Page 60 of First Offense

I pressed a palm to his chest before he could speak. “How bad is it?” I asked him. I hadn’t gotten a good look at his leg but had noticed his injury the other day while he stood naked in the shower. “Is it infected?”

“It’s fine,” he gritted out through his teeth.

Novak snorted, his wings fluttering again and this time touching mine as he stared Auric down. The Nora Warrior growled. Novak growled right back.

I swallowed, unnerved.

Then Zian said, “Sweet bird, do what my cousin asks. Please.”

“Why?” she demanded. “I barely know him. And I don’t particularly like the other one, either.”

“Something’s coming.” Zian glanced at the prison while he spoke, the flames still bursting from the doorway. “We need our health.”

“We have our health,” she retorted. “They’re not my or our responsibility.”

“Allies, little dove,” Sorin interjected. “Besides, he could be thekeyto our survival.”

She scowled at that while Auric grunted. “I’m not your ally.”

“Not yet,” Zian agreed, locking gazes with his cousin. “But I suspect you will be soon.”

Novak dipped his chin just once, signifying his agreement, then squeezed my hand and cocked his head just enough to catch my attention.

I twisted my lips to the side, then looked at Auric again. “Did running hurt?” I asked him. He didn’t appear to be limping, but I knew his pain tolerance was rather high given his warrior sensibilities.

His jaw clenched. “No.”

Novak just stared at him, making me wonder if he sensed a lie in Auric or something else entirely.

I cleared my throat. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Auric’s palm left my lower back as he folded his arms. “I don’t owe you any explanation.”

“You do if you’re wounded and incapable of properly protecting me,” I returned.

“He’s definitely infected,” Raven put in. “I can smell it.”

“Infected with what?” I asked, giving up on Auric and focusing on the one who seemed to have at least some answers.

But she shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“Poison,” Auric finally said. “Something from the beast.”

Novak almost looked proud of him for saying it, which left me wondering if he’d known all along or had merely guessed now.

Raven frowned, lifting her hand to hover near Auric. “May I?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said.

Auric glanced at me. “I’m fairly certain that question was forme, Princess.”

“No. I was asking her,” Raven said. “Compatible mates and all that.” She glanced at me. “Trust me. I really don’t want him.”

I snorted. “Neither do I.”

Auric just rolled his eyes. “Lovely. Both of you. Like I’d degrade myself in such a manner.”

Novak coughed, and I suspected he was trying to hide a laugh. His feathers brushed mine again, and while I knew I should probably step away from him, I couldn’t. He also still held my hand, which he reminded me of by drawing his thumb sensually across my knuckle.