Page 122 of First Offense

“Hurry,” Auric said as he took my hand and helped me step through the gaping hole. I picked my way carefully over the hot stones with my heels. I really envied Auric’s and Novak’s boots right about now.

A fresh breeze caught my wings as I squinted into the sunlight. The sirens reverberated through the clearing, sending the wildlife fluttering into the air. However, none of the inmates followed suit, including Raven and her mates, who had edged closer to us, their eyes on the others.

Why wasn’t anyone trying to escape?

They all seemed to burn with manic rage instead, their bodies painted in blood and gore andash.Like the Nora in our room.

I wanted to ask what it meant, but the macabre scene of the courtyard held me captive. The prisoners were going mad, slaughtering guards in some sort of bloodlust rage.

My nostrils flared as the sour scent of death hit me hard, a harsh contrast to my cocoon of evergreen, leather, and smoke.

“They’re not leaving,” Auric said, his eyes on the row of inmates forming a wall to block those trying to flee. “They’re holding.”

“No, they’re claiming,” Novak corrected, his gaze narrowing at the prisoners taking up ranks throughout the field.

Claiming?I repeated to myself, considering the crowd and tucking closer into Novak’s side. “You mean they’re taking control of the prison,” I realized out loud as I took in the state of dismantling happening throughout the yard.

Dead guards.

Destroyed machine guns.

The strongest prisoners standing their ground, declaring victory over the smaller of inmates. It was a grotesque visual of dominance and war.

All brought on by an explosion.

That doesn’t seem right. Something else had happened here. Someone had helped them. But who?

“All white-wings must bleed!” came the battle cry from behind us, followed by a roar of agreement.

Horus exited from the rubble, his pupils completely overtaking his irises.

My gaze slid to Auric, his badge of purity now a beacon that made us all a target.

Raven edged closer, glancing at me before speaking to Novak. “What now?”

“The portal,” Novak said.

“If we can get to it,” Auric muttered, his wings flaring as the Noir in the yard all seemed to face him, their eyes crazed with murder.

Horus barked orders to the two Noir I’d met outside the cafeteria that one day. Both of them were covered in ash, their dark eyes wild with stars.

As they growled, the stench in the air turned wrong, and other inmates followed suit.

“Slow and steady,” Horus said, his lips curling into an evil grin. “Don’t want to risk overdosing like that idiot.” He gestured to a convulsing Noir on the ground, his lips pulling back into a sneer. “Greedy fool. I warned you not to take too much.”

I glanced at Novak, but his calculating gaze was on Horus and the others. His expression gave nothing away. Nor did it change as Auric backed closer to us.

“Don’t let the ash touch you,” Auric said, his voice low with deadly calm. “Don’t breathe it in. And by all the gods, don’t digest it.” He glanced at Raven and then at Novak.

Wordless conversation flashed between the males, with Sorin and Zian focused primarily on Novak. The latter nodded as if agreeing with his unspoken decision.

Novak shoved Raven closer to me as he turned, facing the inmates from behind.

The command was clear.

Keep her safe.

I wasn’t sure what he’d said to my Noir cousin to win her to my side, much less protect me, but she sniffed the air and crouched. “Stay close,” she said, and I obeyed.