Page 34 of First Offense

My chest heaved, and I couldn’t scrape the manic smile off my face.

I’d won.

I reached out to open the cafeteria doors and paused, sensing that something still wasn’t quite right.

Glancing over my shoulder, I found the source of my discomfort. One of the only other females in the prison stared back at me. I’d seen her in the courtyard before with Novak, but now to see her up close made me wonder how in the heavens she’d survived this long.

She’s gorgeous.

Long, silky hair and ebony wings framed her like a delicate goddess. Her halter top left little to the imagination, and she tucked her thumbs into her jeans as she equally surveyed me.

The two large Noir at her side gave her a wide berth, but I sensed a companionship between them.

Mates?

Ah, maybe that was how she’d survived this god-awful place.

“See?” she said, throwing up one hand. “I knew she was dangerous.”

I narrowed my eyes, abandoning my mission to escape into the cafeteria even as my stomach growled again. “Excuse me? Am I not allowed to defend myself from empty-skulled brutes?”

The female stalked forward, narrowing her dark eyes. “Everyone else buys the sweet little princess act, but not me.” She stabbed a finger into my face. “I’m onto you.”

Clenching my jaw, I bit back the desire to swat away her hand.

What’s her problem?

I glanced at the two Noir who were her mates. One boasted a navy tattoo up both arms, but one side was unfinished. The other had shaggy, dark hair that hung over a gaze full of intrigue and danger. These were two warriors. I’d recognize their type anywhere.

Just like Novak.

Maybe it was just a territorial thing. I had no interest in her mates, if that was her concern.

“I’m not actively courting mates,” I informed her.

At least not here,I added to myself.

Gods forbid if I brought one of these males home as a suitor. My father would disown me entirely. It’d be much worse than that time I questioned the purpose of having a courting season when the choice was never truly mine to make.

Gods, was that only a month or so ago? Or longer now?Time here had a strange way of altering my view of reality. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

Regardless...

“If you think I’m a threat, you can relax,” I added when she continued to frown at me. “I’m here to reform, then I’m going home, where I have plenty of royal suitors waiting.” Not that I’d been willing to court any of them. She didn’t have to know that.

Her eyes widened as if I’d just insulted her. “Excuse me?”

Deciding that I’d probably made enough friends, I huffed and said a quick farewell and turned toward the doors.

Only to run right into Novak’s hard chest. He’d somehow stepped behind me. Or maybe he’d been coming out of the cafeteria?

Hmm, no, the doors were still and closed, indicating he hadn’t just stepped through them.

Which meant he’d been lurking somewhere.

I rubbed my nose, the appendage smarting from slamming into his collarbone. “Where’d you come from?” I muttered.

He jerked his chin to the hallway and ran his fingers up one of my arms, distracting me with the intimate touch. It was so different from any of the other Noir here.