Page 65 of First Offense

Of course he would know that, and the gleam in his dark gaze told me he rather liked my torment.

“Yes,” I said. “That plays into my frustration.”

Not a lie. Smelling Layla and not being allowed to taste her was a forbidden temptation that often haunted my dreams. Especially now that we were forced into such close quarters with one another.

“I’ve also been charged with her safety,” I added. “Which has proven more difficult than I anticipated.” It took serious effort not to show how I felt about that in my tone, but I managed a calm voice.

“Reform is all about survival,” he said as he slowly slid down to the floor across from me and stretched his wings out along the metal siding. “Only the strongest will make it through.”

I pretended to ponder that. “No point in reforming the weak.” Not a statement I fully believed, but I could see in his expression that it was one he wholeheartedly supported.

“Exactly,” he agreed.

“How does Layla fit into this?” I asked him, wanting to draw him into a useful conversation. I didn’t consider her weak. I knew she was a survivor. But did he consider her strong enough for whatever insanity he had in store for her? Was there even a plan?

“Ah, to understand that, we’ll need to discuss how to help her reform,” he said as the plane’s engines roared to life.

No shit,I wanted to say. Instead, I merely smiled and increased my voice to be heard over the rumbling around us. “I would very much like to hear those plans.”

The doors slammed shut, causing Sayir to glance sideways. Two of the Nora Guards stood sentry at the front near the cockpit, their backs to us. But I noted the stiffness in their shoulders. The Reformer had given them all a proper set dressing-down outside, stating that none of them were safe from his wrath. Once he determined who was at fault, they would pay.

I was beginning to think he truly hadn’t meant for this to happen. He kept muttering about his investment being a waste of effort. I’d pretended not to hear him while I’d helped load the plane. But I’d added that to my pondering list with his commentary about space being relative.

I glanced out the window over his head, then retrained my focus on him. “Well?” I prompted.

He smiled. “Do you understand how a Nora Falls?” he asked.

“They sin,” I replied drolly.

“Do they?” he countered. “Definesinfor me.”

I stared at him. “An immoral act,” I stated flatly, not keen on this waste of time. All Nora knew what caused the Fall—a truly heinous act that blackened the spirit.

“Do you think your Layla is capable of an immoral act?” he asked.

“She’s notmyLayla,” I corrected him. But as to his question, I wasn’t sure how to answer.

Did I think she was capable of the Fall? No, I really didn’t.

However, her wings were solid black.

I’m innocent, Auric,she’d said on several occasions.I don’t deserve to be here.

My jaw clenched as I recalled her tone, that broken quality a plea to my senses that I fought to ignore. But some part of me whispered,What if she’s telling the truth?

“Perhaps she’s not yet yours,” he murmured, causing me to frown as the plane lifted into the air with the use of the thrusters below.

It was too loud for speaking at a comfortable volume, forcing me to wait for him to continue. Or, more accurately, to wait for a further denial. Because Layla wouldneverbe mine. Compatible we might be, but we were not of the same caliber. She was a royal. She would marry within the dukedom, as was her due.

Assuming we figured out how to fix her Fall from grace.

I glanced down at her, my fingers brushing through her silky strands.So beautiful. So innocent.Did I believe she could engage in an immoral act? Honestly, no, I could not. But the evidence lay at her back.

My throat worked to swallow, my heart skipping a beat in my chest as the plane began to level around us, the clouds kissing the windows outside.

We were moving at incredible speeds, the turbulence enough to make my stomach twist with unease.

All these angels were immobile and unaware.