Page 10 of Chev's Mate

My legs are shaking, and I push off my thighs and force myself to stand up straight. I’m in a hallway surrounded by light-blue walls, the color immediately recognizable. All rehabilitation facilities have similar décor.

“Am I in Wrath?” I ask.

Aziel nods, and I shift my attention to the guard he just spoke to. It’s a demon, that much is evident by his black eyes and long limbs. Demons have distinct features, and this guard ticks all the boxes.

“If he tries coming through the portal, escort him out immediately,” Aziel continues to say.

The man nods, his hair bouncing around his head. “Yes, sir.”

He spins and leaves, probably to inform the other guards. I stare at his back as I work up the courage to face Aziel. I haven’t been touched by a man in years, and even though I know Aziel was only trying to help, I want to scrub the skin he came in contact with.

I just barely resist the urge to scratch at it as I finally turn toward Aziel.

Demons typically exude power, a sickening scent that overpowers senses and urges weaker beings to submit, but Aziel holds his in. It’s surprising. Demons place a lot of importance and self-worth on the power they emit.

Aziel subtly wipes his hand on his pant leg, and I can’t help but notice it’s the same hand he touched me with. I don’t take offense. If anything, I find it comforting. He’s disgusted to have come in contact with me, and that’s all I ever want from men.

I swallow past the lump in my throat, and Aziel pushes his hair out of his face with a quiet sigh. I’m pretty sure he’s staring at me, but it’s hard to tell when his eyes are entirely black. I’ve never seen a demon in the flesh, and it’s quite unnerving.

My mind is still fuzzy from the teleporting, but it’s getting better with each passing second.

“We’re happy to have you here,” Aziel says. “Your things were brought over this afternoon, and your office should have everything you need.”

I open my mouth, about to say something, before snapping my jaw shut with a quiet click. I don’t know what to say. I don’t even know if I still want this job. All I want to do right now is curl up in a small ball in a spot where Chev can’t find me.

He has access to the entire rehabilitation network, including the facilities and the files. He’s probably reading about me rightnow, learning my history with the ogres and my years since I was rescued. The thought makes me sick. I don’t want him to know anything about me, especially the horrid details of my abuse.

Aziel gestures for me to follow him.

“Silas was going to give you a tour, but we’re already here, so I might as well do it,” he says.

Silas? It takes me a second to connect the dots. I’m not familiar with Aziel’s harem, but I’m pretty sure Silas is one of his mates. He’s a demon, a fate, but I don’t know anything else about him.

“I’ll alert Echo of the issue once we’re finished,” Aziel continues. “She’ll help keep Chev away from you.”

Hearing that is nothing short of sweet relief.

Aziel begins walking down the hallway, and despite my hesitation, I find myself quickly following him. The corridor he teleported us to is small and empty, but we almost immediately turn into a busier one.

Several females mill about.

There are not nearly as many as I’m accustomed to seeing in the facility where I was rehabilitated. That place was jam-packed—still is—but this facility is bare bones.

“Chev is a good man,” Aziel says. “But he made a mistake today, and I assure you he’ll be punished for it.”

He smoothly avoids two females who come scampering down the hall toward us. They eye him, their gazes heavy, but Aziel doesn’t spare them a second glance. I like the way he ignores women. It’s rare to see, and it’s comforting. I don’t believe demons have fated mates the way shifters and nymphs do, but he acts as loyal as one.

I should ask him to bring me home—back to the female community I’ve been living in for the past several months. I wanted this job so badly, but I’m not sure it’s worth it if it means being vulnerable to Chev. I can hide in Wrath most of the time,but there will be days when I need to visit the headquarters. He’ll be there, and I doubt he’ll leave me alone.

I don’t do it, though. That would be letting Chev win. I won’t let one male ruin what I’ve worked so hard to achieve.

I’ll push Chev out of my mind and continue as if I never met him. He’ll eventually have to accept it, and I’m sure with his title and importance, he’ll be able to quickly find another woman to whom he can give his affection.

Yes. That’s precisely what I’ll do.

Aziel doesn’t try to make any further conversation. He’s curt but polite as he gives me a tour of the facility, and I appreciate it. He’ll occasionally pause to introduce me to a staff member, but the introductions are quick.

Everybody is kind, and my anxiety lessens with each minute I spend here.

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