Page 26 of First Offense

Which meant being with me at all times.

Sleeping in the same cell.

Being only inches away when I was at my most vulnerable.

My gaze snapped to his, only to find the ruthless Noir studying me. No emotion. No reaction. Just quiet observation.

“Sayir,” I whispered, my throat constricting on the name. “I… I…” I couldn’t speak beyond that single word.I,I, what?I wanted him to stay? I wanted him to leave? I was afraid of him? I was afraid of what I might do to him?

What was the end of that sentence?

“Yes?” my uncle prompted, his tone laced with amusement.

Or at least he sounded amused to me because I swore his dark gaze twinkled.

I cleared my throat and tried again. “I appreciate you trying to help,” I began, my throat so dry that my voice resembled sandpaper. But I continued on, not wanting to lose his attention now that I had it. “But I think Auric is entirely capable of protecting me on his own.”

Except none of you seem to fear him, so maybe not,I added to myself, frowning.

“My, uh, father charged Auric with this responsibility. Therefore, I don’t think it’s a good idea to dismantle those orders by installing Novak as my guardian as well.” Except, looking at the Noir now, I wondered if it actually was a good idea. Because his expression had darkened into something terrifying.

No inmate in his right mind would want to challenge this version of Novak.

Yet, I’d just done exactly that by suggesting he be taken to solitary instead of being assigned as my guard.

Fluff, I can’t win,I thought, aggravated by all the testosterone in the air. “Not that I don’t appreciate the offer,” I added with a shiver. “I-I’m sure he’d be a fine, uh, guard.”

Novak’s expression didn’t change—and it wasn’t even angry so much as intense—but he did redirect it toward the Reformer.

“Well, it’s a good thing you’re not here to think.” Sayir’s tone was so saccharine sweet that I thought I’d misheard him. “You’re here because you Fell, Princess. That is no small crime, and it’s one that will take a great amount of soul-searching to repair. Unfortunately, redemption will require sacrifice, patience, andobedience.”

He stepped in closer, making me feel trapped against the wall.

But the tip of Novak’s wing touched mine. A subtle show of solidarity. A kiss of feathers.

It sent a shiver down my spine for an entirely different reason.

And further proved how bad this would be with him in my cell.

My body reacted to him in a way it shouldn’t. Indulging in him would give me a true cause to Fall and perhaps turn my wings permanently black—a fate I couldn’t afford to accept.

“Please,” I whispered, more as a plea to remove Novak than anything else. Or maybe a plea for Sayir to back off. I couldn’t say. My mind was no longer functioning properly, nor could any of my senses be trusted.

Who even am I?I marveled.Why has this happened to me?

Just over a week ago, my biggest concern had been dodging suitors as I entered my courtship season. Now, I had a multitude of items competing for the number one slot on my worry list.

I’m never going to survive this place, I realized.I can’t stay here. I need… I need to escape...

“Your father entrusted me with your life, sweetheart. So you can leave the thinking to me.” He patted me on the head for good measure as if I were just an insolent child who couldn’t understand. He fluffed his wings as though satisfied with the conversation. “I trust you all to get acquainted. If you need anything at all, please inform one of the guards, and I’ll take all requests under immediate consideration.”

Yeah, immediately into one of his flame geyser traps, I thought, not trusting my uncle for a second.

He turned on his heel and exited the room. The lock tumbled into place, leaving me with the vile taste of old metallic blood in the back of my throat.

Until the scents of wintergreen and leather with woodsmoke made my entire body shiver in a whole new way.

Novak and Auric were staring at me again, and this time I cursed all the gods, not just for making me Fall when I’d done nothing wrong, but for putting me between darkness and light.