Page 55 of First Offense

According to him, I provided an unerring moral compass for my subjects. I also represented the foundation for the future of the monarchy in all things, especially when it came to my intended mate.

Even so, relations below my station weren’t exactly a Fall-worthy offense—that I knew of, anyway—but they were certainly frowned upon.

And these two males were compatible. Which meant that if I slept with them, a mate bond would very likely fall into place.

Disobeying the Nora decree?

Thatmight warrant a Fall from grace.

My future mate had to be of Nora Royal ranking, from one of the approved dukedoms. Not a warrior, or worse, a Noir.

I dug my palms into my eyes and forced myself not to watch any longer.

Lusting would only lead to sinning.

And sinning would lead to Falling.

I needed to reform, not worsen my status.

One of the men snarled as the other grunted, followed by my bed frame shaking as they brawled on the mattress below.

I pulled my pillow over my head.

Don’t look. Don’t listen. Don’t move.I chanted those three statements over and over until finally the room began to quiet.

But the scents remained.

An intoxicating blend of leather, smoke, and wintergreen.

I didn’t know who’d won. All I knew was that I was on the verge of losing everything. I curled into a ball. Closed my eyes. And tried to dream of another life.

Only to fall headfirst into a fantasy world where status meant nothing.

A world where I could play with whomever I wanted, however I wanted.

And I drowned in an exotic mixture of ice and dark blue waves.

17

Layla

Endless daysand nights of living in a cell with two virile male angels.

Filled with sensual torment.

Novak boldly showering in the nude.

Auric working out in the corner.

A door that refused to open.

A window that never displayed anything besides a warm sun over rolling waves.

No concept of time, other than to know more than twenty-four hours had passed. Perhaps much longer than that. Every time the guards stopped by with food, Auric demanded to know why the doors were still locked.

“For your safety,” they kept saying.

The guards claimed that some beasts were running rampant through the reformatory, thanks to a faulty portal, so we’d all been locked down as a result.