Page 36 of First Offense

“Since when are you so fucking chatty?” Sorin demanded.

“Since my cousin said three full sentences to a complete stranger,” Zian returned, glancing me over as if reevaluating me.

“Cousin?” I repeated.

“Novak,” he explained just as a looming shadow curled around my feet. The male in question took the available seat beside my still-vacant one, then pulled out my chair and gestured to it for me to sit.

“Now do you see why?” Zian said as though explaining something.

Sorin grunted as Novak’s lips curled into a knowing grin.

“Um, thank you,” I said, sliding onto the chair while internally debating if starving might be the better alternative to this situation. “I-I’m Layla.”

“We know who you are,” Raven bit out, glaring again at the one named Zian.

Yeah, so they must not have been in agreement about inviting me over.

But the blond one seemed interested now as his blue eyes were bouncing between me and Novak.

Zian chewed off the end of something long and rubbery that might have once been dried meat. Now it more resembled a piece of leather, but he didn’t seem to mind.

“So, cous, glad to see you’re not in solitary, but where the fuck did you go last night?”

Cousins,I repeated to myself, examining them both. I supposed I could see the resemblance in their darker features, but Zian had a gaze that resembled midnight, while Novak’s eyes reminded me of a glacier—chilly, cold, andcruel.

The latter jerked a thumb my way before ripping open his drink with his teeth.

“Sayir put you in her cell?” Sorin asked, his dark blue eyes flashing with amusement. “That must have been interesting. Is it permanent?”

Novak said nothing.

So I followed suit and picked up one of the hard biscuits, wanting an excuse to be as silent as my new cellmate. I unsuccessfully nibbled on the side before shoving half of the thing into my mouth and crunching down.Ow.

“So you’re cellmates now?” Raven scowled at me, making me blink.

Wait. Novak isn’t her mate, too, is he?

That question burned an intense dislike for her under my skin. Except, I couldn’t explain where that particular urge had come from. Wouldn’t it be a good thing if they were mates? It’d keep him away from me, right?

“That doesn’t make any sense,” she continued. “Why would the Reformer come all the way down to this hellhole just to relocate you to antagonize a princess?”

Novak simply watched her as he worked on another bite of his food.

She rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Novak. The angel’s out of the nest. You’ve already proven to us that you know how to use full sentences, so the jig is up.”

Novak simply smirked in response, making the female turn a dark shade of crimson as she ground her teeth together.

Yeah, Novak knew how to piss people off. Just like Auric.

“He saved my life,” I said. Although, I wasn’t sure why I found the need to explain on his behalf. “My uncle assigned him as my guardian for the time being.”

Sorin released a low whistle. “I bet Auric took that well.” He glanced around the cafeteria. “Speaking of that old asshole, where is he?”

So they all knew Auric?I glanced at Novak. He merely shrugged and went back to his food.

“I’m surprised he let you out of his sight with Novak around,” Zian added, chuckling. “Did you incapacitate him, cous?”

Novak ignored him but glanced at me and gave a slight shake of his head as though to tell me that no, he hadn’t touched Auric.