as he thumbs through it.

“I’m done with this conversation. Leave,” he orders, jerking his head toward the door.

I gulp. “What about the females?”

Black eyes meet mine. “Get the fuck out of my office, Charlotte.”

11

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CHARLOTTE

SILAS LOOKS AT me over his shoulder as I pull back the shower curtain and step inside. He moves aside so I can get under, his eyes half shut.

“Silas, please,” I beg.

I know he’s annoyed by me asking, but I’m not going to stop until they give me a good reason not to believe Shay.

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