Page 120 of First Offense

I’m mated, I thought, almost giddy with the reminder. I probably should have feared the consequences of my decision. But I couldn’t. It felt too right. They were mine.

Two dangerous, predatory angels with penchants for violence.

Mine.

I opened my eyes to find Novak watching me, his expression intent. No smile. No frown. Just… Novak.

Studying.

Thinking.

Scrutinizing his next move.

I wasn’t naïve. I knew he’d navigated us all into this position. He knew just what to say and when to say it. It intrigued me. Floored me, even. And I was curious to see what he had in store for us next.

Auric stirred behind me, his body coming alive against mine. I resisted the urge to press back against his growing arousal, to tempt him into playing. I wanted him to initiate it, to ensure he held no regrets about our mating.

But a kiss to my neck told me he was content.

And a nibble to my ear suggested he wouldn’t mind another round.

Novak’s eyes danced with knowledge, his fingers reaching for me. Only, he suddenly pulled back to sit up straight, his posture rigid.

“What is it?” Auric demanded, following suit.

Then a low rumble shook the foundation of our room. I frowned, my brow coming down.

And in the next moment, Novak wrapped around me like a lethal shadow, covering me with his wings as a loudboomrocked the prison. The shock wave that followed had me jolting beneath him, my head slamming into his collarbone.

Ow!

Auric jumped off the bed in the next second. I screamed his name, but Novak shushed me.

“The hinges snapped,” Auric said, his words muffled from Novak covering me.

“Can you open it?” Novak asked.

“Yeah,” Auric replied, a creaking sound following. “Another culling?”

“Clyde?” Novak prompted, rolling off me just enough to look at the floor near the foot of the bed.

That must have been the cause of him sitting up a few moments ago. Or perhaps he’d heard something I hadn’t.

The little Blaze crawled forward from beneath the table, squeaking.

Whatever the creature said seemed to relax Novak. He unfurled his wings, leaving me exposed as he gathered my pitiful blouse and shorts. “There’s been a breach,” he informed us, handing me the articles of clothing, seemingly unharmed from me slamming into him.

“Not surprising,” Auric muttered. “This place is more like a hotel than a prison.”

Novak grunted in agreement, his gaze sweeping over me as I slipped off the bed and dressed. “Can you walk?”

“I think so,” I mumbled, rubbing my forehead and wincing when I found a tender bump.

“We’ll have to run, not just walk,” Auric said, blocking the doorway. His clothes rested behind him, but he didn’t dare turn around. Every muscle tensed along his perfect body, ready to spring into action and defend. Bloodcurdling screams filtered into the room just seconds later, cascading goose bumps down my arms.

“Are you sure we can’t just stay in here?” I asked as I wrapped my arms around myself. Runningtowarddeath and destruction just didn’t sound like the best plan.

Auric took a daring step toward the exit, only to be sent stumbling back as a guard rushed into the room. “The inmates are attacking!” the Nora shrieked, his eyes wide with terror.