Page 119 of First Offense

“We need to start talking about how to survive as Noir,” I said. “There are rogues. We should find them.”

He looked at my wings again and cocked a brow, telling me without words that it wouldn’t be easy to do that with a Nora Warrior in tow.

“I imagine that will be part of our discussion and plans,” I added flatly. “Besides, if rule breaking is enough to Fall, then I should be turning into a Noir any day, right?”

He lifted a shoulder, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“You don’t think I’ll Fall?”

He met my gaze again, his expression calculating and serious. “I’m not sure,” he said slowly. “I think there’s a lot more to this game than any of us realize. And it’s not something we’re going to figure out tonight.”

“But it is something we’ll figure out together,” I countered.

He said nothing for a long moment, his shrewd stare assessing. Then he ever so slowly dipped his chin in agreement.

“I mean it, Novak. We’re mated now.”

His lips curled as he gazed at Layla, his expression almost indulgent. “Yes. Yes, we are.” He kissed her forehead again, then nuzzled her nose in a strangely endearing manner.

Novak never displayed feelings. He was a badass with a lethal shadow hanging over his every move. But when he looked at Layla, it was as if he were seeing the sun for the first time.

It wasn’t love.

But it wasn’t lust either.

It was something else entirely.

And it stirred a fuzzy feeling in my chest, one that almost made me smile. However, I pushed it away in the next moment and cleared my throat instead. “We should sleep.” It was late, and who knew what tomorrow would bring?

Novak didn’t reply, just continued to study Layla.

I left him to his admiration.

Good night, Lay, I thought to her, my arm firmly around her waist.Sweet dreams.

Two words I never should have allowed to grace my mind.

Because this prison didn’t promote dreams. It delivered nightmares. And our new one was just beginning.

32

Layla

Languid.

Warm.

Bliss.

I never wanted to move. Didn’t want to wake. Desired nothing more than to laze in the arms of my mates for the rest of my existence.

Unfortunately, the sun had other ideas. I could feel it bathing my feathers through the window, beckoning me to rise.

Not that I had anything to do today.

Except… maybe… my mates.

My lips curled. Now there was a good reason to rise.