Her Males, page 13
part #2 of The Female Series
Silas disconnects the showerhead from the wall and begins rinsing my hair. It feels relaxing after the tense conversation with Aziel.
Rejecting him was the right decision, even if I know it hurt Gray’s feelings. I know damn well Aziel will come to change his mind about me in the future, and I’d rather not allow my feelings to grow any further before he does.
“It would mean a lot to me,” I continue, hoping to get Silas on my side, even if it’s through pity.
Silas rinses the rest of the shampoo from my hair and reconnects the showerhead to the wall.
“I love you,” he whispers, spinning me around. He kisses my cheeks and forehead. “But we can’t ask around without drawing attention to ourselves. Wrath has been too secluded for too long, and to suddenly show interest will turn heads.”
“I believe her,” I repeat.
“I know, and I’m asking you to believe me more.”
A cold breeze hits my side as the shower curtain is pulled back and Gray steps inside. His hand grazes my lower back as he squeezes past us to get under the water.
“We would’ve been out in a few minutes,” Silas grumbles.
“I’ve been waiting for twenty, and I was feeling left out,” Gray says, hogging the water.
I can’t wait until our new bedroom is done and we have a bathroom with a shower large enough for the three of us. It’ll even have two heads, one for Gray and one for Silas and me.
“There’s a reason we don’t like to shower with you.” I laugh, pushing him aside so that at least a sprinkle of water hits me.
Gray huffs. “Silas likes to shower with me. Don’t you, sweets?”
Silas gives a less-than-excited response as I wiggle underneath Gray’s arm. There’s not enough space for the three of us to comfortably fit, and the realization only enforces my decision to reject Aziel.
It wouldn’t make sense to add another male to our relationship if he can’t even fit in the shower with us. I suppose I don’t have to shower with all my men at once, but I’d prefer to.
Gray and Silas fight about the water before Silas gives in and leaves. I’m not far behind.
I shiver as the curtain is pulled back and the cold bathroom air hits my bare skin, and Silas tosses me a towel to dry myself off. He also throws me one of his shirts to wear, and I look away to hide my smile as I slip it on over my underwear.
We make our way to bed in relative silence, and Silas is already half-asleep by the time Gray finishes in the shower and joins us. It’s been a few days since he fed, and I look over his black eyes with a low hum.
“Are you hungry?” I ask.
Gray climbs into bed and pulls me into his arms. I relax against his chest, happy to be held.
“A bit, but we can wait until tomorrow,” he says.
Silas’s breathing continues to slow, and I slide my toes along whatever legs I can reach to warm them up. Gray huffs as I make contact with his shin, but he doesn’t say anything about my ice toes as he buries my face into his chest.
“Are you upset with me for telling Aziel no?” I ask.
Gray’s throat bobs. “I’ll never be upset with you for being honest.”
“It wasn’t a definite no,” I continue, assuming Aziel can hear me through the walls. The demons seem to be able to hear everything. “I just want him to put in some effort.” I pause and lick my lips, nervous to say this out loud. “He spent months treating me like a burden, and I don’t believe he truly cares about me.”
The sheets behind me shift as Silas rolls over and wraps his arm around my waist.
“We understand,” Gray whispers, pressing a soft kiss on my head. “And we’d feel the same if we were in your position.”
I clear my throat, even more nervous to ask my next question.
“Do you think he’ll find another female like last time?”
Gray chuckles, his fingers lacing with mine.
“No. He’s learned his lesson with Shay.” Gray’s quick to soothe my worries. “Besides, he’s going to be much too busy begging for your forgiveness to pay attention to any other females.”
I clench my jaw in a sad attempt to hold back my smile.
“Bringing me breakfast in bed would be a good start,” I tease, hoping Aziel’s taking notes. “And I’d like it to be handmade.”
Gray snorts. “Good luck with that.”
