Page 66 of First Offense

If something happened now, they would all perish.

Except Layla, I thought, drawing my thumb along her cheek.I won’t let anything happen to you.

“Perhaps she’s not yet yours,” Sayir started again now that the engines had calmed to more of a stable rumble rather than a deafening roar. “But that doesn’t tell me if you believe she’s capable of an immoral act. What would you say if I’d asked you that a month ago?”

“About her committing a sin?” I asked, ensuring I followed his question.

“Yes.”

“I would have laughed,” I answered honestly.

“Yet you’re so easily convinced that she’s Fallen as the result of some wicked deed now,” he mused. “Does that not seem strange to you?”

“Everything about this situation isstrangeto me,” I retorted, my patience thinning. “She claims she’s innocent. Her wings say otherwise. And besides, it’s been some years since I’ve truly known her.” Who knew what depravity she’d indulged in during my absence?

But where?I asked myself.Where did she find that depravity? She was surrounded by chaperones and golden gates.

“Perhaps immoral acts are not how one Falls,” he suggested after a beat of silence.

I narrowed my eyes. “What are you trying to imply?”

“What do you think I’m trying to imply?” he countered.

Always riddles with this cryptic asshole. I nearly growled but instead said, “I thought you wanted to discuss the plans for her reform.”

“Yes, to do that, one must understand how she Fell.”

“And do you know how she Fell?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Of course,” he replied. “I imagine I would need to in order to reform her, yes?”

My jaw ticked. “Are you going to tell me more?”

“Not until you understand what causes one to Fall.”

“I’m over a hundred years old, Sayir. Nora Fall by sinning. There’s nothing else to it.”

He arched a brow. “So it’s a sin to disobey a direct order?” He looked at Novak and then at Zian and Sorin. “That’s how they Fell, yes? By defying your order?”

“They did much more than that.”

“Did they?” he pressed. “Explain.”

“They were under orders to kill a known assailant. They chose to allow that person to live and, by doing so, helped the culprit commit additional crimes against the Nora. It’s a sin to go against the orders of a commanding officer because it implies one is against all of Nora kind.”

“Ah, and there you have it,” he said, smiling. “The true cause of the Fall.”

I frowned. “A sin.” Just like I’d said.

“No.”

He didn’t elaborate. Just declined my comment, causing me to puzzle over what I’d just said.

“To go against all of Nora kind,” I repeated slowly.

His lips curled. “And now you’re learning.”

“That’s just one of many sins.”