Page 130 of First Offense

“Here, as in this prison, or the human world?”

“Human world,” he replied. “Among the Noir.”

My eyebrows lifted. “Among the Noir?” Apparently, I’d turned into some sort of echo where all I could do was repeat words.

“There are Noir in the human world?” Layla asked, coming to my aid as she pressed her hand to my arm.

“Yes,” the male said, his gaze lowering in reverence.

I shared a look with Novak, but he was more interested in the newcomer. “You never Fell.” Not a question, but a statement.

Still, the newcomer replied, “No. I was born this way.” He held out the package again.

This time I took it, more out of curiosity than anything. “Don’t go anywhere,” I said to the male, a dozen or more questions lining up on my tongue, all of them meant for him.

However, I focused on the ribbon first.

It could be a bomb, but something told me that wasn’t Sayir’s style. So I ripped off the lacy exterior and opened the lid to find a note and a phone.

Felicitations, Auric. I’m sure Layla’s parents will be thrilled with the news of your mating.

— Sayir

I read the note twice before I showed Novak and Layla.

“Oh,” Layla whispered. “Oh, that’s… this isn’t… oh.”

An inarticulate response, but I understood.

Her father would not be pleased. In fact, he might even send someone here to kill us all, thereby breaking the bonds to his daughter. It was the only way to free her from our mating.

My jaw ticked at the prospect.

Then the phone began to ring.

That action confirmed two things. First, Sayir was watching us from somewhere. And second, this phone had never been meant for me to use to call Sefid. Not that I ever believed it would be for that purpose. No, this was just a taunt.

I put the Reformer on speakerphone, saying, “Hello, Sayir.”

“Ah, you are smarter than you look,” he replied, his voice a low drawl. “I sent you a gift. I suggest you use it wisely.”

I looked at the Noir before us, guessing that he was the intendedgift, not the phone in my hand. The mobile would probably self-destruct once Sayir hung up.

“A learning exercise?” I wondered out loud.

“And here I thought Novak was the master of strategy.” Sayir sounded amused. No.Triumphant. “Enjoy the accommodations. I’ll be in touch soon.”

The call went dead and a beep began, counting the seconds.

I tossed the mobile into the pile of dead Noir, and not half a minute later, the thing sizzled into ash.

“Interesting technology,” Zian said, staring at the phone.

“I expected it to explode,” I admitted.

“But instead, it dissolved like those Nora wings,” he replied, walking over to crouch beside the remains. He didn’t touch anything, just observed and then stood. “What’s the learning exercise you mentioned?”

I gestured to the shivering Noir before me. “Him. He has answers we need.”