He lets out another laugh, seemingly quite humored by that thought, before giving me one more tight squeeze and rolling away. I stare at his back, silently tracing the strong muscles that line his shoulders. I want to lick them, but I’ll wait until tomorrow to indulge.
Rolling onto my back, I stare at the ceiling as my thoughts fall to the females.
At this point, as much as I hate to admit it, there’s nothing further I can do about Shay. I’ve begged and begged, and it’s been made clear that my males aren’t going to deviate from their original plan.
It’s three against one, and my opinion carries the least weight.
Rock isn’t going to be any help, either. The shadow’s more than willing to take part in my silly pranks or provide the information my males try to keep from me, but arguing with them is a line he won’t cross. It’s one I won’t ask him to, either.
I resist the urge to scream, and carefully, I slide out from under the covers.
A hand on my ankle stops me, and I turn to look at a bleary-eyed Gray.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“To get some water.”
He hums and releases me.
I do my best to remain quiet as I tiptoe toward the bathroom, but I pause in the doorway to peer back at them. Silas rolls into the spot I once occupied and throws an arm around Gray.
Gray tends not to love cuddling, preferring his own space, as I do, but he sinks into Silas’s hold with a content sigh. Before I can think better of it, I snatch Gray’s phone off the dresser and open the camera.
They’ll hate that I did this, but I don’t care as I hold it up and take a minimum of twenty photos.
The distraction lifts my mood, and I clutch the device to my chest as I step into the bathroom and shut the door. I chuckle as I fill up my cup and plop down on the toilet.
Gray’s told me his password before, and I rack my brain for it before taking my best guess and tapping the numbers on the screen. It doesn’t work, and I purse my lips before trying again.
I bounce on the toilet seat when it goes through, and I hurry to find the icon that’ll take me to Gray’s photos. I don’t use phones often, and it feels foreign as I click on one of the pictures I just took and set it as his background.
The photo is a bit dark, but there’s just enough light to be able to tell they’re all cuddled together. I’d have used flash if I weren’t afraid of waking them up.
My cheeks hurt from how hard I’m grinning when I see the option to send the photo, and I eagerly type in Silas’s name so he’ll have a copy. Nothing comes up, and I frown before finding my way to Gray’s messages.
He probably saved Silas’s name as something stupid, but I’m sure they’ve texted recently and I can send the photo through the thread.
Rock’s name is at the top of the screen, and I resist being nosy and clicking on it. I’m sure the conversation is about my schooling, and I’m uninterested in reading a subtle roasting between my tutor and my male.
Aziel’s next. It takes everything in me not to peek, and I grudgingly continue down the list.
The name Shay stops me in my tracks, and the screen says that he was texting her today. I click into the thread. They don’t get to prohibit I speak to her while secretly keeping in contact through their personal devices.
That’s bullshit.
I feel slightly better as I note that all the messages are along the left side of the screen. Do Silas and Aziel know about this? Gray’s ignored every one of her messages, but I still take my time to read through them.
I’ve never been more thankful for Rock’s lessons on the demon language.
Shay begs Gray to believe her. She promises she wants to help and this isn’t about me, and she’s even sent a few photos of documents that are too intricate for me to read. The blurriness tells me they were taken in a hurry, though.
I can even see the prominent profile of Levia in one. His eyes are cast downward at his computer, not paying attention to the female, who sneaks a photo over his shoulder.
She’s doing everything she can, and I can’t believe Gray’s ignoring her.
Angry tears fill my eyes, and I have half a mind to storm into the bedroom and demand answers. He’s just going to lie. That’s all they’ve been doing.
Do they actually intend to help the females, or are they just stringing me along to make their lives easier?
I wipe my cheeks before making sure the phone is on mute and typing out a message.
This is Charlie. They don’t believe you.
I wait, my leg bouncing and body shaking. I can’t believe them. This is probably really stupid—I’m fully aware of that—but I’m more than willing to take the risk. I’d rather die having tried my best to do what’s right than sit back and find out later I didn’t do enough.
