The Female (The Female, #1)

by Invi Wright

It’s not often that ordinary men get to look at a female, and it’s considered rude of my dad to keep her hidden. I think that’s bullshit.

Now females, at least young ones, are practically nonexistent.

I’ve long since come to accept that I’ll spend most of my adult life in this house, and despite what they may wish, I’ll be forced to turn myself in when they die.

Women unable to get pregnant aren’t sold, and they’re allowed to live out their remaining years in secure facilities.

If I’m lucky, I’ll be purchased by a man wealthy enough that the offers from his peers won’t tempt him. I’ll be fortunate not to be passed around by hundreds of grabby, desperate men.

“If you are ever taken from us, I want you to know that no matter what happens, you’re not property. You are your own person, and you deserve nothing less than to be treated that way,”

The Seekers are here.

“I heard the king of Wrath is coming today,”

Wrath is the most notorious of the demon kingdoms, and the things I’ve heard about its king are unfathomable.

I’ll end my life if the man or men who buy me are cruel.

Aziel may be leading this current endeavor, but his decision to purchase a female is solely for Gray’s benefit.

After Gray went into one of his rare incubus feeding frenzies, attacking us in our sleep, Aziel gave in and agreed to purchase him a female.

Gray’s always been vocal in his desire for a female companion, and I’m sure he would’ve gotten one long ago if Aziel hadn’t been so stubborn.

I hate when he does this. He knows better than to enter the mind of a fate, and being the king of Wrath isn’t enough to prevent him from getting lost in my head. I’d have to search for him, and it would be a waste of time.

He enjoys riling Aziel up, especially when it results in Aziel touching him. The incubus loves attention, and he seems to think all touch is good touch.

“Is it so bad I want to pick a female all three of us enjoy?”

I have no intention of using his female, but I don’t bother trying to correct him.

Her frightened expression matches the faces of all the others sold before her, but I know immediately she’s the one we’re taking.

My inability to see her fate, and the pain I feel when I try, is all the confirmation I need. Her future is intertwined with mine and, by extension, Aziel and Gray.

“I’ll take her,” he says.

His expression gives away nothing, but Gray’s sly smile is enough for me to know hints of arousal must be seeping from him.

It seems I’m not the only one pleased with the female’s appearance.

We’ve made it clear we have no interest in intimacy with a purchased female, and his refusal to accept it is frustrating.

She’ll only be expected to serve one man, and Gray’s possessive nature will keep her from being shared.

“You know how to fuck a woman. That doesn’t mean you know how to care for one.”

“Your males have decided to forego the grooming,” he says.

“I don’t believe you’re in a position to be touching what’s mine.” The voice is low, and my body reacts to it in a way it most definitely shouldn’t. I hug my arms tighter around myself in horror. I like it. I like his voice so much I want to bathe in it. What the fuck is wrong with me? I look up. He’s beautiful, easily the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. He’s tall, and his black hair and black eyes immediately give him away to be a demon.

“What do you want from me?” I ask.

“What rules do you have for me?”

“I have no rules for you. Aziel and Silas might, but I don’t,” he says. “You can do whatever you want to me.”

“And you know incubi can’t use their lust to claim a virgin?”

“I didn’t know that,” I say.

I’ll only be able to feed off your dreams until you give me permission for more.”

“Aziel and Silas don’t have the same limitations since they aren’t incubi, but they would never do anything you don’t want.”

“It’s sexy.” He laughs, breaking me from my daze. “Watching you lust over me but not being able to do anything about it. It’s a foreplay I’m most definitely going to enjoy.”

“To answer your earlier question, yes,” Gray says. “Silas is a fate, and Aziel is a Wrath.”

“Fuck, Charlie.” Gray pins me against the car,

“You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you? You’re still so affected even with my scent suffocated.”

Nodding mindlessly, I let out a gasp as he grabs my waist, his palms covering the bone as his...

It’s so good. I want to bury myself in his skin and live there forever.

“You smell so fucking sweet,” he moans,

Gray is an incubus, a creature desperate for sex and willing to take whatever action necessary to get it. I need to fight harder against his lust.

“You can try to fight it all you want, but it’s only a matter of time before you’re begging me to take you,”

“I won’t be one of those men who abuse their female just because I can.”

“Despite what I’m sure you think, nobody’s going to force themselves on you,” he says,

“Aziel has never had sex,” he says, “and he can’t without creating a life bond.

Gray pushes boundaries, but he won’t do anything you truly don’t want.

“If you’re going to masturbate, don’t do it in there. He’ll be able to smell you from that distance.”

“You’re free to move around the house, but I’d recommend you stay out of Aziel’s wing. I won’t sit here and threaten you to stay away from mine, but I’d prefer if you did.”

“We have no intentions of sharing you, and visitors will be told you’re off limits. Should anybody ask, though, you’re to say you belong to Aziel. If it gets out that you’re Gray’s, he’ll be expected to share you with the other lust demons.”