Page 27 of First Offense

Auric squared his shoulders, his gaze falling on Novak. “We need to have a talk.”

The dangerous Noir leaned against the wall, his amusement glittering in his eyes. He arched a brow as though to say,Oh yeah?

And here I was, trapped in the middle.

Yeah, I’m so fucked.

9

Novak

Layla’s featherstickled mine as she shifted uncomfortably against the wall. I purposefully brushed her wing, offering her a soothing stroke while simultaneously goading Auric.

He knew what my wings could do.

Not that I’d ever shift them into blades while stroking her.

But he didn’t know that.

“Rule one.” He reached for my wing to forcefully shove it away from the delectable female. “No. Touching.”

My lips curled.Like you’re touching me now?I wondered, glancing pointedly at his palm on my feathers.

He growled, releasing me and stepping between me and Layla. Or trying to, anyway. There wasn’t anywhere for her to go other than into the corner, which had her huffing in annoyance. “Not now,” he snapped at her.

My amusement began to wane. His treatment of the girl truly did leave a lot to be desired. The Auric I once knew used to dote on females, his charm earning us more than a few bedmates to share. But it seemed that male no longer existed.

Good.

Because I, too, had changed. Something I ensured he knew as I folded my arms and leaned against the wall, bored.

“Nod so I know you understood rule one,” he said through his teeth.

I yawned instead. Oh, I’d heard him just fine. But I had no intention of obeying him or anyone else. Besides, he’d given up his right to dictate to me over a century ago. Another point I made by extending one black wing in a lazy stretch—the wing that hadn’t touched Layla.

Isn’t breaking your command how I Fell?I thought at him, fully aware that he couldn’t hear me but could definitely see the taunt in my expression.I think we both know rules aren’t my thing, Auric.

“Novak.”

Mmm, I used to love it when he said my name like that. He always did enjoy my mouth. Too bad I had nothing to say or do with it now.

Well, apart from maybe taste the fuchsia-haired beauty in the corner.

Yeah, I could use my mouth for that.

“Do not look at her,” Auric demanded.

Is that rule two?I wondered, smirking.Sort of hard to do now that we’re bunking together.

Two sets of bunk beds.

Pity the mattresses weren’t all pushed together on the floor—similar to Zian’s setup with Sorin and Raven. Perhaps I’d do a little redecorating at some point.

Ignoring Auric, I stepped around him to take in my new digs, then lifted my arms to stretch them over my head.

He’d affixed a bar to the corner for pull-ups, something I would absolutely be taking advantage of.

The window in this room boasted a view of the ocean—something I knew was magic and not real, since we were under the ground. It served as a taunt, or maybe a way to make us feel more isolated. Whatever.