Page 94 of Her Males

Kato’s dramatics remind me a lot of Gray, and Emily’s calm demeanor makes me think of Silas. I miss my males, and I feel a lump forming in my throat at the thought of them. Even Aziel, whom I thought I’d be glad to be rid of, has wormed his way into my heart and made me miss him. He’s annoying and rude, but I know he cared in his own way.

I refuse to wonder what would’ve happened between us if I hadn’t left. Gray seemed to think he would fight for me, but I’m not sure about that. Aziel’s not the type of person to plead.

Rock comes hurrying out of the cabin as Echo and I approach, the shadow unable to hide his concern as he runs to the perimeter Chev gave him and waits impatiently for Echo to bring me over.

He curls his arms around my body the second we reach him. I wince, but he’s gentle enough that I’m able to keep from crying out. Echo grunts and jumps away as his arm accidentally bumps hers, but she doesn’t say anything about it.

I’m sure Chev and Kato would be here in a heartbeat if they knew Rock had touched her, but thankfully, she doesn’t seem to take too much offense. The shifters, while firm in their beliefs not to touch the opposite sex, don’t seem to dwell too much on the occasional brush or helping hand.

“You look like shit,” Rock says. He takes the food from Echo with a quiet “Thank you.” She nods and leaves.

I feel bad about how much the people here dislike him, but he doesn’t mind. Rock doesn’t share much about his personal life, but I’ve gathered that he has more than a few lovers that keep him busy.

Rock’s a little ho.

“I spoke to Aziel,” Rock says, pushing open the door to our cabin.

He deposits me on the couch, and I gesture for him to continue. “He wants you to talk to the shifters and get them to reconsider their alliance with Mammon. Aziel wants to flip the script, with Wrath leading the effort and Greed paying.”

__________

Chev grabs my arm as I pivot forward, his grip tight as he keeps me from toppling over. I grimace and clutch my animal carcass to my chest, paranoid about dropping it and making a mess.

“Careful,” he warns, holding back a laugh.

I shoot him a glare, unappreciative of the teasing. I don’t have the years of experience they do walking on rough ground, and while I’ve gotten better these past few days, I still haven’t mastered their smoothness.

Chev’s grip remains until I’ve righted myself, and I gently wave him off with a friendly smile.

He’s been kind to escort me each morning to the traps I laid out earlier this week, and not once has he complained when we make the long walk only to find them empty.

Today, though—today, I caught a fox.

Chev needed to steady my shaking hands to prevent me from accidentally prolonging the kill, and my cheeks were stained with tears by the time I worked up the courage to sink in the knife, but I’m still proud of myself.

“And you’ll tell Echo I’ve fallen sick with a human illness and want to be left alone this morning?” I ask, eager to ensure he’s got the plan down.

Chev snorts and clicks his tongue against his teeth in a gesture I’ve learned is the equivalent of a human eye roll.

“Yes, Charlie, I will tell her, but I cannot promise she won’t come over,” he warns. “Echo likes you, and she’ll want to see that you’re okay.”

I hope she doesn’t. She’ll ask questions if she learns I’ve been sneaking out every morning with Chev, and I’m not a good liar.

Blood smears over my arms as I struggle to carry the fox, and I stop walking so I can readjust.

My catch is a bit on the chunky side, and the animal easily weighs a good twenty-five pounds. Chev watches, but he doesn’t offer to help. He learned his lesson the first time I snapped at him.

I want to do this myself.

My pace quickens as Emily and Kato’s house enters my line of sight, and Chev follows me quietly to the front door.

“Have fun,” he says, reaching around me to open the door.

“Thanks!” I chirp, hurrying up the steps.

Kato’s sitting on the floor of his living room as I bust inside, and he watches with shock as I kick off my shoes and waddle through his house with my bloody carcass. The door slams shut behind me, and out of the corner of my eye, I watch him stand and follow me into the kitchen.

My panting is embarrassingly loud as I drop the fox on the kitchen island. Blood pools below it, and I grab a towel and wipe it off while Kato examines my treasure.

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