Males are fucking enslaving us. We’re sold like cattle and passed around like toys, and I refuse to sit around doing nothing. We deserve better than this.
I bring the phone closer to my face as I wait for her response.
Talk in person. Do not scream.
Shay’s in front of me just as I finish reading the message, her hand held out. She wants to teleport me.
I gulp, hesitating, before setting Gray’s phone on the sink and curling my fingers around hers.
We materialize a second later in a large sitting room, and I release her hand the moment I’m steady. My heart is pounding in my chest, and I bring my fingers to my necklace in case she tries to make another grab for it.
I look up and gasp.
I’ve never seen anything like this before. The entire ceiling is glass, leading to a stunning view of the night sky with millions of bright stars.
“Mammon sure does love her décor,” Shay says, looking through the glass panes. “It’s a magnifying glass. That’s why the stars look so big.”
I clear my throat and force myself to look away, not wanting to get distracted.
“I have a rock I can kill you with,” I say, hoping my words sound threatening.
Shay looks unconcerned as she eyes the jewelry I clutch in my fist. “I’m aware, but you won’t be needing it. I have no intention of keeping you here longer than a few minutes. Your males are on edge, and I’m sure it won’t take them long to discover you’re gone.”
I dig my thumb into the stone, hoping she can’t hear my racing heart as I watch her turn and take a lap around the room. Why does everything she does have to be so ominous? We’re in a sitting room, but this one is better decorated than the one back home. The warm-toned rugs and large cushioned furniture make it feel cozy.
Along the walls are hundreds of photos, each in a different medium but portraying the same family—or at least parts of it. The woman and man in the images never change, but the children are almost always different.
A cold sweat breaks out along my back as Shay lowers herself into a chair and gestures for me to sit opposite her. I don’t immediately move. She lets out an impatient huff, which isn’t too surprising. I’ve never pegged Shay as an exceptionally patient woman.
I bite the skin inside my cheek as I step forward and sit in the chair opposite hers. As suspected, I sink right into the cushion.
“I’ve tried speaking to Mammon myself,” Shay says, “but she’s as stubborn as your males and refuses to believe me. I want you to talk to her. You don’t wear any marks, but everybody knows you belong to the Wrath Trio.”
The “Wrath Trio”? Is that what people call them? It’s fitting.
“You want me to talk to Mammon?” I ask.
I wouldn’t describe myself as an expert communicator, and I know I won’t have answers to the questions she’s sure to ask. I could barely even read the report Aziel had done up, the language too complicated to follow.
My leg bounces as I turn and eye the door.
“Don’t look so frightened,” Shay says, snapping her fingers.
I jump back as a shadow appears. He hands some papers to Shay, and I recognize them as the female information Aziel shared with Levia. Did she steal this from him?
“Are you going to kill me?” I can’t help but ask.
Shay pauses, thinking over her answer. “I wish,” she admits after a moment of silence. “I don’t like you, and I’m not going to pretend I do, but I cherish my life. Your males would have my head if I ever touched a pretty little hair on yours.”
“Comforting,” I deadpan.
Shay’s lips twitch, and I take a moment to enjoy the sight of her trying to hold back a smile. I know she doesn’t like me, but I don’t think she hates me as much as she lets on.
“I need you to tell Mammon I’m telling the truth. Then I’ll take you home. She and I can handle the rest from there,” Shay explains. “Then you and your males can waste the next year making plans that’ll never see the light of day.”
I suck my cheeks into my mouth. They’re going to be so mad at me.
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” I ask.
Shay shrugs. “Your males had fifty years to do the right thing. They didn’t. You’re not the only person who’s been affected. Demon women have had it hard, too.”
I roll my eyes, refusing to believe it. Even if they aren’t experiencing new births, demons live forever, and the declines don’t hurt them nearly as much as most other breeds.
