Page 25 of First Offense

I expected him to continue, but he didn’t.

“Which is?” Auric prompted.

“I’d like to know about what happened outside,” I interjected. “And if that’s typical yard behavior.”

Novak cocked his head slightly, his gaze sliding to mine. Apparently, my comment intrigued him.

Unlike Auric, who glowered at me for interrupting before refocusing on Sayir. “Yes, I imagine the king will want that explanation as well. Which reminds me, I still need a damn phone.”

“There’s no explanation needed,” Sayir supplied with that infuriating, even tone. “It was a minor glitch that we’ll ensure is fixed.”

“A minor glitch?” Auric repeated, his eyebrows hitting his hairline. “That net thing tried to kill me! And do I need to repeat again how your littleglitchalmost murdered your niece? Theheirto the throne?”

“I didn’t almost die,” I muttered.

Auric snapped his gaze to me, a threat lingering in his eyes that told me to stop speaking. Considering this whole situation wasabout me, I should be allowed to voice my opinions and questions.

But my guardian obviously didn’t agree.

“The king doesn’t even know that we’ve made it here alive,” he gritted out, his attention returning to Sayir. “He needs to be made aware—”

Sayir flared his wings, the black tips touching Novak and the wall on the opposite side. It had me taking another step back, pressing my feathers up against the wall.

His wings were as big as Auric’s, if not larger, and the show of dominance wasn’t lost on me.

“My brother entrusted Princess Layla to our care, to be reformed,” he said, his tone not matching the lightning flickering in his dark orbs. “That is what we will do. He did not ask for updates, and given the danger in any communication outside the norm, that is for good reason.”

He seemed to grow in height, towering over Auric as an oppressive weight pressed down at my shoulders. I wasn’t sure if it was my own imagination or some magical effect the Reformer had at his disposal.

“The princess is safe,” he continued, the words measured and slow. “No harm has been done. Sefid is well aware that you arrived, just as I will ensure he’s aware later tonight that his daughter is still in good health.”

Electricity hummed through the room as Auric flexed his wings once more. “King Sefid and I had an agreement.Iwill be the one providing updates to him. I want a fucking phone.”

“Youdo not run this prison,” Sayir retorted, his calm façade slipping for just a moment into one of manic rage. My lips parted, my spine straightening.

Novak glanced from me to the Reformer, his gaze narrowing just enough to tell me he’d noticed it, too.

“I do not need to explain my methods to you,” Sayir said, his wings lowering as his expression returned to aloof elegance. “You’re here to serve as the princess’s guardian and nothing more. However, since that charge has proven difficult for you to manage on your own, I have recruited a secondary guard. After all, Novak did save her today, yes?”

Auric balked. “You can’t be serious. He’s more dangerous than the rest of the inmates combined!”

My throat went dry, my head swaying in the negative. He wanted Novak toguardme? Sure, he’d helped me today. However, we all knew he had his own intentions in mind, not mine. I tried to voice my opinion, to say how bad an idea this was, but I suddenly felt choked by the scent of leather andman.

Oh, this is bad. Very, very bad.

The Reformer merely grinned. “Oh, I’m well aware of Novak’s lethality. Which is why he’ll make for an intimidating guard. Assuming he prefers that position over another bout in solitary?”

Novak grunted and slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans before casually leaning against the wall beside me.

“I’ll take that as confirmation that you want to stay here,” Sayir replied.

The lethal Noir beside me didn’t move or react, which was apparently his method of agreeing.

My skin went cold.

Novak.

My guardian…