Page 6 of First Offense

The guard’s lips curled up at one corner, but he nodded and inclined his head, motioning for us to follow.

He pressed his thumb to a nondescript pad outside an iron door, then twisted the knob after a series of beeps sounded, and led us into a stone corridor.

My feathers bristled, the kiss of cool, murky air unwelcome. The sensation worsened as we reached a stairwell at the end, the rocky steps leading downward into the bowels of the prison.

Flickers of flames illuminated our way, turning the walls and floor a sickly green in the dim lighting.

At the bottom, we emerged into another corridor, this one highlighted by the low din of voices that echoed off the ceilings.

Doors dotted the interior, each laced with heavy iron with little square windows at the top.

Definitely a prison. Not that I’d expected otherwise.

All the entryways were open, allowing me to see and hear the occupants inside.

In one cell, two inmates grappled in the low light, throwing punches and dodging each other’s blows. I couldn’t tell if they were out to kill each other or just passing the time. In another room, two men screamed at each other, obviously in the midst of an argument. We passed several men lounging in their beds and several more sitting on visible metal toilets.

Ugh. Yuck.I would never be able to unsee any of that.

But more importantly, I really hoped my cell had a solid door. Because I wouldnotbe doing that in the open.

At the shuffle of our feet on the dusty stone floor, most of the occupants darted forward to see who had arrived. All male, I realized. I didn’t see a single female.

“Aren’t you pretty,” a gruff voice said, drawing my attention to a rough, crazy-eyed male who stood with his pants open and his hand wrapped around his shaft, pumping slowly as his gaze danced over me.

Oh gods...

I averted my eyes, bile rising in my throat. I skipped out of his reach, then froze as another hand stroked my feathers from the cell across the hall. I spun in a circle, then pressed my back to a solid piece of rock and wrapped my wings protectively around myself.

How could my parents have sent me here? To this prison? To this hell?I don’t belong here. I don’t belong here. I don’t belong here!I kept repeating the phrase in my head, my eyes squeezing shut as I tried futilely to wake myself up. To abolish this insane nightmare. To be anywhere other than here.

But their voices continued around me.

Purrs that left me weak in the knees.

Grunts that had me longing for the ocean, wishing Auric had just let me fall.

No. I can’t think like that. I have to fight this. I have—

“Princess!” the guard yelled. “Keep moving.”

I shook my head, unable to breathe properly. “No,” I forced out, my voice choking. “I don’t belong here.”

Auric shoved against my side, his presence providing the oxygen I needed to inhale. “Not now,” he bit out warningly. “Let’s get out of sight.”

Oh, but that voice wasn’t right at all.

Filled with hatred and condescending bitterness.

“I don’t belong here,” I repeated, my eyes opening to reveal the hell around me once more.Very real. Too real.

The guard growled irritably and stalked forward to grab my arm and yank me forward. I fell, my feet dragging on the stone and my weight dangling from his hand. His manhandling ignited a spark inside me.

No one treated me this way.

Not ever.

Because I was a royal. Even with my black wings, I wasstill a royal.