Shay’s back goes rigid at my response, her friendly disposition changing into the cold one I last saw at the Lust party I was taken to forever ago.
“You don’t believe me?” she hisses. “Would you like to see the video of me that was passed around after a visit with the ogres? They don’t live such long lives, and they miss the attention of females. I’m strong, but when you have twenty of those fuckers holding you down, it’s a bit hard to fight them off and teleport.”
The chair armrest cracks as her hand tightens around it. I didn’t know about this incident, and I wince as I watch the wood split.
Shay opens her mouth to continue, but she stills as the door behind me opens. My heart feels like it’s lodged in my throat as I turn and watch a woman step inside. She’s clearly a demon, with black eyes and short dark hair, and she wears a long, blue silk robe.
She barely looks in my direction, and I nervously pick at the skin of my fingers as I glance at the infant connected to her chest.
“This better be important,” the woman snaps.
She holds eye contact with Shay as she lowers herself into the seat next to mine. The sudden movement lodges her nipple out of the baby’s mouth, and I watch as she groans and realigns the infant.
“The little thing won’t latch,” she complains to nobody in particular.
I gulp as her eyes flash to me.
“Who’s this?”
“Charlotte. She’s Aziel’s female.” Shay gestures between the two of us. “Charlie, this is the Queen of Greed, Mammon.”
I’m unsure what to say or do, and I hope my shaky smile doesn’t come off as impolite.
Mammon looks tired as she tries to coax her baby to take her nipple. Watching her is an excellent form of birth control, and I hold back a wince as the baby finally latches on and starts chewing her like she’s a piece of gum.
“Please tell me they know she’s here.” Mammon sighs.
Shay cowers, her neck and head shrinking into her shoulders. Mammon shuts her eyes and sucks in a slow breath before turning to me.
“Let me put Cain down, and I’ll take you home,” she says, her soft eyes hardening as she turns to Shay. “You’ll stay here.”
Shay turns to me in a panic, and I give the same look right back.
“Wait,” I call out as Mammon stands. “I’m here by my own choice. Shay and I need your help with the females.” My voice cracks, but I continue. “Aziel knows how to fix the declines, and we have the information here.”
Shay hands her the report, and I clench and unclench my fists as Mammon takes it and sits back down. She fingers through the pages, taking her sweet time to read every section.
I wipe my sweaty palms on my shirt, my nerves worsening as Shay begins to fidget. This was supposed to be a quick meeting before my males discovered I was gone, and with each passing minute, my worry grows.
“So, Charlotte,” Mammon starts, setting the report on her lap. “You’re willing to betray Aziel for this? Why?”
I clear my throat. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Mammon hums, her eyes darting between me and the papers she holds. “You’re aware this is treason, yes? The Wrath Trio will execute you for coming here.”
I stiffen. No, I did not realize that.
I feel like I’m about to vomit as it sinks in just how badly I’m fucking up. This isn’t just me going against my males’ wishes. This is me going against the King of Wrath, one of the last remaining fates, and a Prince of Lust.
My back is sweaty, and I lean forward to disconnect myself from the chair I’m sitting in.
Shay chimes in. “They won’t kill her. They claimed her.”
Mammon adjusts her son before standing and approaching. I wring my hands together as she grabs the neckline of my shirt and tugs it down so she can see my skin. Her actions make me painfully aware that I’m only wearing one of Silas’s shirts.
“She bears no marks,” Mammon says.
She looks at Shay as she speaks, but I answer.
“They want to wait to make sure it’s truly what I want,” I explain.
Her finger slides across my neck before dipping down the front. I try not to look too creeped out as she presses her palm over my heart.
“I’ve never liked Aziel. I could tolerate Gray and Silas, but the Wrath has always caused problems. If I were anything like him, I’d kill you and send you back in pieces,” she says, pulling her hand from my shirt. “Did you know that’s what he did with my firstborn?”
